Estados Unidos: This past week the kids of Allenton Elementary school took home the first medals ever awarded by the USFA in an organized youth fistball tournament.

This past week the kids of Allenton Elementary school took home the first medals ever awarded by the USFA in an organized youth fistball tournament.


 The Allenton Blue 1 team took home the Gold medals after narrowly defeating the Allenton Blue 3 team in a hard-fought championship match. The teams successfully defended multiple match points until finally Allenton Blue 1 was able to claw out a 2-point nail-biter victory.  The players celebrated with gold, silver, and bronze medals as well as post-game popsicles.


The tournament was a culmination of efforts by Allenton Elementary Principal Angela Wickus, Physical Education teacher Mary Campbell, and USFA president Jim Blank. Mrs. Wickus originally learned of fistball through the classes offered by the USFA at the Kettle Moraine YMCA.  She suggested that team USA present at an all-school assembly at Allenton Elementary back in January. Coach Gastão Englert’s presentation had the kids laughing and cheering as loud as they could.  The event was such a big hit with the students and their energy level was so high that USFA President Jim Blank stated the next logical step was to host a tournament for the kids so they could get hands-on experience playing the game of fistball.  Mrs. Wickus sent a signup sheet for a potential tournament home with the 5th grade class and the response was overwhelming as thirty kids signed up.


Mary Campbell, Allenton Elementary’s physical education teacher, added fistball to her lesson plan for the month of April/May and USFA President Jim Blank along with a couple of team USA players came to Allenton on Tuesday nights to practice with the kids. The kids honed their fistball skills from week to week and their efforts culminated with last week’s USFA youth tournament.


Jim Blank plans to continue to partner with local schools in the future to generate more interest and participation in the sport. Players interested in playing more fistball are welcome to attend the FREE USFA fistball clinic and picnic being hosted at the new USFA fields at the Jackson Town Hall complex on May 31st from 1-3:30 pm. The Jackson Parks & Recs department is also offering youth and adult fistball leagues on Thursdays starting in June. See page 21 of the Jackson Parks and Recs department flyer for details!
Photos courtesy of Dean Paynter

Allenton Fistball Tournament Group Photo with Medals

USFA President Jim Blank coaching Allenton Blue 1

Tournament Champions Allenton Blue 1

Allenton Blue 3 showing off their Silver Medals

Allenton Red Bronze Medalists celebrate with popsicles after the tournament

Allenton Red Bronze Medalists

Tournament Organizers (2011 Team USA player Dan Paynter, Allenton Principal Angela Wickus, USFA President Jim Blank, and Allenton Phy-Ed Teacher Mary Campbell)

Fotos gentileza federación estadounidense.

 Fuente: http://usfistball.com/