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March in Gardnerville, Nevada is an unpredictable month regarding the weather – it may be snowing like there is no tomorrow, but the sun may also welcome visitors. This last one was the case on Saturday, when Mendiko Euskaldun Cluba celebrated its annual Mus Tournament. “It was another successful edition,” said Becky Sarratea, president of the Basque Club, to EuskalKultura.com. “The good weather helped to attract more players.” Miguel Perez and Agustin Oroz won the tournament.

Gardnerville, NV, USA. The Gardnerville first three clasified teams will represent Mendiko Euskaldun Cluba at the NABO finals to be celebrated in Homedale, Idaho on May 30. While most Basque Clubs have one team representing them at the big game, this euskal etxea usually has three, “because our tournament is so big,” explained Sarratea.

Last Saturday’s edition was the most successful of the last five years. “66 teams came to play. Our highest number of participating teams was 75, some years ago, but in the last five years we haven’t had more than 50.” The reason for that, she thinks, is the weather: “If there is snow people prefer not to drive.”

Luckily, the sun shined last Saturday and 132 players gathered at the CVI Casino. Registration started at 7:30 a.m. and the last game finished at around 6:30 p.m.. Some players were from the area. Nevertheless, other teams drove from as far as Fresno, California, for about eight hours or from San Francisco. “We feel proud when we see players come from so far away –indicated the president−. For us it's like ‘why do they want to come here?,’ it’s amazing, it’s a total honor.” But, probably, the most notable foreign players are the Etchemendys: Mark, Robert, and J.B. Native of Arizona, these nephews of Mattin Etchemendy, usually fly to Gardnerville every other year, to participate in the tournament.

“Every year we also have more young players, and it’s nice to see that.”  “Everybody likes to come here, and that’s a pleasure for us,” Sarratea finished.

Miguel Perez and Agustin Oroz won the tournament, while Manuel Villanueva and Tony Campos got second, and Kristina and David Alfaro third.