Seeking World Championship and IHF Intercontinental Phase Berth, Junior MNT Roster Selected as Squad Prepares for IHF Trophy

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by Matt Collins

USA Team Handball has named the roster for the upcoming Junior IHF Trophy, which will be held from December 3rd to 9th in Mexico City, Mexico.


JUNIOR MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM BY POSITION (Club) – IHF TROPHY ROSTER

GOALKEEPERS: Benjamin Pedersen (Eto Szese Gyor), Grayson Wide (Uppsala HK)

BACKS: Martin Brunvold (Fyllingen Bergen), Csaba Darvas (Tatabanya Kezilabda Kft.), Jordan Fernandez (Gonfreville Handball), Nepomuk Grabner (UHK Krems), Tristan Morawski (Sandra SPA Pogon Szczecin), Maximilian Olesen (FIF), Oskar Trummer (SV Anzing)

WINGS: Rodrigo Campos Menendez (BM Cuatro Valles), Evan Gordon (HSG Volklingen), Matthew Spranda (San Fernando)

PIVOTS: Kaeden Kuhlmeyer (Hk-72 Sande), Maksim McCauley (IFK Kristianstad),

Alternates: Moritz Bochum (HC Oppenweiler-Backnang), John Gallittu (HSV Solingen-Grafrath), Alfonso Alcover (Trops Malaga), Ian Hodgson (San Francisco CalHeat), Kahlil Liden (University of Pittsburgh Handball Club)

Roster Update (12/2/24): Kahlil Liden replaces Tristand Morawski #

The United States will be joined in Group A by Canada, Mexico, and Saint Kitts and Nevis, while Cuba, Dominican Republic, Martinique, and Puerto Rico rounds out the competition field in Group B. The top two teams of each group will advance to the semifinals.


In the 2022 edition of the Junior IHF Trophy, also held in Mexico City, the squad finished with a Silver Medal, falling to Cuba in the Final. The second-place finish qualified them for the 2023 IHF Men's U21 Handball World Championship, where they finished in 27th place.


Five athletes - Evan Gordon, Nepomuk Grabner, Maksim McCauley, Tristan Morawski, and Grayson Wide - were on the 2023 World Championship roster, and are looking to secure qualification for back-to-back World Championships.


In addition, several athletes were a part of the 2024 North America and Caribbean Handball Confederation (NACHC) Senior Men's Championship squad, including McCauley, Morawski, and Wide, alongside Martin Brunvold, Rodrigo Campos, Maximillian Olesen, and Ben Pedersen.


The top two eligible teams will qualify for the 2025 IHF Men's U21 World Championship, which will be held in Poland from June 18th to 29th of next year. In addition, the champion will earn a berth in the IHF Intercontinental Phase.

Maksim McCauley at 2024 NACHC Sr. Men's Championship

Head Coach Danilo Rojevic sees the rosters' experience as a huge advantage heading into the tournament.


"Unlike the team from two years, this squad has more experience. Many of them have already competed at the IHF World Championship, or very recently at the Sr. Men's NACHC (Championship)," Rojevic said. "I hope we will show maturity and patience, and make the best use of those experiences to reach our goals."


"The time has come for this new generation of US handball talents to show their worth on the continental stage. This is without a doubt the most important event of our cycle and one that can be defining for our organization," he added.

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