Handball Team Travels to Mexico City
Youth USA handball team goes to Mexico City and qualifies for IHF World Championship.
By Tatiana Viera
Youth USA handball team goes to Mexico City and qualifies for IHF World Championship.
By Tatiana Viera
One week after their commendation from the San José City Council, members of the Pioneer club handball team were in Mexico City, competing for the Youth Mens’ International Handball Federation trophy with other players from various schools.
The tournament took place from Nov. 15-19, where six youth national teams competed to qualify for the IHF World Championship. The team placed 3rd and qualified for the world championship, which will take place in August of 2023 in Croatia.
The USA handball team had a successful week, with a 3-1-1 record after playing against Dominica, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico and Guadeloupe. Coach Martin Bilello moved to the US from Argentina and has been passionate about the sport for over 25 years.
“We were a combination of players from Pioneer, Leland, and from all countries that are also Americans. We came together pretty well," said Bilello. "They meshed together pretty quickly to start playing the game.”
When selected, Aaron Wolf-Bloom, 10, enjoyed celebrating wins with his team and swapping jerseys with other handball players at the end of the tournament.
“I was really excited that I was going to travel to Mexico. I knew the competition level was really high so I was honored to be selected,” said Wolf-Bloom.
Some of the athletes on the team have been playing together since they were in middle school, and Bilello is proud that the hard work that they have put in over time is getting recognized.
“It was nice at some points of the game because some of the guys from here at Pioneer started playing when they were in Castillero. It was nice to see them representing their country with ‘USA’ on their chest, having the same sets, the same plays that they would run when they were at Castillero and then getting to run them there, that was pretty nice to see in that environment,” said Bilello.
The team was able to work well together even though some had just met that week. Ezekiel McClintock, 12, had the opportunity to bond with his teammates throughout their time together.
“We started the week barely knowing each other and never having played together at all, but by the end of the tournament we were a well organized group of friends, knowing each other's playing style and working so well together on the court,” said McClintock.
The coach sees better opportunities for them in the future based on how they’re looking right now, and is hopeful that in only a few years these athletes will make it to the Olympics.
“We started with this program years ago with our goal to be having them playing at the Olympics in 2028 in Los Angeles, and I think they’re on their track to get there,” said Bilello. “I think they’re already going to get invited to practice in camps with the senior team.”
While successful in Mexico City, Ian Hodgson, 12 noticed that the team had to overcome some challenges and continue to persevere due to sickness and injury.
“We had to adapt and play different positions that we weren’t expecting to play,” said Hodgson. “But everyone managed to adapt enough to give us the goals we needed.”
Getting to play in Mexico City, McClintock made many memories while getting to compete for his country on the global stage, including some close games such as USA against Mexico, where the final score in a tie at 33-33.
“I remember that was a huge accomplishment for us because we were down three goals in the last two minutes and came back to qualify for the World Championships,” said McClintock.
The tournament took place from Nov. 15-19, where six youth national teams competed to qualify for the IHF World Championship. The team placed 3rd and qualified for the world championship, which will take place in August of 2023 in Croatia.
The USA handball team had a successful week, with a 3-1-1 record after playing against Dominica, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico and Guadeloupe. Coach Martin Bilello moved to the US from Argentina and has been passionate about the sport for over 25 years.
“We were a combination of players from Pioneer, Leland, and from all countries that are also Americans. We came together pretty well," said Bilello. "They meshed together pretty quickly to start playing the game.”
When selected, Aaron Wolf-Bloom, 10, enjoyed celebrating wins with his team and swapping jerseys with other handball players at the end of the tournament.
“I was really excited that I was going to travel to Mexico. I knew the competition level was really high so I was honored to be selected,” said Wolf-Bloom.
Some of the athletes on the team have been playing together since they were in middle school, and Bilello is proud that the hard work that they have put in over time is getting recognized.
“It was nice at some points of the game because some of the guys from here at Pioneer started playing when they were in Castillero. It was nice to see them representing their country with ‘USA’ on their chest, having the same sets, the same plays that they would run when they were at Castillero and then getting to run them there, that was pretty nice to see in that environment,” said Bilello.
The team was able to work well together even though some had just met that week. Ezekiel McClintock, 12, had the opportunity to bond with his teammates throughout their time together.
“We started the week barely knowing each other and never having played together at all, but by the end of the tournament we were a well organized group of friends, knowing each other's playing style and working so well together on the court,” said McClintock.
The coach sees better opportunities for them in the future based on how they’re looking right now, and is hopeful that in only a few years these athletes will make it to the Olympics.
“We started with this program years ago with our goal to be having them playing at the Olympics in 2028 in Los Angeles, and I think they’re on their track to get there,” said Bilello. “I think they’re already going to get invited to practice in camps with the senior team.”
While successful in Mexico City, Ian Hodgson, 12 noticed that the team had to overcome some challenges and continue to persevere due to sickness and injury.
“We had to adapt and play different positions that we weren’t expecting to play,” said Hodgson. “But everyone managed to adapt enough to give us the goals we needed.”
Getting to play in Mexico City, McClintock made many memories while getting to compete for his country on the global stage, including some close games such as USA against Mexico, where the final score in a tie at 33-33.
“I remember that was a huge accomplishment for us because we were down three goals in the last two minutes and came back to qualify for the World Championships,” said McClintock.