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Co-coach Mareen Kunze (left) is starting the Phoenix season with these new recruits (from left): Mia Hammann, Lynn Thiede, Lina Wilkens, Birthe Brandt, Jana Osterhaus, Paula Schorling, Rike Nienaber and Mira Schorling. Leni Jürgens and Emma Bolte are missing. © HSG Phoenix
HSG Phönix is relying fully on its talents in the new season. The national league handball team withdrew its female A-youth team due to acute personnel problems and is now approaching the season with the young talent.
Bassum – The handball players of the regional league team HSG Phoenix can look forward to a real baby boom: Lale Theile became a mother a few days ago, and Sharon Weimann was also able to welcome a baby in June. Jaqueline Hanke-Winkler and Lina Schmidt are also looking forward to motherhood. This quartet will not be available to the Phoenix ladies for the new season, as will Mareen Kunze. She ended her active handball career, but will remain with the team as co-trainer alongside coach Dustin Ostwald.
That is why HSG Phönix dissolved the A-Youth
“20 years of handball have left their mark. Last season, my body went on strike a few times. You just have to draw a line under it,” explains Kunze. Since Amelie Schwarze, Lale Steimke and Nele Eichberger are no longer part of the team due to their studies, the squad has shrunk to just ten women. There would have been help from the A juniors if they hadn’t had a game at the same time. “But that would have been really tight. So after a few discussions, we decided in August to withdraw our A youth team. The girls are foregoing their last year as A youth and are now permanent members of the women’s team,” reveals Kunze.
Some players, such as Paula and Mira Schorling as well as Rike Nienaber and Emma Bolte, were able to get a taste of the women’s national league last season. “Of course, the A juniors are still lacking in physicality and toughness. We will certainly learn a lesson at the beginning of the season,” the assistant coach is aware.
Nobody should hide behind Katharina Kriegel
However, she is fully convinced of the talented youngsters: “The girls definitely have potential. They are improving from week to week. Development simply takes time and patience. We will give them that, of course.” After the change, the focus was initially on compact defensive work, but all players should also take responsibility in attack and not hide behind Katharina Kriegel. The HSG’s top scorer was the fourth best player in the league with 146/54 goals. With her average of 8.1 goals per game, she was even top.
“Everyone should do their part up front,” Kunze emphasises again. The highest priority is to stay in the league. “As there will be three teams relegated and teams from the association league may be relegated to our state league, we should have some breathing room at the bottom,” the assistant coach hopes. She cannot yet assess all of the opponents. “We don’t know how the season will develop. We will wait and see. However, we have already seen a few teams in test matches and tournaments. I have the feeling that it could be a balanced league. Anyone can beat anyone.”
The Phoenix ladies can get a first impression of the league strength this weekend when they welcome VfL Oldenburg III to the season opener on Saturday (5 p.m.).
HSG Phoenix
Kader: Wiebke Heidorn, Mona Gottwald – Franziska Sprick, Carolin Abeln, Katharina Kriegel, Gina Meyer, Madita Bekefeld, Mia Rasche, Stefanie Gerding, Antonia Hanke
Access: Birthe Brandt, Emma Bolte, Leni Jürgens, Lina Wilkens, Lynn Thiede, Mia Hammann, Mira Schorling, Paula Schorling, Rike Nienaber (all from our own A-youth team)
Departures: Jaqueline Hanke-Winkler, Lale Theile, Lina Schmidt, Sharon Weimann (all maternity leave), Mareen Kunze (end of career), Amelie Schwarze, Lale Steimke, Nele Eichberger (all studying)
Trainer: Dustin Ostwald (2nd season); Co-Trainer: Mareen Kunze (1. Saison), Supervisor/Physio: Maike Sicher (1st season)
Season goal: Relegation; Favorites: not specified
