Handball was proud to have four national champions and one world champion honored with over 170 national and world champions at the All Sports Dinner. Ray Lumpp was the well deserved honoree. Ray has been a long time friend of NYAC handball during his stewardship as the Athletic Director for more than half a century. Handball congratulates Ray for his friendship and all that he has have done for both the athletes and the NYAC community.

Our National Champions are Tracy Davis, Joe Kaplan, Sean Lenning, Luis Moreno and our World Champion is Paul Brady. We wish them continued success in the upcoming year.

Handball also congratulates Paul Brady as he became the third champion to repeat at the Simple Green US Open. Trailing fellow NYAC Team Member, Sean Lenning 10-7 in the tiebreaker, Brady rallied for an 11-10 win. Tracy Davis and Luis Moreno were impressive, as each survived until their respective quarter-final matches.

We would be remiss not to mention how proud we are of USHA and NYAC Hall of Fame member, Carl Obert, who was honored by the Inner City Handball Association ("ICHA") as its Person of the Year. Paul Williams, president of the ICHA and NYAC member said, "Carl is a true ambassador of the game and an asset to the sport of handball. We are proud to have Carl receive this well deserved honor." An enjoyable night was had by all who attended. Many NYAC members know Carl as he offers lessons on 21 and continues as a long time Saturday Morning Program coach. 

In 1951 our NYAC handball players led by Joe Ingrassia formed the “Killer’s Club.” The name originating from a handball shot called the "kill" shot referring to when the handball shot strikes the front wall so close to the floor that the opponent cannot return it.  The Killers Club members have been and still are very active in the NYAC, participating in many of the club’s functions creating more interest, good fellowship, camaraderie, attracting new members and always maintaining the high standards of the NYAC.  Our great club has some of the finest and most complete handball facilities found anywhere in the world, and handball will continue to be an integral part of the club’s many activities.

We provided service and leadership to the NYAC since its’ inception. Charles J. O’Connell, longtime handball chairman served on the Board of Governors for many years. Joe Ingrassia served as Handball Chmn, Governor, President of the NYAC, and is currently the Chairman of the Athletes Fund. Andy Romeo served as Governor and headed the Restaurant Committee for many years. Gino DiPasquale served as NYAC Captain in the 1980’s before serving as Handball Chairman.  Arthur Farhood is a former handball chairman, governor, and former president of The Wine Society. Lou Manfredi served as Handball Chairman and as President of the American Legion. Anthony Fauci is a former handball chairman and currently is the Tournament Coordinator for the NYAC Invitational, which has become the most prestigious handball tournament in the country. Rich Apicella is a former president of the Killer's Club, and a former Handball Chairman, who presently serves on the NYAC Membership Committee. John Duggan served on the Engineering Committee which oversaw the exterior renovation of the NYAC and the renovation of the 21st floor.  Our current president, John Moran is Handball Co-Chairman with Ken Ginty.

NYAC Handball Team

The NYAC handball team has the unique distinction of being the number one handball team in the world, based on the success of its athletes in both national and world competition, over the last century. Robert Ripley, of “Believe It Or Not” fame, was the NYAC’s first nationally-ranked handball player, finishing third in the 1924 four-wall nationals. Angelo Trulio slammed in the 1932 national four-wall, taking the singles and the doubles with Maynard Laswell. Trulio won the national four-wall singles again in 1946, after a 14-year drought. Frank Coyle and Ed Linz dominated the national four-wall scene in the 1940’s winning the title four times in six years. Coyle added the national singles title in 1944. Tom Ginty won the national four-wall singles title in 1953. Joe Ingrassia and John Abate won the national four-wall double crown in 1953, 1954 and 1955.

Moving ahead to the modern era, 19 year-old Ruby Obert shocked the handball world by defeating his heavily-favored brother, Oscar, to win the 1954 national one-wall singles title. Oscar took over as singles champ in 1958, 1959, 1963, 1964 and 1965, and went on to be the greatest player in the history of the game, eventually winning 42 national open championships. Carl Obert took the 1960 and 1962 national one-wall singles crowns, as well as the1965 and 1967 national three-wall singles titles. The brothers also dominated in doubles during this period winning 92 national titles, in all. 

Pat Kirby won the 1965 national four-wall singles title and, later that year,18 year-old Wally Ulbrich and 22 year-old Ken Holmes won the national one-wall open doubles crown. John Sabo, Jr. and Ken Ginty won the 1979 national three-wall doubles over Wisotsky and Ulbrich in an all NYAC final. Steve Lott won the 1975 national four-wall doubles with Marty Decatur. Ken Ginty won the 1987 national four-wall open singles title, as well as the 1987 three-wall doubles title with Eric Klarman. John Bike won the 1992 national four-wall singles title and is a many-time national four-wall doubles champion. Eric Klarman slammed in the 1994 national three-wall tournament taking both the singles and the doubles. Joe Kaplan won the 1999 national one-wall singles crown, as well as the 2000 and 2006 national one-wall doubles. Tracy Davis is the current women’s doubles champion in one wall and three-wall. Paul Brady is currently the 2006 World Four-Wall Singles Champion, as well as the current US National Four-Wall Singles Champion. In total, nine NYAC handball players have been inducted into the United States Handball  Hall of Fame, including Rosemary Bellini who is the greatest woman handball player of all time.