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.
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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
