Al Spencer and George Cavooris have played handball for more than half a century.
But last month, the Capital District duo won their first national championship.
Spencer and Cavooris defeated players from New York City, Miami, St. Paul and San Diego to claim the 80+ men’s doubles title at the United States Handball Association’s Masters Championships in Allentown, Pa.
I’ve played against some good competition before, but we’ve never won anything of this magnitude before, said Cavooris, a retired New York City fireman living in Clifton Park.
`George has been through very few national championships, but I’ve been to quite a few over the last 18 years,` said Spencer, who lives in Albany. `I’ve won the consolation three times as a singles player.`
Cavooris and Spencer’s first match proved to be the toughest as they took on two former national master’s singles champions ` Sonny Schaefer of New York City and Joe Lenhardt of San Diego. Cavooris and Spencer won the first game 21-13, but Schaefer and Lenhardt took the second game 21-19 to force a tiebreaker. Cavooris and Spencer found the energy to defeat Schaefer and Lenhardt 11-5 in the tiebreaker.
Once they got past Schaefer and Lenhardt, Cavooris and Spencer had a clear road to the national title. They defeated Arnold Rinker (Miami) and Ted Bergstrom (St. Paul) 21-9, 21-18 to complete the round-robin tournament with a 2-0 record.
It was the first time Cavooris and Spencer played as a doubles team at the national tournament.
`When George and I both turned 80, we said let’s give it a shot,` said Spencer. `It was kind of nice [to win the title].`
`It’s a game we love,` said Cavooris. `We play regularly down at the Colonie Court Club.`
Both players discovered handball when they were young men.
`I didn’t even know about the sport until I was 25,` said Spencer, who’s been playing since 1956. `I started playing when I was 26, and I haven’t stopped since.`
Cavooris said he picked up the sport in 1960 when he was living near New York City and liked the challenge of mastering it.
`You have to play with your hands [instead of a racket],` said Cavooris. `And you know how most people are right-handed? Well, you have to use both hands in handball. That’s what makes it a difficult sport to learn.`
Though their bodies aren’t as spry or as easily able to shrug off pain as they once were, Cavooris and Spencer still play handball regularly at Colonie Court Club.
`Usually, we have pains in our knees, our elbows and our shoulders because of the sport,` said Cavooris. `But it keeps your heart healthy and keeps you moving.`
`I notice that after I play for three hours and come home, I don’t nap for 15 minutes anymore ` I nap for two hours,` said Spencer. `Once I get up, though, I have plenty of energy.`
Repeating as national champions might be difficult for Cavooris and Spencer. With next year’s tournament being in Texas, Cavooris said he won’t make the trip, and Spencer said he has to wait and see how many teams will be competing in the 80+ age division.
`I would say yes, but only if there are three teams,` said Spencer. `If there’s not three teams, then I’d have to play against 75-year-olds, and I don’t want to do that.`
If they don’t get the chance to defend their national title, Cavooris and Spencer said they’re fine with the one they’ve got.
`We enjoyed it very much. It’s a big honor,` said Cavooris.“
