It's back.

The Bob Symon Memorial Handball Tournament has returned to the St. Joseph YMCA for a second straight year with opening matches held Friday night.

The tournament originated in 1972 and was held annually until 1985, when the lack of funds halted it.

In 2003, after years of encouragement from some of his fellow handball aficionados, Jon Symon resurrected the event, which bears his late father's name.

“I couldn't be more pleased with the event,” Jon Symon said. “I'm sure I speak for my father and I know he would be overwhelmed with this.”

This year's field features 48 participants — up from 40 last year — who will compete in six different groupings of eight: championship, contenders, masters 50s, masters 40s, masters 60 and masters 65.

Jim Consentino, chairman of the Bob Symon Handball Committee and associated with the tournament every year since 1973, was responsible for inviting most of the participants in this year's field.

“It takes a lot of phone calls, pulling legs and pulling hair,” Consentino said. “We invite people personally, so I do a lot of traveling.”

Consentino has been busy loading this year's field with six of the top 20 handball players in the nation.

Marcos Chavez, 29, highlights the championship bracket. He is currently ranked No. 8 nationally. Chavez, from Buena Park, Calif., won two doubles national titles last year. He now has his sights set on winning a singles national title.

“It seems like there are a lot of people here who enjoy the game,” said Chavez, who is participating in his first Bob Symon Tournament.

Allan Garner, of San Antonio, Texas, also makes his first appearance in the event. He is hoping for a good showing in the championship flight.

“I hope to win it,” Garner said. “I want to give it my best. Marcos is the favorite, but I've pulled off some upsets in some of the tournaments I've played in.”

Garner, who is 18, won the under 19 2003 national championship.

Another new addition to this year's field is Jon Symon's son, Scot Symon.

“I am so pleased to see Scot in this year's field,” Jon Symon said.

Scot Symon, 31, decided after last year's event to begin playing handball so he could participate this year.

“I am pretty excited about competing,” Scot Symon said. “When I was a kid I was always around the tournament and being around my dad, helping him reorganize the event, I realized I needed to start playing.”

Scot Symon will meet Matt Campion at 8:45 a.m. today in the contenders bracket.

Games will continue all day today at the YMCA, culminating Sunday with the championships set at 9 a.m.. The championship flight title match will be at 11:30 a.m. Sunday.