STAN ZAVOYSKIY
When I was almost three years old, my family and I immigrated to New York City from Odessa, Ukraine in the search for a better life. Though I remember little of my home country, I know that the move was only for the best. My family and I had to adjust to a new culture, as well as a new language, everything went according to plan, and several years later I found myself living in Brooklyn house, a far reach from the crowded one bedroom apartment we originally settled in. I grew up playing several sports. I played tennis, basketball, and baseball; not thinking or knowing much about handball.
The first time I played handball was in Junior High school. During recess, we were restricted to a large empty yard, with the walls of the school surrounding. Kids played handball against the walls. One of my friends played, and I tried to hit the ball around and failed. I decided to forget it, and did not play until a year later, when I got bored of sitting in the lunchroom, and decided to come out and play. I was already pretty good in Tennis, so adjusting to handball was not so difficult. After a couple of games, I started to enjoy playing. I then started to play at my local park. The players there were much better, and I could not understand how it was possible to hit so hard, and play so well. Later, I learned that these players were just beginners, and there was much more to handball. I slowly stopped playing other sports, because I felt handball was more challenging, and more fun.
I started learning about tournaments, and started hearing the names of the best players in the city. I logged on websites such as icha.org, and handballcity.com and learned more about the game, and in my 8th grade year, I entered my first tournament. The tournament was the Citywide Big Blue, and that year (2002) it happened to be free. I entered the B doubles with a friend, and after waiting four hours to play our game, we lost in twenty minutes to two stronger players. I did not get discouraged, and played the Junior Big Blue tournament several months later, where I won my first round, only to get beaten by the eventual winner, next game. I started playing with the small ball that summer, getting ripped off for a pair of gloves at a local sporting goods store. I still can not believe I paid forty dollars for a pair of Saranac gloves. I went to Brooklyn Technical High school freshman year, where I beat everyone I was put against at the tryout (though I did not play the top three players). Even though I won my games, I became a substitute due to my inexperience. Around this time, I started playing at Coney Island, stepping up to stronger players. I won my first tournament that year, which was the High School Meet 15 and under. I then placed second in the National 15 and under. My first big win was at the Junior Big Blue several months later. I was a replacement in the 19 and under A doubles. My eventual partner did not have anyone to play with, so I stepped in, winning the event, beating more experienced teams (Such as Mike Schneider and Paul Angel) who were the obvious favorite.
Due to academic reasons I transferred to Midwood High School Sophomore year. I started to become acquainted with Paul Williams, the founder and president of ICHA. Paul brought me down to play four wall handball, which I enjoyed, and began to play competitively. Paul took the travel team (which I was on) to State and National tournaments, which I appreciated greatly. I became second singles for Midwood, and was undefeated. I won the Brooklyn Individual Championship Sophomore year, beating Jurrell Bastidas in the final. Jurrell then went on to win the City Individual Championship, while I lost in the Semi-Finals. Around this time, I also became acquainted with Hall of Fame handball players Carl and Ruby Obert, who taught me many things, and are greatly responsible for my improvement in the game.
I am now a Junior in High School, and first singles for Midwood. I have won several more tournaments since then, including a National Championship. My present goal is to win the National Open Championship in one-wall as soon as possible, and in time I hope to become a champ in One, Three, and Four wall handball.
The first time I played handball was in Junior High school. During recess, we were restricted to a large empty yard, with the walls of the school surrounding. Kids played handball against the walls. One of my friends played, and I tried to hit the ball around and failed. I decided to forget it, and did not play until a year later, when I got bored of sitting in the lunchroom, and decided to come out and play. I was already pretty good in Tennis, so adjusting to handball was not so difficult. After a couple of games, I started to enjoy playing. I then started to play at my local park. The players there were much better, and I could not understand how it was possible to hit so hard, and play so well. Later, I learned that these players were just beginners, and there was much more to handball. I slowly stopped playing other sports, because I felt handball was more challenging, and more fun.
I started learning about tournaments, and started hearing the names of the best players in the city. I logged on websites such as icha.org, and handballcity.com and learned more about the game, and in my 8th grade year, I entered my first tournament. The tournament was the Citywide Big Blue, and that year (2002) it happened to be free. I entered the B doubles with a friend, and after waiting four hours to play our game, we lost in twenty minutes to two stronger players. I did not get discouraged, and played the Junior Big Blue tournament several months later, where I won my first round, only to get beaten by the eventual winner, next game. I started playing with the small ball that summer, getting ripped off for a pair of gloves at a local sporting goods store. I still can not believe I paid forty dollars for a pair of Saranac gloves. I went to Brooklyn Technical High school freshman year, where I beat everyone I was put against at the tryout (though I did not play the top three players). Even though I won my games, I became a substitute due to my inexperience. Around this time, I started playing at Coney Island, stepping up to stronger players. I won my first tournament that year, which was the High School Meet 15 and under. I then placed second in the National 15 and under. My first big win was at the Junior Big Blue several months later. I was a replacement in the 19 and under A doubles. My eventual partner did not have anyone to play with, so I stepped in, winning the event, beating more experienced teams (Such as Mike Schneider and Paul Angel) who were the obvious favorite.
Due to academic reasons I transferred to Midwood High School Sophomore year. I started to become acquainted with Paul Williams, the founder and president of ICHA. Paul brought me down to play four wall handball, which I enjoyed, and began to play competitively. Paul took the travel team (which I was on) to State and National tournaments, which I appreciated greatly. I became second singles for Midwood, and was undefeated. I won the Brooklyn Individual Championship Sophomore year, beating Jurrell Bastidas in the final. Jurrell then went on to win the City Individual Championship, while I lost in the Semi-Finals. Around this time, I also became acquainted with Hall of Fame handball players Carl and Ruby Obert, who taught me many things, and are greatly responsible for my improvement in the game.
I am now a Junior in High School, and first singles for Midwood. I have won several more tournaments since then, including a National Championship. My present goal is to win the National Open Championship in one-wall as soon as possible, and in time I hope to become a champ in One, Three, and Four wall handball.