Team Handball

July 19, 2019—Vigo, Spain

The men’s junior national team arrived on the Iberian Peninsula two weeks ago, and after a
successful training camp in Sao Pedro do Sol, Portugal, with friendlies against Argentina and
Bahrain. The young men from the United States have opened up Group A play with two losses,
the first against defending World Champion, Spain, and last night against the perennial Balkan
powerhouse, Serbia. “There were strong moments in each game,” says USA head coach, Julio
Sainz, “but the quality of talent and depth of rosters of these two European powerhouses
proved too much in the end.”

On Tuesday, in nearby Pontevedra, Team USA opened up group play against host Spain in front
of a packed house, losing 13-34 (8-13), closing out the game with a spirited defensive showing
and solid goalkeeping from Nico Robinson and Rene Ingram. Led in scoring by Amir Seifert,
Sebastian Wheeler, and Eleyes Baltagi, the young men from the United States regrouped at the
half and walked away with a glimpse of good things to come.

The script was flipped last night in Vigo, Spain with the United States coming out with
aggression and confidence against a fully loaded Serbian squad, playing goal-for-goal for the
first 27 minutes of the game. Led by incredible goalkeeping by Rene Ingram, who saved four of
the first five shots he faced, the United States team appeared ready to take a moral victory into
the locker-room at halftime, but inconsistent play in the last three minutes helped Serbia surge
ahead at the break. In the second half, the U.S. juniors fell back to Earth, losing 19-36 (9-13).
Led in scoring by Sebastian Wheeler, Amar Amitovic, and Amir Seifert, the United States now
turn their focus to Slovenia, the current European champions. The throw-off for today’s game is
at 1:00 PM EST.