World's best to play Saturday in Chicago Alex Leopold of USA Team Handball July 15, 2010 The Battle of Chicago is only days away, and two of team handball’s world powers are gearing up for what will be the most broadly exposed team handball match in the United States outside of the Olympics. Poland, ranked 4th in the world, has arguably had greater success of late, having won a bronze medal at the 2009 World Championships and a fourth place finish in the 2010 European Championships. Despite winning the World Championship only three years ago in 2007, the 5th ranked Germans are going through a bit of a rebuilding process as they try to work their way towards their third Olympic medal in men’s team handball in London 2012. They were eliminated from the Main Group (second round of group play) at the 2009 World Championships and placed only 10th in the 2010 European Championships. The Germans, however, brought a host of handball stars to Chicago, including Pascal Hens, who is impossible to miss at 6’7’’ with platinum blond mohawk. The tall German left back is the current star of HSV Hamburg and helped them earned a second place in the 2009/2010 Toyota Handball Bundesliga season. Hens will surely amaze the UIC Pavilion crowd with his dominating high-flying style of play that accentuates his powerful shooting stroke. The rest of Germany’s stars have also made the trip to the United States, including Michael Kraus, Oliver Roggisch and Patrick Groetzki. Kraus netted 167 goals this past season for TBV Lemgo of Germany’s Toyota Handball Bundesliga Poland lacks no shortage of its own stars. Goalkeeper Slawomir Szmal, the 2009 International Handball Federation World Player of the Year, is widely regarded as one of the best in the world at his position. Szmal will be familiar with many of his opponents Saturday, as he plays for Rhein-Neckar Löwen in Germany. The Polish team also features two sets of brothers, the Lijewski’s and the Jurecki’s, who will look to impose their will on the Germans. Marcin and Krzysztof Lijewski are both teammates of Germany’s Hens at HSV Hamburg. Marcin was chosen as the best right back player in both the 2007 and 2009 World Championships. Bartosz and Michal Jurecki play their club handball in SC Magdeburg (Germany) and KS Vive Kielce (Poland), respectively. Poland awarded Bartosz with the Golden Cross of Merit in 2007 which recognizes service to the state; it is the most prestigious civilian award in Poland. Both coaches are looking forward to showcasing their talents in front of a unique crowd and hope to help establish the sport of team handball in the United States. “It is the first step. You have to make of those steps to introduce Team Handball to the US. The US has the capacity to [establish team handball] with all of the beautiful sport halls,” said Poland Head Coach Bogdan Wenta. Poland will also be particularly keen on impressing the crowd, as Chicago holds the second biggest population of Poles in the world behind Warsaw – Poland’s capital. Wenta said, “We will do our best especially for all the fans here. There are many Polish people here and we want to do our best for them.” Germany’s Head Coach Heiner Brand views the Battle of Chicago as a critical building block for his team looking ahead to the important tournaments. “It is also important to be together and play as one looking ahead to the World Championship and for qualification for the European Championship,” said Brand. Reflecting upon what the match could mean for team handball, not just in the United States, but also the world, Brand said, “It would really be something else if handball were to become popular in the United States." Germany and Poland are not the only two squads facing off on July 17th at the UIC Pavilion, as the United States Men’s National Team will take on the Los Angeles Team Handball Club – the 2010 Men's Elite Champion. The young United States squad, coached by 1996 Olympian Darrick Heath, will look to use the talents of wingers Alex Mullin and Paul Key, who both play for clubs in Germany, as well as Adam El Zoghby – a hard-throwing lefty right back. Patrick Truninger coaches the Los Angeles Team Handball Club and brings with him an older squad compared to the United States; however, the team boasts a deal of experience. Several of his players have played for the national teams of countries across the globe. TV audiences across nine major U.S. markets will be able to see this exciting team handball double header on Comcast Sports Group’s regional sports networks. Furthermore the game will be broadcast live in Germany with live coverage of the event in Poland being announced soon. Tickets for the Battle of Chicago are on sale now at Ticketmaster and at the UIC Pavilion's box office. World's Best Arrive; TV Times Announced July 14, 2010 As members of the German, Polish and USA National teams took to the SnapSports practice courts today in Chicago, Comcast Sports Net and USA Team Handball announced broadcast times for this weekend's Battle of Chicago. All of both country's stars are on hand, including Germany's Pascal Hens, Michael Kraus, Oliver Roggisch and Patrick Groetzki; Polish stars include the Lijewski brothers, Jurecki brothers and Slawomir Szmal. USA will take on LA Team Handball at 11am (CT), followed by Germany vs Poland at 1pm (CT). Good seats remain available by calling Ticketmaster or visiting the UIC Pavilion box office. Station/Market/Times TCN / Philadelphia (LIVE) CSN Mid-Atlantic / Washington D.C. & Baltimore / (LIVE) CSN Bay Area / San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, Reno / July 19 @ 6:30pm, 8:00pm & July 20 @ 2:30pm/4pm CSN Chicago / July 18 @ 3pm, 4pm; July 19 @ 7pm; July 21 @ 7pm CSN New England / Boston / (Live - tentative) CSN Northwest / Portland & Seattle / July 18, July 19, July 23 - check local listings CSS / Atlanta / July 19 @ 4pm and July 25 @ 12:30pm The Mtn / Salt Lake City & Denver / August 8 @ 10pm & 11pm The following is taken from teamhandballnews.com and is NOT affiliated with USA Team Handball Live Handball… On TV… In the USA! John Ryan blog Well, I’m eagerly awaiting my departure out of Vegas for Chicago this evening. This Saturday’s