Lake Forest College Handball has been around since 1968, the year current Coach Michael Dau ’58 brought the sport to the Forest. He learned the game in the Marines after attending Lake Forest College, which led him to create the varsity program at our school today. Coach Dau still continues to coach the National Championship team, which clinched its 50th National Title last year. In just a couple weeks, the men’s and women’s team will fly to Phoenix, Arizona to fight for a spot on top at this year’s National Collegiate Championships at Arizona State University.
This year, the Foresters have been practicing and conditioning every day and lifting twice a week to prepare for the big tournament.
“I look forward to what will be our greatest challenge as a team since I have been here,” Anthony Collado ’17 said. “I believe the team knows our competition and has been working harder than ever to bring home the title again.”
The Foresters have participated in two recent tournaments—the Illinois State Singles Tournament and the Indianapolis Circle City Tournament—which were two successful weekends for the Foresters. At the Illinois State Singles Tournament, Leo Canales ’18 and Kyra Vidas ’18 took home the runner-up title for both the Men’s and Women’s Open Division. Carter Kounovsky ’18 took home the Men’s B Division title, while Anthony Collado ’17 clinched the Men’s Open Division Consolation title.
Run by Lake Forest College Handball Alumni, the Indianapolis Tournament gives the Foresters a good look at two collegiate teams, the University of Illinois and the University of Cincinnati. Anthony Collado ’17 and Leo Canales ’18 played against each other in the Men’s Open Finals, where Collado came out on top. Together, Collado and Canales took home the Doubles Title. Kyra Vidas ’18 finished second in the Women’s Open Division, but with her partner, Sophia Goss ’17, the duo defeated University of Illinois rivals in the Women’s Doubles Finals to take home the championship. Carter Ostrander ‘19 and David Carrillo ‘19 clinched their Men’s C Division Doubles title, while Carrillo was the runner-up in the Men’s C Division Singles bracket.
Sophia Goss ’17 said, “My favorite part of handball is the people and how challenging the game is. Hopefully we can bring home another national championship, but I look forward to the competitive atmosphere, the amazing talent everyone brings, and it not being 20 degrees in Arizona!”
As the season is coming to an end, the Foresters will continue to work and fight for a top spot at the National Collegiate Tournament.
