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Show StatesmanSports Page 8 Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013 CLUB SPORTS Handball: Bringing home the hardware BY CURTIS LU N DSTROM sports editor Rack up another pair of national titles for Utah State club athletes. The Utah State club handball team traveled to Tempe, Ariz. for the 2013 USHA Collegiate National Championships, competing against 250 of the top-rated players in the country and bringing home two national titles — one in each a singles and doubles division — and an 11th place finish overall. "We had three players play for the national championship in their divisions," said USU coach Herm Olsen. "We're talking blood, sweat and tears. These guys gave their all for Utah State. It was impressive." Senior Ryan Campbell was part of both titles, winning the Men's Division 1B singles championship and another in the Men's Division B doubles with fellow senior and partner Jon Larson. Playing in his second national tournament, Campbell cruised through the early rounds and into the final, allowing only one opponent to score in double digits. But in a grueling back-and-forth battle, Campbell defeated Isaac Garcia of UC-Santa Cruz 21-20, 14-21, 11-10. Down 10-6 in the tiebreak, Campbell broke Garcia's serve and pulled off the come-from-behind victory with five consecutive points. "It was just point for point," Campbell said. "I thought he was going to get me, but I didn't want to lose. (Coming from behind) was probably the best part. He had it in his head that the kid he was going to play was just going to give up, but I've never been that way." Not even blood would stop the Aggies. During one doubles match, Larson split open his chin diving for a ball, but had his uncle sew stitches courtside so he could continue playing. The duo dominated their division, outscoring their opponents SENIOR JON LARSON swings for a kill shot during practice at the HPER building. Larson and his doubles partner won a national title. DELAYNE LOCKE photo 210 70, or an average score of 21-7. "It's what every athlete dreams about, so to finally not only live the dream but to win it is amazing," Larson said. "Ryan and I have been working at it together for three years. I had to quit my job to get enough hours on the court to feel like I was ready." Campbell and Larson, who both started playing handball in fall 2010, faced a tandem from the University of Limerick — a school in Ireland — in the final, cruising to a 21-5, 21-12 victory. Fortunately for USU, Campbell and Larson both have a year of eligibility remaining and a shot to return to the national tournament and repeat as champions. "We pretty much got embarrassed our first tournament," Larson said. "We didn't want that to happen again. That's what motivated us to spend all the time preparing to go back this year." The Aggies sent 10 athletes to the national tournament, seven men and three women each paying their own way, and brought home the two titles and had another runner-up in Kim Butcher in the Women's Division 1A bracket. It was Butcher's third consecutive runner up finish, having moved up a bracket in each of her three years competing. "It was tough, especially when I got inside my own head," Butcher said. "I'm learning to go into more relaxed and not think too much about it or it throws me off. I like silver better than gold — the colors, not the place." The USU handball club has been around for the past six years, and Coach Olsen said the team is always looking for people to come join. There are two classes offered through the university, and safety goggles and gloves are available for those who don't - SENIOR RYAN CAMPBELL competes during practice at the HPER building. Campbell helped USU win two national titles in Tempe, Ariz. DELAYNE LOCKE photo have them. Campbell said you can buy a good pair of goggles for around $7 — around the same price as a handball — and gloves start at $20. The team practices Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the racquetball courts in the HPER building. "If you're thinking about playing, just come out and play," Campbell said. We all have a good time." – curtislundstrom@gmaiL corn SENIOR JON LARSON sports his gloves and champiTwitter: @CurtisLundstrom onship medal from a doubles title at the national tournament. DELAYNE LOCKE photo Looking for the Perfect Summer Job? 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"It was a cool thing, so I just went for it and Utah State was just an awesome choice." Stone said he began playing basketball in high school and was then surprised when the offer from his favorite school came. "At the time I didn't really think there was really the option to play in college. I hadn't really thought about it at all," he said. "My junior year came around and it was offered to me." Stone didn't need much time to mull the offer over. "It seemed like a pretty awesome thing and so I took it," he said. "We talked one week and a week later I told them that I wanted to and that was about it. It was pretty fast." Nye said her decision was a little more difficult, but in the end she just wanted to be in Aggie blue. "It was kind of a debate for me my senior year of high school between here and Southern Utah, because I had gone down there a lot and had gone to their camps, but I just decided to stay here," Nye said. "I knew some of the girls on the team. I knew pretty much everything about Utah State, and so I just stayed here." Nye said injuries in high school slightly derailed her career, but the Aggies remained steady on their offer. "I came on to Utah State as a walk-on," she said. "I was injured my junior and senior years, so they allowed me to walk-on here." Dance said top results at region and state tournaments caused Weber State to extend an offer to him, but already knowing Bouton and former head coach Christian Wright made his choice an easier one. "Chris came and talked to me about being on the team," Dance said. "It was fairly straightforward just kind of talking to me about it and so I just signed on with him. I didn't have a scholarship or anything, so I kind of just walked on because he wanted me to play." The reasons for being an Aggie are ever increasing, he said. "I like being here. I like the atmosphere. It's been a good time playing on the team this year," Dance said. "I just liked it here too, the valley, proximity to campus, my family being here. My parents and grandparents went to school here." All three are beginning to find their respective niches this year. Stone has seen leaps in playing time while becoming a force under the basket coming off the bench. Nye, though coming back from injury, has battled hard for the Aggies, and Dance has been a consistent performer at the No. 6 singles position. – m.hop@aggiemail.usu.edu Twitter:@legendarymhops |