matches should be a real treat for American Handball fans and should be the the biggest Handball event in the U.S. ever outside of the 1984 and 1996 Olympics. The Germany and Poland rosters have most of their top players listed and while it’s a friendly match the unique atmosphere and the rivalry between these two teams should provide a memorable contest. Also of interest will be the warm up match between Team USA and the Los Angeles Team Handball Club. For many of these players this will be their very first opportunity to play in front of a large crowd and a live TV audience. Come again? A live TV broadcast of Handball in the United States? Really? OK. Say it with me. A live TV broadcast of Handball in the United States. Soak in the reality. Say it with me one more time. A live TV broadcast of Handball in the United States! OK, it’s on a regional network, but this is still a very significant first for this country. And with the availability of Direct TV and Dish Network what’s on one regional network actually is available to millions all across the country. If you have either of those two satellite options the channels for watching live are 642 for Direct TV and 424 for the Dish Network. Tape delay options will be also be available on other channels in the days and weeks to come. Game Times USA vs. Los Angeles, 12:00 PM (East Coast Time) Germany vs. Poland, 2:00 PM (East Coast Time) One final note: Along with Kenn Tomasch I will be providing the TV commentary for the USA vs. Los Angeles match. Christer Ahl, will be in Chicago as well. If you’re in Chicago, don’t hesitate to chat us up about Handball and the website. John Ryan on Thursday 15 July 2010 - 09:14:18
USATH announces athlete and coach selection processes for Pan Am qualifiers USA Team Handball July 26, 2010 Individuals interested in applying for the interim head coach position for the men's or women's national team at the Pan American Games qualifiers must apply by August 1, 2010 by e-mailing mariusz@usateamhandball.org. Male athletes interested in competing in the Pan American Game qualifiers should read and complete the document "Men's National Team Selection" here. Women's instructions are forthcoming. In preparation for the Pan American Game qualification matches with Canada, tentatively scheduled for December 21 and 23 (USA Men's National Team) and January 2 and 4, 2011 (USA Women's National Team), USA Team Handball hereby declares the following procedures for coach selection: The Interim Head Coach (“coach”) of each team shall be chosen by decision of a committee consisting of: 1) General Manager 2) Technical Director 3) Athlete Advisory Council representative Eligible individuals interested in applying for the position of men's head coach shall: 1) Submit a letter of interest no later than Sunday, August 1, to the Technical Director of USA Team Handball via e-mail to: mariusz@usateamhandball.org 2) Have high level, specific technical and tactical knowledge of modern handball. 3) Demonstrate proven experience coaching a men’s Team Handball team in the United States or abroad: a. in a professional league, or b. for a federation national team (senior, junior or youth level), or c. in a significant pre-Olympic competition such as U.S. Sports Festival. 4) Be available to train the MNT Pool Team during selection camp (TBD) and USATH Men’s National Team from December 16 through December 23 in Lake Placid and/or Cortland, NY as well as in Montreal, Canada or other designated city. 5) Exhibit proven ability to establish harmonious relationships with athletes and other Team and Federation personnel. 6) Be available to evaluate candidates for the MNT during selected fall domestic competitions (TBD). 7) Not be under any suspension by USA or any national or continental federation. 8) Pass USATH approved background check prior to nomination. Eligible individuals interested in applying for the position of women's head coach shall: 1) Submit a letter of interest no later than Sunday, August 1, to the Technical Director of USA Team Handball via e-mail to: mariusz@usateamhandball.org 2) Have high level, specific technical and tactical knowledge of modern handball. 3) Demonstrate proven experience coaching a women’s Team Handball team in the United States or abroad: a. in a professional league, or b. for a federation national team (senior, junior or youth level), or c. in a significant pre-Olympic competition such as U.S. Sports Festival. 4) Be available to train the Women’s NT Pool Team during open tryout selection camp (Oct. 14-17, 2010, Chapel Hill, NC) and USATH Women’s National Team from December 26 through January 5 in Colorado Springs, CO. 5) Exhibit proven ability to establish harmonious relationships with athletes and other Team and Federation personnel. 6) Be available to evaluate candidates for the MNT during selected fall domestic competitions (TBD). 7) Not be under any suspension by USA or any national or continental federation. 8) Pass USATH-approved background check prior to nomination. There shall be no compensation for these positions and the coaches may be required to pay his/her own expenses to attend camps and/or events. A Six-pack of Important Announcements by Steve Pastorino / July 28, 2010 It was an auspicious month for several members of the USA handball community - without any of them setting foot on the court. Congratulations to Jordan Fithian and Jennifer Haubrich who were married on July 10, jetted away on a honeymoon and are now packing for Germany, where both begin training camp with their new teams next week. Likewise, congrats to Brian & Kimberly Walsh, who were married this past week in New Jersey. The Walsh's are hoping to pack their bags for Germany in the coming weeks as we await the Army's approval for Brian to return to the Army’s World Class Athlete Program and play for Longericher SC. Third, Southwest Regional Director Pat Coggin and his wife Sara welcomed Elizabeth Ann to the world on July 27 in Texas. Reports are all the Coggins are healthy and happy! Meantime, we’re turning our focus to 2010-11 handball season with a couple of important announcements. 