Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/1044521
22 WAC Magazine | wac.net Handball Meet the athlete Exercise of the month Instructor insights Handball posters on the 6th Floor of the Clubhouse speak to the history of the sport, enjoyed by players and spectators alike. u L I N D S E Y W A S S O N When former Seattleite Noel B. Clarke wanted a place where he could take a steam, get a shave, and most important, play handball, he inspired the creation of the WAC. Since the Club's doors opened in 1930, handball has been a time-honored sporting tradition—one that 91-year-old member Jack Bookey has been a part of since joining the WAC in 1999. Jack began playing handball as a boy in Brooklyn, New York. "As kids, we loved just throwing a ball against the wall," he recalled recently during a break from practice. "Eventually, someone at the park taught us the rules to one-wall handball. I've been playing ever since." As Jack recalled his early days with the sport, the thud of handballs slam- ming against walls reverberated from nearby courts. Jack is part of a group of handball players who have helped keep the tradition alive and well on the 6th Floor of the WAC. Every Monday, Wednesday and Fri- day at noon, a group gathers for an hour or more of play, chitchat, and Living Fit The original WAC tradition Handball, the Club's oldest sport, is still going strong The 35th annual WAC Handball Classic takes place Friday–Sunday, January 18–20, 2019. The tournament is open to all players and attracts entries from around the Pacific Northwest. Roughly 80 players are expected this year, and compe- tition takes place all day on courts around the Club. Spectators are welcome! wac.net/handball-classic Handball Classic