lennart De La Torre
San Mateo Elks Lodge
Inducted as a Player in 2021
By Tom Fitzwater & Mike Linnik
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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1986 San Jose Labor Day Open Tournament
San Jose YMCA
Open Doubles
Lennart De La Torre/David Wyrsch winners.
=> Scoop '93 Sep p.6
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1990 8th Annual Hall-of-Fame Tournament
Olympic Club
Open Doubles
Lennart De La Torre/David Wyrsch winners.
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1991 Dick Bachman Memorial
21st Point in Mountain View
Lennart De La Torre/David Wyrsch d. Rich & Mike Dunne 31-21.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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1993 Chico Handball Tournament
Open Doubles
Lennart De La Torre/Wayne Salo d.
Goodman/Holcomb.
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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
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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
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2002 Turkey Shoot
Parkpoint Club Santa Rosa
Open Doubles
Lennart De La Torre/David Wyrsch d. Norm Dunne/Chris Tico.
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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.
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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.
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2015 USHA 4-Wall National Championships
Men's 50+ Singles
Lennart De La Torre d. Gregorio Tellez 21-2,21-19.
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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.
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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.