1) We’re ready to fight for a berth in the 2011 Pan Am Games. Negotiations are in place for a pair of matches against Canada (men and women) around Christmas / New Year’s – with the winner earning the North American bid to Guadalajara. 2) The USATH Board of Directors met on Thursday, July 15. 3) The USATH Board is seeking a third athlete representative. Any active athlete who participated in the 2009-10 season is eligible to be nominated. This athlete representative will join David Thompson and Tomuke Ebuwei as athletes on the USATH board. The board meets quarterly with participation via conference call or in person. If you would like to be placed on the ballot, please send an email to aac@usateamhandball.org by August 6 with your name, contact information and a one-paragraph biography. The election will follow immediately. It's hard to believe that Flanders is less than 10 days away! Enjoy the waning days of summer everyone! Hines Steps Up to Third League by Steve Pastorino / July 19, 2010 German third-division side HSC Bad Neustadt is reporting that it has signed Gary Hines for the 2010-11 season. Last year, Hines opened eyes across Germany by becoming the first player ever to score 300 goals in one season in the 4th division Bayernliga. Post Battle Report by Patric Coggin / July 19, 2010 As this is my first blog after returning from my deployment, I want to thank a few people, starting with Julie Wilke. In addition to covering the region while I was gone she has done a great job with the Boys and Girls Club program this summer, covering four teams in the “Western League.” Additionally, I wanted to thank everyone in USATH for the wonderful transition back to normalcy. Finally, I want to thank everyone in the Southwest for their patience, as my time for many months leading up to and during my deployment was spread very thin between many duties. I wanted to update everyone on handball in the Southwest Region. Even though the adrenaline from the Battle of Chicago hasn’t even worn off yet, there is no time to rest here in the Southwest. This week and next, 8 Boys and Girls Clubs will complete all remaining competitions in the Texas Team Handball Youth League. Both boys and girls teams will compete for the title of Texas Youth Champions. Seeds are being planted to start a youth league in the city of Huntsville, where parents are getting very excited about the sport. With hundreds of 10-12 year olds playing the sport this year across Texas, work will soon be started to start a summer high school program, or “Futures,” next summer. Texas A&M Handball continues to grow. Houston Community College has officially started a club, and we are tracking possible start up clubs at UT Arlington and Oklahoma State next season. Work has begun to start a 4+ team “Southwest Regular Season,” that could spur competition and growth for upcoming years. I hope we all can continue to work hard and move forward to grow our sport. It isn’t easy, but after witnessing the Battle of Chicago, I have been reminded once again what this sport can become. I look forward to talking with you all, and hopefully seeing you all on the handball courts, soon. Handball Wins at Battle of Chicago by Steve Pastorino / July 19, 2010 The realization hit while sitting at the bar on Saturday night. I was joined by friends from America's handball community from Las Vegas, Washington, New York, Salt Lake City and Chicago. On-court results aside, USA Team Handball's Battle of Chicago was a success - if for no other reason than the valuable opportunity to bring people together to discuss and promote the current and future prospects for our sport. On the court, Germany edged Poland, 27-26, before a heavily Polish crowd at the UIC Pavilion. Prior to that 1pm game, the USA held off a late Los Angeles push to win 23-19. Thousands were on hand (more than 6,800 tickets sold and distributed), plus a television audience across the USA and Europe. The event has delivered 100's of stories in print, television, radio and online outlets. At least seven USA Olympians participated in some of the festivities, including Dave DeGraaf (currently living in Germany), Kathy Rex and Greg Morava (Colorado Springs), Bryant Johnson (Tampa), Yaro Dachniwsky (Chicago), Dennis Berkholtz and Darrick Heath (Atlanta). The Battle of Chicago was truly a gathering place. We've come a long way since St. Louis in the summer of 2008, where we barely mustered a dozen people to offer their insights into the job awaiting the then-fledgling USA Team Handball federation. The ability to host, produce and distribute an international event like the Battle of Chicago is a milestone. The week featured two games, three training camps, one coaching clinic, several parties and one board meeting. We watched a USA team featuring 16 players who have joined the National Team pool since 2008, not counting two who suited up for L.A. This young team is short on experience but long on heart - and comprises a basis to build upon in years to come. Game MVP Adam El-Zoghby was optimistic, yet grounded, about the USA's future. He has played at the highest levels in Egypt and Europe - but his willingness to lead the USA rebirth speaks volumes about his character, leadership ability and patriotism. Just imagine this team, we discussed at the bar, with Gary Hines, Jordan Fithian, Michael Williams, Hans Self and Chris Koerner - all of whom played the Spring 2010 season in Europe. We met McDavid - a potential new partner from Chicago whose Hex-Pad technology has the potential to drastically reduce the aches, pains and bruises that handball players pick up every time they step on the court. We met Gared, one of the leading manufacturers of goals, nets and gymnasium equipment. I visited the Chicago manufacturing facility operated by Grundfos, where nearly 50 employees gained their introduction to handball on Saturday. We also met many people from Sobieski (vodka), Ex-Libris (bookstore), Zywiec (beer) and Green Food & Produce (restaurant/gourmet food shop) - companies with their roots in Poland and their business plan firmly planted in America. It was a whirlwind week. Thursday, a dozen of us paused for a USATH Board of Directors meeting, approving enthusiastically plans to accelerate our grassroots development programs and to support competition at all levels from "beginner" to "National Team." On Wednesday we attended a reception held by four German organizations; while Thursday, the red carpet was rolled out at both the Polish Consulate and Wrigley Field. Thank you to everyone who participated, purchased tickets, volunteered, helped spread the word or watched on television. Your support of USA Team Handball is invaluable.
