TYREE BASTIDAS
Tyree Bastidas is a string of firsts playing on the side of youth.
He is the first junior player in the world to amass a record-breaking twenty National titles in one-, three-, and four-wall codes, with the small and big ball.
In 2007, he became the first and only player in the world to have won the 17 and Under Singles division in the National Four-Wall Championships, in three different countries, in the same year.
“Basically, I’m just going to try to run you down,” Bastidas said. “I don’t give up. I never stop. If there’s a way to win I’ll find it. I just have that drive.”
The following year, he became the first 18-year-old to reach the final of the Men's Open Doubles division.
Tyree Bastidas became a name that resonates among supporters and opponents alike. The level of skill and talent he possesses is undeniable. By the age of 16, he had acquired the skills, strength, poise and discipline, to accumulate thirteen national titles in one-, three- and four-wall handball.
Bastidas may be talented, but, with no intentions of diminishing his success, his story is not unique--only comparable to those of Wally Ulbrich, Mark Levine and Joel Davidson. Ulbrich was 18 when he won the National One-Wall junior singles and National Open One-Wall doubles. Levine was also just an 18-year-old when he defeated Hall of Fame member Steve Sandler in the final match. In 1973, Davidson, then 17, became the youngest National Open One-Wall Singles Champion.
Youth has always been a double-edged sword for juniors, and Bastidas is no exception. More often than not, he is lauded for being "the most decorated junior national champion ever." But prior to Bastidas' final match against William Polanco, spectators questioned whether or not Bastidas was "too young"--euphemism for not experienced enough. Only after he defeated Polanco, 21-8, 21-11, did that audience conclude that Bastidas had "reached manhood."
Bastidas was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, to Jose and Beatrix Bastidas. Growing up, the young 9-year-old Bastidas would watch from afar his older brother Jurell Bastidas and his father compete. Ever since Bastidas witnessed his brother win the PSAL Singles Championship in the spring of 2004, he has been training to emulate J. Bastidas' success.
“By 9, I began to play people – adults," he said. "I didn’t win, but I could keep up a volley. I think I was motivated by the appreciation the other players in the park showed for what I could do. Sometimes I would run down everything until my opponent missed.”
Bastidas began competing in Junior National Championships across the country in every form of handball. Soon he began contending across the border in Canada and across the Atlantic in Ireland, taking home a Canadian and an Irish National title.
His success had eventually caught the attention of coaches Mike Watson and Paul Williams, who is also the President and Founder of the Inner City Handball Association.
“The kid is great, and he’s only going to get better," Watson said. “After training with Tyree during the first year, I came to realize I was training a talented young man, who wanted to excel in all forms of handball.
"And after watching him play in one-, three-, and four-wall, I came to realize – Tyree is the future of handball.”
Bastidas is now a 5' 9" slightly built 20-something-year-old with a mop of brown hair. He rose from the little 9-year-old boy hurdling across the court to a USHA National One-Wall Singles Champion. His history is a long one, and much like every synopsis, there is more that meets the eye. Behind each victory is a story of not just the usual regime--concise practice and dedication--but sacrifice and questionable regrets.
"When you're away traveling all the time, you miss parties, birthdays, a lot of things," Bastidas said. "It's hard to get close to people."
He has also made sacrifices in other aspects, specifically, in regards to academics. Bastidas required an extra semester to graduate from Midwood High School. He then attended Kingsborough Community College where he pursued a career in physical education.
"He could have done better in high school for sure," said Bastidas' father, one of Tyree's biggest supporters.
"It did affect his schoolwork, and I was concerned about it. It's hard to do both. But he is happy, and I decided to support him. I notice that most of the tournaments I go to with him, the kids that do well are the ones who have the support of their parents. Maybe this is a coincidence, I don't know. Maybe not.
His father added: "He wants to be the greatest handball player in the world. Eventually, he will do it, and I want to be there when he does."
Tyree Bastidas is a string of firsts playing on the side of youth.
He is the first junior player in the world to amass a record-breaking twenty National titles in one-, three-, and four-wall codes, with the small and big ball.
In 2007, he became the first and only player in the world to have won the 17 and Under Singles division in the National Four-Wall Championships, in three different countries, in the same year.
“Basically, I’m just going to try to run you down,” Bastidas said. “I don’t give up. I never stop. If there’s a way to win I’ll find it. I just have that drive.”
The following year, he became the first 18-year-old to reach the final of the Men's Open Doubles division.
Tyree Bastidas became a name that resonates among supporters and opponents alike. The level of skill and talent he possesses is undeniable. By the age of 16, he had acquired the skills, strength, poise and discipline, to accumulate thirteen national titles in one-, three- and four-wall handball.
Bastidas may be talented, but, with no intentions of diminishing his success, his story is not unique--only comparable to those of Wally Ulbrich, Mark Levine and Joel Davidson. Ulbrich was 18 when he won the National One-Wall junior singles and National Open One-Wall doubles. Levine was also just an 18-year-old when he defeated Hall of Fame member Steve Sandler in the final match. In 1973, Davidson, then 17, became the youngest National Open One-Wall Singles Champion.
Youth has always been a double-edged sword for juniors, and Bastidas is no exception. More often than not, he is lauded for being "the most decorated junior national champion ever." But prior to Bastidas' final match against William Polanco, spectators questioned whether or not Bastidas was "too young"--euphemism for not experienced enough. Only after he defeated Polanco, 21-8, 21-11, did that audience conclude that Bastidas had "reached manhood."
Bastidas was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, to Jose and Beatrix Bastidas. Growing up, the young 9-year-old Bastidas would watch from afar his older brother Jurell Bastidas and his father compete. Ever since Bastidas witnessed his brother win the PSAL Singles Championship in the spring of 2004, he has been training to emulate J. Bastidas' success.
“By 9, I began to play people – adults," he said. "I didn’t win, but I could keep up a volley. I think I was motivated by the appreciation the other players in the park showed for what I could do. Sometimes I would run down everything until my opponent missed.”
Bastidas began competing in Junior National Championships across the country in every form of handball. Soon he began contending across the border in Canada and across the Atlantic in Ireland, taking home a Canadian and an Irish National title.
His success had eventually caught the attention of coaches Mike Watson and Paul Williams, who is also the President and Founder of the Inner City Handball Association.
“The kid is great, and he’s only going to get better," Watson said. “After training with Tyree during the first year, I came to realize I was training a talented young man, who wanted to excel in all forms of handball.
"And after watching him play in one-, three-, and four-wall, I came to realize – Tyree is the future of handball.”
Bastidas is now a 5' 9" slightly built 20-something-year-old with a mop of brown hair. He rose from the little 9-year-old boy hurdling across the court to a USHA National One-Wall Singles Champion. His history is a long one, and much like every synopsis, there is more that meets the eye. Behind each victory is a story of not just the usual regime--concise practice and dedication--but sacrifice and questionable regrets.
"When you're away traveling all the time, you miss parties, birthdays, a lot of things," Bastidas said. "It's hard to get close to people."
He has also made sacrifices in other aspects, specifically, in regards to academics. Bastidas required an extra semester to graduate from Midwood High School. He then attended Kingsborough Community College where he pursued a career in physical education.
"He could have done better in high school for sure," said Bastidas' father, one of Tyree's biggest supporters.
"It did affect his schoolwork, and I was concerned about it. It's hard to do both. But he is happy, and I decided to support him. I notice that most of the tournaments I go to with him, the kids that do well are the ones who have the support of their parents. Maybe this is a coincidence, I don't know. Maybe not.
His father added: "He wants to be the greatest handball player in the world. Eventually, he will do it, and I want to be there when he does."
