U-18 National Team rosters announced; athletes to train in Germany

USA Team Handball today announced its men's and women's Under-18 National Team rosters to practice and compete for a week in Dormagen, Germany. The selection comes shortly after a week-long camp in Colorado Springs during which 48 athletes vied for the 28 spots.

The two teams will travel to Dormagen Sept. 3 - 10. While in Germany, the youth athletes are to train daily and battle against local clubs such as TSV Bayer Dormagen's U-17 squad to gain experience on the court against strong competition. They will also watch matches featuring teams from the Toyota Handball Bundesliga, one of the top professional handball leagues in the world.

The chosen athletes were named by USATH Technical Director Mariusz Wartalowicz.

"I saw a lot of progress from the beginning to the end of the selection camp in Colorado Springs," Wartalowicz said. "I am excited these two groups are going to Germany. Training and playing with the Germans will be a huge leap and provide invaluable experience not available in the United States quite yet. These athletes have solid potential to become the pillars of the U-21 National Teams, and if they continue to train, they will be very competitive."

MEN'S TEAM

Ten 6-footers highlight the 14-player USA Men's U-18 roster. One of the youngest players on the roster is also one of the tallest - Nick Davis of Omaha, Nebraska. Davis is a heavily-recruited basketball player from Creighton Prep, and also a member of the school's state champion Science Bowl team. Davis checks in at 6'5", as does Atlanta's Jordan Taylor and Colorado Springs-based back Weston Holmes. Goalkeeper Nick Allan registers at 6'4".

Five players have international experience, led by circle Thomas Duringon of Sao Paolo, Brazil. Duringon, who was born in the United States while his father attended medical school, has played with regional all-star teams at many prominent European tournaments including the Partille Cup. Simon Thaler learned handball in Bolzano, Italy, near the Swiss and Austrian border, but was born in the USA and just relocated to Atlanta. Devin Holman has Swiss and American citizenship and most recently played with HSG Leimental and HC Therwil in Basel before moving to California this summer. Atlanta's Chris Banks first attended the Partille Cup as a 10-year-old while playing with the Rock Handball Club in Atlanta. These four will be joined by 19-year-old Christopher Koerner of Germany, who holds a U.S. Passport and plays on the Bundesliga's Rhein Neckar Loewen's second team.

The Colorado Springs Landsharks took full advantage of some home court (and altitude) advantage during the selection camp and placed two players on the squad in addition to Allan and Holmes. Kobi Rex is the son of 1988 Olympian Kathy Rex and the squad's only lefthander. Chris Hesser is the son of former USA National Team keeper Anca Stephens; he'll play the same position as his mother alongside Allan. 

USA MEN'S U-18 ROSTER

First	Last	Age	Position	Club	State	Height
Nick	Allan	16	GK	Landsharks	CO	6'4"
Chris	Banks	17	Circle	Atlanta	GA	6'1"
John	Bellard	17	Left Wing	Minnesota THC	NC	5'10''
Ray	Carson	17	Right Wing	Polish Folklore	IL	6'1''
Nick	Davis	17	Wing		NE	6'5''
Marko	Dumlija	18	Back	Victorious Secret	IL	6'
Thomas	Duringon	18	Circle	Sao Paolo	Brazil	6'1"
Koerner	Chris	19	Circle	Rhein Neckar Loewen	Germany	6'1"
Chris	Hesser	17	GK	Landsharks	CO	5'8''
Devin	Holman	17	Back	HSG Leimental	CA	5'11"
Weston	Holmes	17	Back	Landsharks	CO	6'5''
Kobi	Rex	17	Right Back	Landsharks	CO	6'2''
Jordan	Taylor	17	Back	Atlanta	GA	6'5''
Simon	Thaler	17	Back	Atlanta	GA	6'5''

 WOMEN'S TEAM

On the women's side, nine Colorado Springs-based athletes and one from Furman University join four others with significant international experience on the first-ever USA Women's U-18 team.

The international players gained their handball experience in some of Europe's toughest environments.

Farida Abou Zeida made her handball debut in Cairo, Egypt. Abou Zeida now attends college in Alabama, and has already made her debut on the USA Senior Women's National team. Goalkeeper Sophie Fasold is a decorated youth player in Munich, Germany, and has family in Texas as well. Morgan Thorkesldottir has already been promoted within Iceland's Youth National Team system, but traveled to Colorado from Rejkavik to demonstrate her desire to play for the USA. Finally, Yana Lysenko is the youngest player in the pool at just 13 years old. The Ukrainian-born player recently moved to Chicago where she trains with the women's national champion Chicago Inter Handball Club.

The lone player on the squad from the U.S. Collegiate system is Furman's Molly Augustine. Designated captain of the team during the camp, Augustine was a two-sport star at Hilton Head High School before pursuing handball in college.

Standout high school athletes highlight the nine Landsharks from Colorado, led by 6-footers Taylor Proctor and Kate Louthan, both All-League basketball selections as freshmen in Colorado Springs last winter. Sam Reid edged out teammate Toni Ernst in a tightly-contested battle for a coveted goalkeeper spot on the team. State track star Kiah Hicks and Quincey Jackson will share pivot responsibilities on the squad. Varsity basketball players Kaunaloa Kana, Louthan, Proctor, Amber Turner and Miranda Beal are slated to play in the back court, while Autumn Surage will join Augustine and Lysenko as wings.

USA WOMEN'S U-18 ROSTER

First	Last	Age	Position	Club	State	Height
Farida	Abou Zeida	18	Left Back	WNT/ATH	AL	5'10"
Molly	Augustine	19	Left Wing	Furman	SC	5'6"
Miranda	Beal	15	Right Back	Landsharks	CO	5'10"
Sophie	Fasold	15	GK	Germany	Germany/TX	5'7"
Kiah	Hicks	16	Circle	Landsharks	CO	5'10"
Quincey	Jackson	17	Circle	Landsharks	CO	5'8"
Kaunaloa	Kama	15	Center Back	Landsharks	CO	5'5"
Kate	Louthan	15	Center Back	Landsharks	CO	5'10"
Yana	Lysenko	13	Left Wing	Chicago Inter	Ukraine/IL	5'7"
Taylor	Proctor	15	Back	Landsharks	CO	6'0"
Sam	Reid	17	GK	Landsharks	CO	5'8"
Autumn	Surage	16	Left Wing	Landsharks	CO	5'6"
Morgan	Thorkelsdottir	14	Left Back	Iceland	Iceland/GA	5'10"
Amber	Turner	15	Right Back	Landsharks	CO	5'9"

 COACHING STAFF

The coaching staff leading the two teams during their trip to Germany comprises domestic and international  handball talent and experience. Mika Maunula will act as head coach for the men. One of the top players in Finland before retiring and moving to the United States, Maunula instructed athletes at USATH's Youth National Team Selection Camp and West Regional Camp in addition to helping coach the Los Angeles Team Handball Club. Greg Morava, 1984 Olympian and a coach of the Colorado Landsharks handball club, will be the women's head coach. Kathy Rex, 1988 Olympian and founder of the Colorado Landsharks handball club, will assist the two.

"This is an amazing group of talent from all different sports," Rex said of the youth athletes. "Once they get more experience, the future is really bright. This is the best group we've seen in a long time; this is the beginning of something great."

Follow the two teams and their journey to Europe here on http://www.usateamhandball.org.

Think you (or someone you know) have what it takes to play team handball? Check USATH's online calendar of tournaments and national team tryouts to get involved.