As you know, we spent the last week moving from temporary offices in South Salt Lake to comfortable new digs on the second floor of Snaplock Industries, the parent company of USA Team Handball sponsor SnapSports.  We're thankful to SnapSports for the space - in addition to professional space for Lauren, Dan, Marko and Angie - we have access to a conference room, kitchen and a basketball-soon-to-be-handball court.  Our phone number remains the same (801) 463-2000, and we're now located at 2330 California Avenue (1300 South) if you ever find yourself in Salt Lake City.

I want to say thank you to Matt Sabatino who has stepped down after over a year of assisting USA Team Handball with management of the Army, Air Force and Navy World Class Athlete Programs.  Matt has moved down to our Nation's Capital to focus on graduate school, work and family obligations.  We still expect to see him in/around handball in the near future.  

Meantime, Capt. Brian Lucas has stepped forward to manage the Army WCAP handball program.  Capt. Lucas is headed to Dormagen, Germany in early January along with Justin Key to train full-time in handball.  Right on their heels later in the month, we expect Brian Walsh, Trevor Williams and Alex Mullin to follow.  We're also in active contact with four Air Force athletes hoping to enter the WCAP program, and one Navy officer.  Welcome Capt. Lucas!

Some of our clubs know that we have entered a U21 Select Team in the West Point Invitational in January. Expect to see some of our top high school and/or college-age players on the court against the likes of Army, Carolina Team Handball Club, NYC THC, at least two Canadian clubs and others in the 12-team event.

Done with your holiday shopping?  If not, USA Team Handball is offering a 10% discount to members on all merchandise in our online store.  There's plenty of time to get pre-Christmas delivery.  If you have questions your promo code, feel free to call our office at 801-463-2000.

Finally, below is an update on Americans in Germany and, for the first time, two in Norway as well. Be sure to check out the pictures of Jordan Fithian.  Cheers!

KEITH FINE / TSV Bayer Dormagen / Regionaliga West (3^rd Division)

Against the third place team, young Bayer Dormagen II put forth a game effort but came up short for the 13^th time in 14 games.   Fine earned limited playing time as the home team lost 34:39 (14:19) against SG Schalksmule-Halver.

 

JORDAN FITHIAN / ESV Weil / Sudbadenliga (5^th Division)

Jordan Fithian played a huge role and drew commendations from his coach as Weil earned a 32:26 (15:13) victory at home agasint TSV Alemania Freiburg.  Fithian scored three goals, played nearly the entire game and was singled out for his defensive play. "He is a great team player and the team responds well when he is on the court." Weil has climbed to fifth in the Subadenliga with a 7-4 record.  See the pictures here.

 

GARY HINES / DJK Waldbuttelbrunn / Oberliga Bayern (4^th Division)

DJK came up short 26:32 (14:15) in Oberliga play against SSG Metten.  Individual scorers were unavailable.

 

CHRISTOPHER KOERNER / SC Kronau - Ostringen (Rhein Neckar Loewen II) (3^rd division) / Regionaliga Sud

Koerner's team kept it close for much of the game, but feel 33:27 (19-17) at TV Bretten on Saturday night.  Koerner did not score.

 

MARK ORTEGA / Pulheimer SC / Oberliga Mittelrhein (4^th division)

Pulheimer battled to the end but came up one goal short, 30:29 at Weidener TV.  The team was praised for its defense, but couldn't close the gap against the second-place club.  Ortega scored one goal.

 

HANS SELF / SG Bruchkobel / Oberliga Hessen (4^th division)

SG Bruchkobel did not play this past weekend.

 

JENNIFER HAUBRICH / TV Grenzach / Regionaliga Sud (3^rd division)

Like roommate and fiancée Jordan Fithian, it was a big game for the American in southern Germany.  Haubrich scored four goals in a 22:20 (12:12) win over TSV Ismaning (parent club of U18 goalkeeper Sophia Fasold).  According to her coach, "Jennifer Haubrich gets better from game to game.  Especially on defense she is a really good player. Tonight she did a perfect job."   TV Grenzach  is eighth in the 13-team Regionaliga Sud with five wins and six losses.

 

JULIA SAYER / TSV Hahlen / Oberliga Nord (4th division)

After a midweek resignation by the team's coach, Hahlen could not rally at BV Borussia Dortmund, losing 29-28.  Reports indicate one player jumped in as player-coach. Sayer did not score.  Hahlen sits 10^th in the 15-team Oberliga.

 

KAROLINE BORG / Asker (Norway)

ANJA BORG / Vollen (Norway)

One of the revelations of USA Team Handball's two women's youth excursions to Europe this fall, Karoline Borg unfortunately did not play in Poland after breaking her 5^th metatarsal bone on her left foot, during the first game against the Polish Senior Women's National Team.  She's now the owner of a 3" screw in her foot.  After another week or so in a cast, she'll have four weeks on crutches before beginning rehab.  Her club, Asker, meanwhile, maintains its hold on first place in the Norwegian Second Divisions. 

U15 player Anja Borg led her club Vollen to seven wins in eight games - good enough to win its local league and qualify for regional competition against three other top Norwegian clubs.  Following the Poland trip, Anja Borg returned home to earn a spot on a regional all-star team training for a major domestic competition in February 2010.