Women's Select Team Heading to Germany August 14, 2010 A USA Select Women’s Team will head to Germany to train and compete from August 19-29 in preparation for the December Pan Am Games Qualifiers against Canada. The team will play in two tournaments against top European club teams, sandwiched around a week of training hosted by Julia Sayer’s club, TSV Hahlen, in Minden. The Robert-Schumann Tournament, held in Oldenburg, Germany, will go from August 21-22. The second tournament will be in Bremen, Germany and takes place on August 28-29. Greg Morava, a 1984 USA Olympian, will coach the team, assisted by Julio Sainz from the LA Futures and Christine Witte, who recently returned to Germany after six months in the USA Team Handball offices in Chicago and Salt Lake City. The trip will be a valuable learning experience for the young USA squad whose average age is 18.5 years old. Three players to watch are 26-year-old Jen Fithian (formerly Haubrich), Julia Sayer, 23, and Karoline Borg, 19. Fithian signed last week with TV Mainzlar of the 2nd Bundesliga. Sayer plays for TV Hahlen of the German Third Division; while Borg is preparing for her first season in the Norwegian 1st Division. One of the newcomers on the team is 19-year-old Rebecca Crabb who is a right back and circle player on the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill handball team. The Omaha native is also a walk-on for the Tarheels women’s soccer team who are the defending national champions. Other teens making their international debuts for the USA include Molly Watkins and Katherine Bergsma of Los Angeles; Colorado Springs native Kaitlyn Brown; and Addie Holindrake and Jessie Macedo, who play for the Salt Lake Handball Club. Texas Youth League Regional Championships August 13, 2010 The Texas Team Handball Youth League Regional Championships took place on July 22nd for the East and West Regions. In its second year of its existence, the tournament saw its number of teams double from four to eight with over 200 kids aged from 9 to 12 partcipating. The teams are formed from the eight cities' Boys & Girls Clubs. Patric Coggin, the Southwest Regional Director for USA Team Handball, says that "The tournaments proves that team handball can prosper at the youth level in our country by utilizing our youth clubs that are already established in cities across the country." A fierce day of tightly-contested competition saw the boys team from Huntsville capture the East Region title for the second year in a row. Huntsville's girls would not be outdone as they also capture their second regional championship in a row. The West Region certainly played up to the "Wild West" moniker in the boys division as Killeen-Red would score in the dying seconds to defeat Georgetown 15-14. The icing on the cake for Killeen is that it is just their first year of competition. In the girls division, Georgetown would gain a bit of revenge for their boys team's heart-breaking loss by steamrolling its opponents, scoring 47 goals while only conceding 12 over the course of three matches. The tournament capped off a successful summer season for team handball in Texas. Each club had practiced twice a week for six weeks in preparation for the Regional Championships. "Everyone enjoyed themselves," says Coggin. "All the clubs said they wanted to do it again next year." West Point Handball Captain Given Highest Cadet Honor August 11, 2010 USA Team Handball would like to congratulate Marc Beaudoin, co-captain of West Point’s Handball Team, on his selection as First Captain of U.S. Military Academy’s Corp of Cadets for the 2010-2011 academic school year. It is the highest position a cadet can achieve. Beaudoin has put himself in rather elite company as other notable First Captains include John J. Pershing, Douglas MacArthur and William Westmoreland. According to West Point’s Press Release, as First Captain, or Brigade Commander as it is also called, Beaudoin will play a role similar to that of student body president. He will act as a liaison between the cadets and the administration and implement a class agenda. Beaudoin started serving in this capacity on August 9 when West Point’s 2014 class completed its basic training. Major Adam Hodges, a Physical Education instructor at West Point and former coach of West Point Men's Team Handball, recognized Beaudoin as a potential First Captain from the first time he met him. Hodges said “First time I met him, we had a 30-40 minute talk in my office. I came away from the meeting very impressed by him as an individual. I even told my wife: ‘I met this kid named Marc Beaudoin. Kid is in great shape and is the kind of guy that wouldn’t surprise me if he ends up being the First Captain.’ And here we are now, two and a half years later, he actually ends up being the First Captain.” Beaudoin has already been awarded the Truman’s Scholarship which is awarded to those who show outstanding leadership and a commitment to public service. He is also competing for the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship which further underlines his undying commitment to success. “Marc is one of the most driven individuals I have ever met,” said Hodges. “No one is ever going to work harder than him. Whenever we were traveling with team handball, I would get up for breakfast in the morning and Marc would already be up in the lobby studying. He is always trying to improve himself every chance he gets.“ West Point Men's Team Handball, of which Beaudoin is Co-Captain, was the winner of the 2010 Collegiate Nationals. As a left-hander, Beaudoin primarily plays the position of right wing but he may be seeing time this year at right-back according to Hodges. Beaudoin is one of many current and former West Point cadets who excel at team handball as Alex Mullin, Brian Walsh, Brian Lucas, Paul Key, Thomas Giordano, and Jason Borchik have all recently represented Team USA.
