Missouri State University Handball Team
In 1987, Dr. Tommy Burnett started what would become one of the most successful collegiate handball programs in the country. After multiple national titles, All-Americans, and championships the program has flourished. The entire program is a member of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame (2011) and the women’s team was inducted again in 2021. The handball team resides at the Dr. Thomas H. Burnett Handball Courts at Missouri State University. Dr. Burnett passed away in July of 2021, but the legacy and program continue.
Missouri State University Handball Team
Missouri State University Women’s Handball Team Win Another Collegiate National Handball Title
February 22-26, 2023
Tucson, Arizona
The United States Handball Association’s (USHA) National Collegiate Handball Tournament was held in Tucson, Arizona and hosted 180 players from approximately thirty (30) universities. The tournament was February 22-26, 2022.
The women’s team captured another national title, to make it eighteen (18) total national titles for the Hall of Fame team and program. Women competing on this year’s team: Taylor Bell (again finished in the open division), Bri Still, Nicole Walker, Dixie Dowell, Elaina Wilson, Ryan Santoni, Racelyn Mathis, and Beca Clarida who received the national “Spirit of Handball Award”.
The men’s team finished third in a very competitive field, with Minnesota State-Mancato winning the men’s division and Lake Forest coming in second. Men competing for the team: Christian Madsen, Trey Safford, Hayden Hopkins, Gage Smart, Sam Hall, Louis Bailon, Peyton Strand, Jimmy Daidone, Grant Morris, Scotty Rice, Trent Rogers, and Devon Moyer (injured). Madsen finished in the open division and was awarded the USHA scholarship.
The Combined Team Championship this year went to Minnesota State University-Mancato, with Missouri State University finishing as Runner-Up.
The Missouri State Handball Team is proud to have such a successful handball program and proud to represent their university. Teams competed from all over the country, and from Ireland. Missouri State, Minnesota State-Mancato, University of Texas, Angelo State University, University of Texas A&M, Utah State, Pacific University, plus several others.
Missouri State University has now captured a total of eight (8) Men's Team titles, eighteen (18) Women's team titles, and the Combined Team (Men and Women) have won the National Collegiate Championships fifteen (15) times since 1993. The entire program was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2011 and in 2021 the women’s team was inducted a second time for their continued success.
Missouri State Handball Team - About
“Handball is the perfect sport. This program is about students staying fit and healthy and competing with a team that embraces them. It gives them the chance to belong to something bigger than themselves and travel the country representing their university. Students come, they study, they play, they get a degree, they make a sports family for life.”
— Dr. Tommy Burnett