The HandballDirect.com fall handball league has found it's winner for the year 2000: The Pterodactyls! Read everything about this exciting new league in our HandballDirect.com 2000 fall handball league recaps! All the fun, action and excitement of team handball in the USA!

Now that the HandballDirect.com fall handball league has started off seriously, we have given it its due prominence on the main menu. The coverage will include scores, stats, reports and action pictures. Check it out!

The HandballDirect.com FALL HANDBALL LEAGUE has begun! Come and see the complete rosters and the full time-table! We will feature this event prominently on the main page with scores, tables and news once the results start pouring in.

Condor Handball Organization pauses practices for the month of September and resumes practice on October 5.

The full results for the Beach Championships are in:

Co-ed division:
1. East Cobb I (Denny Fercho, Joe Fitzgerald, Will McBride, Brandon McCormick, Carrie Farley Dee)
2. East Cobb II
3. Rock Handball II
4. Condor South
5. Eastside Emus
6. Kennesaw Crows
7. Rock Handball I
8. Jax I
9. Jax II.

Men:
1. Condor South
2. East Cobb
3. S.C. Gulls
4. Atlanta Storm
5. North Carolina
6. Eastside Emus
7. Kennesaw Crows
8. Jax I
9. Jax II

Women:
1. Rock Handball
2. Jax Knights

Leading Scorers Men's Division:

The first U.S. Beach National Championships took place this past weekend (August 19-20) at Ft. Yargo State Park in Winder, Georgia.  The tremendous success can be attributed to the number of quality teams ranging from Florida to North Carolina.  Three divisions were implemented for the first year—Men’s, Women’s, and Co-ed.  The Men’s and Co-ed divisions had 9 teams each, while the Women’s division had 2.  While this dynamic and exciting sport is new in the United States, we expect a dramatic rise in participation in the coming years.  All one has to do is witness the popularity of this young, fast-paced sport in Brazil and Europe to be assured of its inevitable success in the United States.

Beach Handball is a 'fun' variant of Team Handball with slightly different rules and is played on sand. The Condors won the men's tournament and the title "USA Beach Handball Champions 2000". This victory makes the Condors 2 for 2 in US National Championships this year. The players at Ft. Yargo State Park in Winder Ga. voted Denny Fercho as "King of the Beach" as he certainly covered more miles on the sand than any other player during this hot weekend.

For a look at all the action, fun and excitement at this championship tournament, visit our Beach2000 image collection!

Stay tuned for more news about the women and co-ed tournament right here!

Matt Ryan has announced his resignation as Vice President and Technical Director of the Condor Handball Organization in order to run for Vice President - Men of USA Team Handball. Since his addition to the U.S. National Team in 1989, Matt has demonstrated superb international flair (competed Czechoslovakia Div 1). A member of the 1996 Olympic Team, Matt has also achieved international recognition by competing in numerous international events (World Championships-'92, '95, Goodwill Games-'90, '94, Pan American Games-'91, '95,). With 175 international games, Matt was a natural leader. He earned the distinction of Captain from 1992-96, and U.S Player of the Year in 1991, '92, and '94. Matt Ryan has served as Technical Director of the Condor Handball Organization for the past two years.

During his post Olympic tenure, Matt Ryan has accomplished more in handball development and growth than most accomplish in a career. He was Program Director of USA Team Handball from 1996-1998. Matt organized and coordinated the first two Collegiate National Championships, the Atlanta Club Sport Handball League, the Southeast Team Handball Conference, the Condor International, the Atlanta Open, and the 1997 & 1998 U.S. National Championships. His devotion to the grassroots development programs is truly remarkable. He was an integral part of the grant team that wrote, applied, and received the USOC/NCAA grant to fund a collegiate handball league for $400,000. He has coordinated numerous referee and coaching clinics, coached numerous youth teams, and currently manages the CODP program for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, where he is the Director of Health and Education Services. Through his involvement in Team Handball, he has impacted over 250 junior athletes into the sport thus far.

Matt Ryan, a five-time U.S. National Champion, is by far the most recognizable and respected American handball player in the world.