Staying in Denmark August 19, 2010 As the USA Select Team heads to Germany this week, it's worth noting that at least three girls won't be coming home immediately when the trip ends 10 days from now. Molly Watkins, Chanel Turner and Amber Turner are part of a 5-girl delegation headed to Bjerringbro, Denmark at the end of the month to spend the fall semester living, studying and playing handball abroad. Gaby Rapp and Jennie Bergsma will join them in the small town of 7,000 people located in the Jutland peninsular of Denmark. Bjerringbro is home to the world headquarters of USATH sponsor Grundfos - and its professional club Bjerringbro-Silkeborg is the official partner to the Salt Lake Handball Club. Allan Friis, is the Sports Chief of Bjerringbro FH, the youth club where the five American girls will integrate at either the U16 or U18 levels. "We have a lot of curious people over here," Friis said earlier this week."They can't wait to meet these American girls who play handball." Friis has worked diligently to help the Americans find host families, get registered (at least part-time) with Bjerringbro's lone high school and otherwise make the adjustment from American life to a rural Danish town. Arrival in Germany by Gabe Goodreau / August 20, 2010 So I arrived here in Germany after the 10 hour flight. The flight was not fun although I did make a friend. What are the chances that on a flight of probably 300 or more, the only 2 Americans would be sat right next to each other? It was fun to have somebody who understood why I was laughing at certain things (let me just tell you that Air Berlin has the coolest/funniest sound effects that go along with their safety video before the flight). I watched three movies on the flight and had two meals and probaby 17 cramps in my legs and neck and back but other than that it went very well. Today was a good day but it is going to take a few days to get used to everything here but I will get there. Christian picked me up from the train station after the train from the airport. We had a short drive, first to drop off a younger handballer playing on the U15 team, then over to the house I am staying in for a week or so until Mark arrives. So Christian dropped me off at the house and I was greeted warmly by Johann Osterwind. He showed me the house then proceeded to make me some food. It was bretzeln and some mini German sausage. It was good. I went and took a nap shortly there after because I did not really sleep on the flight and I was really tired. I was woken up when some of the other teammates came over and I went to practice with the team here in Dormagen. Practice was good. It felt good to do a little running and play some handball. All the guys in the house and on the team have been really nice and welcoming. I am hoping to do a little traveling around Germany in the next few days and hopefully meet up with the girls select team that is here now with some of the girls i coached. I am really tired and i know this is a little short, but this is just the first with many more to come. I am going to sleep now. Guten nacht! News from the Springs by Steve Pastorino / August 18, 2010 Colorado Springs -- USATH board member Jeff Utz and I presented the 2011-2016 High Performance Plan in person today to nearly two dozen members of US Olympic Committee senior leadership in the USOC's sparkling new downtown headquarters. It's always an honor to sit before this group which includes many Olympians, and rightfully deserves credit for our many Olympic successes for decades. We also welcomed two handball Olympians as guests for the presentations (Greg Morava and Kathy Rex). We're glad we could welcome them in recognition of their work to build up women's handball and the Futures program. Our presentation revisited our fundamental premises established in 2008: 1) the need to get 100,000 kids in America playing handball by 2016; and 2) the importance of training our top athletes in Europe. We are making a dent in the 100,000 figure, but still have a long way to go. On the European athlete side, however, we're now tracking 30 American athletes playing in Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany and Poland; plus Egypt and Tunisia. New additions include Gabe Goodreau, the MVG from 2010 Nationals who is headed to Germany; and Nicole Andersen, who lives in Sweden but will make her debut before USA coaches next week in Germany. Additionally, tomorrow, we hope to finalize a list of as many as six American women who will move to Bjerringbro, Denmark for at least the fall semester to study and play in one of the cradles of women's handball. Having had dinner with two of those Denmark-bound athletes tonight, it's an important reminder of the dreams and opportunities that USA Team Handball represent for our young athletes. I'll remember as much from our 90-minute dinner with them as I will from the four hours at USOC earlier today. Thank you, Athletes, for your dedication! We should learn by mid-October if the USOC continues to believe in our vision, management and programming. They demonstrated their support last year with a substantial improvement in funding - and we hope they see our work in the same positive light this time around.
