lennart De La Torre
San Mateo Elks Lodge
Inducted as a Player in 2021
By Tom Fitzwater & Mike Linnik
Dating back to ~1986 Lennart has been one of the most prolific handball champions in Northern California. His winning career began back in 1986 when he won the 23-and-under USHA National Championship. He has gone on to win 2 National Singles titles: 1991 Open Singles and 2015 50+ Singles. Lennart has been a finalist in 25 Bay Area major tournaments, winning 15+ championships. While he excels at the National level with Singles titles, most of his Bay Area wins are in doubles, featuring numerous partners.
Doubles partners have included David Wyrsch, Randy Morones, Mike McDonald, Frank Vasquez, Brendon McDevitt, and Wayne Salo. These wins have not been easy, beating outstanding teams such as Emmett Peixoto/Chris Tico, Vince Munoz/Naty Alvarado Jr., David Chapman/Chris Tico, Tati Silveyra/Naty Alvarado Jr., Rich and Mike Dunne, Norm and Mike Dunne, and Mike McDonald/Chris Tico.
Lennart's handball accomplishments over the past 30+ years are based on a number of factors. He is one of the best at shot selection, to either win a point or put an opponent on defense. He has a great power game that is effective in both singles and doubles. Lennart has no weakness, he is simply the all-around complete player, with strengths on both offense and defense, and titles to prove it. Lennart is both feared and respected as and opponent. He has been a crowd favorite for decades. Congratulations and welcome to the NorCal Hall-of-Fame!
1986 36th USHA Nationals
Houston, Texas
23-and-Under National Championship
June 13th-21st, 1986
Lennart d. Mike McDonald 21-9,(19-21), 11-5.
1986 San Jose Labor Day Open Tournament
San Jose YMCA
Open Doubles
Lennart De La Torre/David Wyrsch winners.
=> Scoop '93 Sep p.6
1990 8th Annual Hall-of-Fame Tournament
Olympic Club
Open Doubles
Lennart De La Torre/David Wyrsch winners.
1991 Dick Bachman Memorial
21st Point in Mountain View
Lennart De La Torre/David Wyrsch d. Rich & Mike Dunne 31-21.
1991 Open Singles USHA National Champion
1991 San Jose Labor Day Open Tournament
San Jose YMCA
Open Doubles
Lennart De La Torre/David Wyrsch d. Mike Dunne Jr/Norm Dunne.
1991 9th Annual Hall-of-Fame Tournament
Olympic Club
Open Doubles
Lennart De La Torre/David Wyrsch d. Mike Dunne Jr/Pat Bowen 21-11,(16-21),11-8.
Note:
Len/Dave beat David Chapman/Chris Tico in the quarter-finals 21-15,21-12.
Len/Dave beat Tati Silveyra/Naty Alavarado Jr in the semi-finals 21-17,21-16.
Len/Dave beat Mike Dunne Jr/Pat Bowen in the finals 21-11,(16-21),11-8.
Note: Scoop '93 Jan p.4.
1992 California State Championships
Fresno Open
Four Walls West, Fresno
Open Doubles
Lennart De La Torre/David Wyrsch won (in round-robin)
playing Key/Dennis "Boom Boom" Haynes & Vince Munoz/Naty Alvarado Jr
Note: Scoop '92 Nov p.4 and p.28
1992 San Jose Labor Day Open Tournament
San Jose YMCA
Open Doubles
Lennart De La Torre/Randy Morones won (in round-robin)
d. Guy Hoover/Rob Nichols 21-6,21-13.
d. Pat Bowen/Gary Pezzi 21-7,21-14.
d. John Libby/Dunne 21-10,21-6.
Note: Scoop '92 Nov p.15
1993 Chico Handball Tournament
Open Doubles
Lennart De La Torre/Wayne Salo d.
Goodman/Holcomb.
1999 Cinco De Mayo
South End Rowing Club
Open Doubles
Lennart De La Torre/Brendon McDevitt d. Mike McDonald/Chris Tico.
Note: Scoop '99 Nov
1999 17th Annual Hall-of-Fame Tournament
Olympic Club
Open Doubles
Lennart De La Torre/David Wyrsch d. Mike McDonald/Chris Tico 21-17,21-6.
Note: Lennart/David beat Rich Dunne/Mark Ohleyer in the semi-finals 21-13,21-10.
2000 Cinco De Mayo
South End Rowing Club
Open Doubles
Lennart De La Torre/Brendon McDevitt.
Note: Scoop 2000 June
2002 Turkey Shoot
Parkpoint Club Santa Rosa
Open Doubles
Lennart De La Torre/David Wyrsch d. Norm Dunne/Chris Tico.
2007 25th Annual Hall-of-Fame Tournament
Olympic Club
Open Doubles
Lennart De La Torre/Frank Vasquez d. Mike McDonald/Artie Ward 21-19,21-15.
2012 30th Annual Hall-of-Fame Tournament
South End Rowing Club (SERC)
Open Doubles
Lennart De La Torre/Mike McDonald d. Emmett Peixoto/Jim Peixoto 21-11,21-19.
2015 USHA 4-Wall National Championships
Men's 50+ Singles
Lennart De La Torre d. Gregorio Tellez 21-2,21-19.
2015 Sacramento Open
Sac Elks Lodge, Riverside Athletic Club and the Capital
Athletic Club.
A Singles
Lennart De La Torre d. Tyler Martin 21-17,21-19.
2015 33st Annual Hall-of-Fame Tournament
at the San Mateo Elk's Lodge
Men's Open Doubles
Lennart De La Torre/David Wyrsch d. Arturo "Lefty" Suarez/Anthony Sullivan 21-13,21-14.