Condor Atlanta and the Condor CODP Juniors competed at the 2000 Georgia Games and emerged as Co-Champions. Due to a player personnel SNAFU, Condor Atlanta had to forfeit their match against Condor CODP Jr. Condor Atlanta and Condor CODP Jr. then ran the table on the competition for the right to face each other in the gold medal game. Due to scheduling conflicts, the game could not be played and both were declared co-champions. Condor CODP Jr. had a surprising come from behind win against Georgia Tech. Down 5 goals at halftime, they rallied to win by 3. On the second day, Condor CODP handily beat ATH 2 by 7 goals, and pulled out a nail-bitter against ATH 1. Jabir Bilal took a last second jump shot and dinged the post with time running out to secure the victory. Shahid Bilal was a man amongst boys. Georgia Tech finished strong with Bobby Dunn scoring free throw with no time remaining to send the game to the goalie shootout. Marty Fontenot came up with key blocks and secured victory for Georgia Tech. ATH 1 & 2 finished 4th and 5th, respectively. Hmmmm……Condor influence takes 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Congratulations to all participants.

In the upcoming elections for USA Team Handball, we endorse the following candidates:

President - Kurt Stone
Vice President Men - Matt Ryan
Vice President Women - Dawn Allinger
Secretary - Bryant Johnson
Treasurer - Annette Bergman
Board of Directors -
Jim Thome
Darin Williams
Owen McFadden
Amir Haskic
Cathy Hansel
Jon Negin
John Silva
Thomas Szabo
Kim Clarke
Lisa Eagen
Laura Ryan
Jan O'Shea

We encourage all members of the Condor Handball Organization to vote this ticket. We strongly believe these candidates are the best individuals to lead our organization into the future.

In order to pursue the presidency of USA Team Handball, Kurt Stone has announced his resignation as president of the Condor Handball Organization. Due to Kurt Stone's leadership over the past 15 years, the Condor Handball Organization arose from obscurity to become the largest and most successful handball club in the United States. Under the guidance of Kurt Stone, the Condor Handball Organization has developed 12 National Team players, two of which represented our country at the 1996 Olympics (Olympian, Denny Fercho, and Olympic alternate, Jim Hop). The Condor Handball Organization has had teams finish within the top 4 at the U.S. National Championships thirteen times, three of which resulted in National Championships. The Condors have also won 6 State Championships.

Kurt Stone's influence can be witnessed by his devotion to the development of grass root programs. By developing and organizing numerous tournaments, such as the Atlanta Open, Coppa Ventura, California Handball League, South East Team Handball Conference, Atlanta Sport Summer Handball League, and the Condor International, opportunities now exist for individuals with varying athletic abilities (from the novice to the elite). Kurt took over the reins of the Condor Handball Organization from Scott Rossamier in 1986, becoming the club's second president. As he steps down from the helm of Condor leadership, the Condor Handball Organization has numerous junior development programs in place for the new millenium, an international exchange program with clubs from Germany and Brazil which will further lead to the development of our younger athletes, representation of an international referee, and secured various corporate sponsorships; some of the most notable sponsorships are Select, Handball Direct, Chickfil-A, Harry's Farmers Market, and Rec Solutions.

Kurt Stone's successor, Mike Hurdle, inherits a thriving organization with a sound developmental infrastructure that should produce champions for decades to come.

Please support Kurt and visit his website: electkurtstone.com

In the wake of the 2000 National Championships, some discussion arose as to the guidelines how foreign players should be admitted to the Nationals. Mr. Thome from Knight Air posted a comment on the Handball-mailinglist that was quickly replied by Condors' Mike Hurdle. What is your opinion on the matter? Join the Team-Handball Mailinglist today and be heard.

The heart and soul of American Team Handball has successfully defended their national title and won back-to-back U.S.National Championships. The Condors also swept the Most Valuable hardware for the second consecutive year. Congratulations to Mike Hurdle (MVP) and Manual Poch (MVG) for their superb performances.

The Condor Handball Club is the only club that had two teams competing in the "Elite" division at the 2000 U.S. National Championships. With a first and third place finish, the Condor Handball Club demonstrated their dominance. Results from the 2000 U.S. National Championships are now available online. Pictures of the 1999 National Champion Condors have recently been located and are now available online.

Garden City remains undefeated for 2000 by winning the Carolina Blue Cup. The Condors were not in attendance due to a lack of quality competition. Rumor has it that a junior high school team from Atlanta took second place. Hopefully, official results from the Carolina Blue Cup will be posted within the week.

The Condors are confirmed for three upcoming tournaments in April. First, we will be attending the West Point tournament April 8-9. The younger Condors will comprise the majority of this squad, with a few of the experienced members, rounding out a quality team. The following weekend in Fresno (April 15-16), the Condors will be attending the California State Championships. The older Condors will be rounding out this squd. Rumor has it that Juice will make an appearance.