Americans Abroad: Week 1 September 13, 2010 UPDATED Tuesday, September 14 at 12:30PM The new team handball season is now officially underway all across the world as most European clubs began play this past weekend. The Americans Abroad had a busy weekend in what promises to be the most successful season yet for Americans playing handball outside of the United States. Here are some updates on just a few of the Americans playing handball abroad... Adam El Zoghby - Back Court - Al-Ahly (Egypt) - Premier League The left-handed El Zoghby has helped his team to undefeated 8-0 start in the Egyptian Premier League. Jennifer Fithian - TV Mainzlar (Germany) - 2nd Division Fithian was unable to notch any goals in her debut for TV Mainzlar; however, it is significant that she has managed to secure playing time despite only being with her team a few short weeks. Unfortunately, her team fell to HSG-Torsteherin 20-26. She will look to build upon this performance and earn even more of her coaches' trust. Read the article on the game here: http://www.giessener-allgemeine.de/...t-_arid,206086_regid,1_puid,1_pageid,115.html Gary Hines - Back Court - Bad Neustadt (Germany) - 3rd Division Hines (#9) scored 7 goals but his new team succumbed to NES Bulls 26-32 this past weekend. Hines is looking to get on a goal-scoring track similar to the one that saw him notch a 300 goal season for DJK Waldbuttlebrun. Read the brief article on the game here (in German): http://www.kanal8.de/default.aspx?ID=1775&showNews=816550 Julia Sayer - Back Court - TSV Hahlen (German) - Oberliga (4th Division) Sayer (#11) and her team TSV Hahlen are off to a flying start with a 34:18 demolition of FC Vorwaerts Wettringen. Martin Clemons Axelsson - Center Back - Valerenga (Norway) - 1st Division Axelsson's team featured in a rare 26-26 tie against IL Runar Sandefjord in Norwegian 1st Division action. Bjerringbro FH Update September 17, 2010 Six American handball players were given a lengthy feature article complete with pictures in a Danish Newspaper. The Viborg Stift Folkeblad article is entitled "A Fun Challenge" and documents what both Bjerringbro FH and the six American girls are getting out of the unique experience and partnership. The article's author Af Danni Kristensen speaks primarily with Allan Friis, the Sports Chief of Bjerringbro FH, who stresses that his club's partnership with USA Team Handball will not dissipate after these American players return to the United States. Goalie Natascha King, the lone senior-level American player at Bjerringbro FH, is competing for the starting role at Bjerringbro FH and told the newspaper that "It is drastic that we came to Denmark to learn to play handball but the sport is so new, in the United States that If we are to do it correctly, we need to find our inspiration in other countries." The article also focuses on players like Molly Watkins who were only recently exposed to the game yet they are eager and willing to do anything to improve. "It is a little crazy after having only known the sport for six months to suddenly travel to a foreign country," said Watkins. The article is a great read on what USA Team Handball is trying to do in order to increase the quality of its handball players and shows the understanding from clubs like Bjerringbro FH that USA Team Handball is an excellent partner for the game's growth both in the present and in the future. Nastascha King, Molly Watkins, Amber Turner, Jennie Bergsma, Channel Turner, and Gabby Rapp are surely in good hands. Below is one of the key excerpts from the article. For Bjerringbro FH, cooperation with USA Team Handball is a fun challenge but as sports chief Allan Friis notes, they see this, first of all, as an experience. "I do not know yet what we can get out of it purely in terms of sport. This year we have been fortunate to get a goalie [Natascha King of Army] who can perhaps reach a high level, so she will benefit our 2nd Division women's team. We are to help develop [the other Americans], but I believe that we must take it as a experience," says Allan Friis. Americans come with an enormous training fervor so, in that way they can increase the intensity of training, while BFH, without a doubt, can increase their technical handball skills. At the same time, the approach of American youth has given [Bjerringbro FH] the opportunity to sign an additional list U16-team like the BFH has gotten lots attention out of the cooperation. USATH Intern Brings Handball to Chicago High School September 15, 2010 Prosser is just one of the many schools, clubs, and parks where Krueger has introduced and taught team handball. For the past two months, USATH intern Timo Krueger has been introducing and teaching the sport of team handball to kids across Chicago. One school the Cologne, Germany native has made a particularly strong impact is Prosser Career Academy High School where Krueger is running a week long handball clinic. Prosser's school newspaper, The Falconer, is running a short story on USA Team Handball and Krueger. Read the article below. Who are you, and why are you here? Timo Krueger of Germany visited Prosser Career Academy on a U.S.A. Team Handball Organization internship. Going from school to school, Prosser Career Academy was his first school in the CPS District. He began his internship with the Chicago Park District. Mr. Krueger was here working with the freshman and sophomore physical education classes during the second week of school. He began with a video presentation and then worked with students on the basic skills of team handball. When asked about his thoughts on his experience thus far, he replied by saying “With my management and coaching background, having this opportunity has been a great experience.” – CHRISTINE RINDFLEISCH MNT Training Camp-LA: Recap September 09, 2010 USA Team Handball held a Men's National Team Training Camp over Labor Day weekend in Los Angeles, California. 13 players participated in the camp that was led by Brad Nelson and Tamer Abouelkhir, a former goalie for the Egpytian national team. Abouelkhir insight was particularly appreciated by the goalies with one player stating that Abouelkhir "brought everyone to the next level." The focus of the camp was on the development of individual offensive and defensive skills and saw several fresh faces make immediate impressions. The camp was rife with former baseball players including Mark Denney, son of MLB pitcher John Denney. Denney stands in at 6'6" and is capable of throwing a baseball over 90 miles per hour. It is scary to imagine what he could do with a handball. Also joining Denney were 6'7'' Wade Clark, a former minor league baseball player in the Detroit Tigers organization, and 6'2'' Jon Brandt who played baseball for UCLA and was drafted by the San Diego Padres. The former baseball players were not the only towering precences at the camp as 17-year-old William Schmitt already measures 6'7" and is looking to further his handball development at the collegiate level. There were also several players from the U18 and Senior pools, who were looking to absorb the insight provided by Abouelkhir and Nelson, including Nick Allan, Devin Holman, and Daniel Osborne.
