The 2022 USA Team Handball College and Youth National Championships took place between 8 and 10 April in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with the West Point United States Military teams securing the trophies in the men’s and women’s college competitions, while the Cali Kings won the youth competition.

In the men’s collegiate competition, 10 teams were divided into two groups, with the two group winners qualifying for the big final.

In Group A, the Ohio State University secured four wins in four games, taking a crucial 30:26 win against the North Carolina Tar Heels in the last game of the group.

In Group B, the West Point side had little to worry about, clinching four wins in four games, while scoring the largest amount of goals in the group phase, 147, boasting a +72 goal difference.

Therefore, the gold-medal game featured West Point and the OSU, as West Point rallied to clinch a 31:30 win in the final in one of the most balanced games of the competition. The podium was completed by North Carolina, with a 31:25 win against Air Force.

Four teams featured in the women’s tournament, with North Carolina Tar Heels, the Ohio State University and two West Point sides – Black and Gold.

The group was won by the West Point Black side, who sealed three wins out of three games, also clinching the semi-final against the OSU, 27:9. Eventually, West Point Gold also made it to the final, setting up a game where the two teams knew each other inside out.

A 16:15 win was enough for West Point Black to clinch the trophy ahead of West Point Gold, with the North Carolina Tar Heels sealing the bronze medal.

In the youth competition, where the age requirements set up the tournament for players aged between 15 and 19, three men’s teams battled for the trophy. 

Despite winning the two games played in the group stage against Cali Kings and Ocean NJ, the San Francisco CalHeat team left the tournament empty handed.

Cali Kings won the final against CalHeat 17:16, despite having lost the group phase game 25:32, and secured the trophy, while Ocean NJ finished third.

For more information, visit teamusa.org/USA-Team-Handball. 

Photos: USA Team Handball / Caroline Bittenbender