Women's Select Team in Havana November 01, 2010 The Women's Select Team is in Havana, Cuba and getting ready for two vital Pan American Championship qualifying games. Team USA faces hosts Cuba on Wednesday and Venezuela on Thursday. The Cubans go into the qualification tournament as favorites but Team USA and Venezuela will be looking to shock the home team as the teams battle for the two qualification spots available. Cuba faces Venezuela on Tuesday in the first game of the qualifcation tournament. Team USA will use Monday and Tuesday to practice and get acclimated to the unique environment of Havana, Cuba. Men's National Team Training Camp in Germany October 26, 2010 The Men's National Team training camp in Germany for European-based players is fully underway as the most of the team got together on Monday for their first practice under the watchful eyes of head coach Darrick Heath. Tuesday In the first of three matches against German clubs, Team USA took down Ober-Eschbach (Mark Ortega's club) 31-29 in a tight contest that saw the players trying to adjust to each other on Tuesday. Alex Mullin, a winger for SG Nussloch, said "Carson Chun played great defense in creating multiple turnovers while Gabe goodreau was solid in the goal." The offense came from Martin Clemons Axelsson and Gary Hines with Carsen Chun, also of SG Nussloch, calling it "the Gary Hines show." The game is the first step in a process in which they hope they are all able to become comfortable with each other both on and off the court. "Coach Heath is doing a great job bringing the team together during practice and the team is spending a lot of time together in between games during team meals," Mullin said. Tomorrow the team faces yet another tough opponent in Chun, Mullin, and Koerner's SG Nussloch. Wednesday Team USA fell to SG Nussloch 28-31 in the second of the third exhibition matches against German Clubs; however, their defense was much improved as the team has had more time together. Team Captain Mark Ortega said, "Some of the guys are starting to make huge improvements just from being able to get a couple games and practices in." After being down three at half time, the contest became even tighter which Ortega credited to the team's tactical switch to a 3-3 defense for the last nine minutes of the game. "There was a great effort by the two goalies Gabe Goodreau and Johnny Hie," Ortega said. "Johnny had a seven meter block at a key point in the game." While Team USA was unable to pull off the victory, it seems like positive steps have been made and that the players on the right path for all-important success in December. THURSDAY On the day that the official Men's National Team roster was announced, Team USA left it all out on the court as they knocked off hosts (Jordan Fithian and Hans Self's club) SG Bruchkoebel 31-30 in thrilling fashion. "The game was won with passion and pride," Mark Ortega said. "It was a great representation of Team USA's heart." With the team down by five in the second half, things looked bleak for the European-based American players but a tactical switch from head coach Darrick Heath to a 3-3 defensive formation made all the difference. Team USA forced turnover after turnover which led to easy scoring opportunities. The game was all tied up with three seconds when Team USA found the back of net to seize victory from SGB's clutches. Pan American Games Qualifier vs. Canada (Men and Women) The United States Men's and Women's National Teams will take on Canada in a Pan American Games Qualification series. The winner earns the North America berth in the 2011 Pan American Games, scheduled for next October in Guadalajara, Mexico. Darrick Heath will lead the men's team while Chris Cappelmann is in charge of the women's side. Heath will be joined by assistant coach Wade Sutton, team leader Jim Thome, and athletic trainer Dan Bush while Cappelmann will be assisted by assistant coach Edina Batar, team leader David Gascon, and Greg Streblow for sports medicine. The first of the two qualifying matches for both the men's and women's teams will take place in Lake Placid, NY on December 21. The women will play at 4:30PM with the men competing immediately after at 6:30PM. The matches will take place at the Lake Placid Olympic Training Center which is located at 196 Old Military Road. The away leg in Canada will take place in the city of Laprarie (just outside of Montreal) at the La Magdeleine School. Game times are 5:30PM for the women and 7:30PM for the men. The loser of the qualification series will be placed into a "second-chance" tournament for another opportunity to qualify for the Pan American Games. Both the men and women's teams failed to qualify for the Pan American Games in 2007 as they lost the North American qualifier to Canada and were unable to win the Second-Chance tournament.
Preview: USA vs. Canada December 20, 2010 Months of anticipation and preparation will finally be consummated on December 21st and 23rd when the United States Men’s and Women’s National Teams tackle Canada for the right to participate in the 2011 Pan American Games. The winner of the Pan American Games gets a coveted spot in the 2012 Olympics in London. To say the stakes are high would be a massive understatement. The first part of the battle for the U.S. takes place at the Olympic Trainer Center in Lake Placid, NY on Tuesday with the women starting at 4:00 p.m. ET and the men at 6:30 p.m. Thanks to social networks like Facebook, it is easier than ever to keep tabs on the moods of players and it is clear that they are chomping at the bit to take down their northern neighbors. “Beat Canada!” has been the teams’ rallying cry, filling up their “statuses” more and more as the 21st draws closer. For example, Gary Hines posted on Friday “Operation "Beat Canada" is in full effect!” The USA Women go into the Canada clash with a lot to prove from both a team and individual standpoints. Veteran players including Kathy Darling, Anca Stephens, Sarah Gascon and Jennifer Fithian took part in this same matchup four years ago. They are joined this time around by a roster that boasts six teenagers. Young players like Icelandic-American Morgan Thorkelsdottir could very well make a huge difference in a positive way. Thorkelsdottir has had a stellar week of practice, having come a long way since USATH coaches first saw her in Colorado Springs. She has the size, skill, and competes against some of the very best handball competition day in and day out for first-league Valur in Iceland. One of the other key players for the USA Women will be 20-year-old Karoline Borg who, boasts top-level experience that will be critical against the Canadians. Although Borg primarily plays right wing for SK Njard in Norway’s 1st Division, she will be asked to shift inside to handle more of a playmaking role for the youthful Team USA. It is no surprise that the European-based players have been sharp in practice as they are smack in the middle of their season. Two other of those such players are Julia Sayer (TSV Hahlen) and Jennifer Fithian (TV 1905 Mainzlar), who ply their trade daily in physical German leagues. Both will look to add some steely resolve to Team USA attack in addition to their defensive talents. “We have had a great week of preparation here at Lake Placid and looking forward to the competition on the 21st and 23rd,” Women’s head coach Chris Cappelmann said. We feel very at home at the Lake Placid Olympic Training Center and are ready to give it our best shot.” The Canadian women have recently held the edge over the USA Women due to their superior speed and conditioning yet this is where the USA Women’s youth could actually be an advantage. There is always the idea that young players play with “no fear.” The USA Men feature 10 of the 16 rostered players playing overseas. The squad also features a nice blend of youth and experience with many players hitting the primes of their careers. “Guys are looking good, the practices are really coming together. The pieces seem to be falling into place,” Men’s National Team head coach Darrick Heath said. One of those players is 24-year-old Adam El Zoghby who played in 130 international matches for the Eyptian national teams at the youth, junior, and senior levels. His electric left arm is absolutely lethal as evidence in the “Battle of Chicago” where he earned MVP honors after leading Team USA to a victory over the national champ LA Team Handball Club. El Zoghby recently won the Arab Club Championships with his Egyptian club side Al-Ahly. El Zoghby will be flanked for a lot of the time by Martin Clemons Axelsson who currently plays for Valerenga in Norway’s first division. Axelsson may not have the hype of some of compatriots but the 30-year-old is a veteran of the European circuit, having played for 10 different clubs in Sweden, Norway, and the Netherlands. In the 2009-2010 season with Hasto IF of Sweden’s first division, Axelsson tallied 214 goals over 43 games. Whenever goal-scoring comes into conversation, Americans turn to Gary Hines. Hines set a Bayernliga record by scoring an astonishing 300 goals last season for DJK Waldbuettelbrunn. On pure athleticism alone, Mabelton, GA native, who is now with HSC Bad Neustadt, will give the Americans an unparalleled dimension. Other Americans looking sharp in practice include the military men of Justin Key and Danny Kimmich. Army’s Justin Key has enjoyed a breakthrough season playing for SG Nussloch in Germany as a member of the World Class Athlete Program. His clutch play from the left wing has earned him praise from the fans and the trust of his German coach while scoring 38 goals in 12 games. Standing 6’4” tall, Kimmich, who is in the Air Force, gives the United States a physical advantage with his towering frame that allows him to shoot over the top of players. Like Key, the 25-year-old is enjoying a very good season with his German club team TV 03 Ramstein, scoring 54 goals in 10 games. The former water polo player employs a very physical style of play, often over-powering his opponents. Whatever the outcome, American handball fans are in for a treat on Tuesday and Thursday as these players will be going full-throttle for Pan American Games qualification. Be sure to cheer on the red-white-and blue right here on www.usateamhandball.org, www.facebook.com/usateamhandball, or www.ustream.tv/usateamhandball.org GO USA! WOMEN'S ROSTER Name Age Position Club Karoline Borg 20 Back SK Njard (NOR) Kathy Darling 28 Back Chicago Inter Sarah Gascon 28 Circle Dynamo HC Whitney Gelin 25 Circle Carolina Team Handball Stephanie Hesser 16 Wing Dynamo HC Kiah Hicks 17 Circle Landsharks Jennifer Fithian 26 Back TV Mainzlar (GER) Kate Louthan 16 Back Landsharks Taylor Proctor 16 Back Landsharks Julia Sayer 23 Back TSV Hahlen (GER) Gabriela Stilwell 31 Wing Georgia Handball Club Morgan Thorkelsdottir 15 Wing Valur (ICE) Julia Taylor 20 Wing Christiansbjerg IF (DEN) Sophie Fasold 16 GK Dynamo HC Natascha King 24 GK Bjerringbro FH (DEN) Anca Stevens 44 GK Dynamo HC Alternates: Jacque Messel, Jenny Bandi, Rebecca Crabb, Tomuke Ebuwei, Tabitha Lowey, and Melanie McCormick Head Coach: Chris Cappelmann Assistant Coaches: Edina Batar and Anca Stevens Trainer: Greg Streblow Team Leader: David Gascon MEN'S ROSTER Name Age Position Club Martin Clemons Axelsson 30 LB Valerenga (NOR) Derek Brown 40 RW Atlanta Condors THC Carsen Chun 23 LW Air Force/SG Nussloch (GER) Adam El Zoghby 24 RB Al-Ahly (EGY) Jordan Fithian 24 CR SG Bruchkoebel (GER) Gary Hines 26 LB HSC Bad Neustadt (GER) Divine Jackson 25 RB NYAC Justin Key 23 LW Army/SG Nussloch (GER) Danny Kimmich 25 BC Air Force/TV 03 Ramstein (GER) Alex Mullin 23 RW Army / SG Nussloch (GER) Mark Ortega 32 CB TSG Ober-Eschbach (GER) Hans Self 23 LW SG Bruchkoebel (GER) Trevor Williams 26 CR Army / Chicago Inter Danny Caparelli 36 GK NYAC Ivan Ignjatovic 29 GK NYC THC David Thompson 30 GK ATH United Alternates: Jason Borchik (CR), Brian Delaney (CR), Brian Lucas (BC), Tyron Martin (BC), Brian Walsh (BC), Todor Abramov (GK), and Keith Fine* (GK) Head Coach: Darrick Heath Assistant Coach: Wade Sutton Sports Medicine: Dan Bush Team Leader: Jim Thome
