Bundesliga youth squads square off against up-and-coming talents from Gladbeck
Unleashing the Handball Champions: JSG ELE Junior Team Gladbeck
If you're into handball or simply love an underdog story, you'll get a thrill out of the recent qualification of JSG ELE Junior Team Gladbeck's Handball C1 Youth for the Regional League. While their Handball B Youth team grapples with bad luck, the C1 squad has shown remarkable skill and determination.
The C1 Breakthrough
The Handball C1 Youth of JSG ELE Junior Team Gladbeck has claimed a well-deserved spot in the Regional League, securing a mighty 25:1 victory and 243:110 goal record in a grueling 13-game marathon. Head of handball at VfL Tim Deffte commends the team, stating, "That's a real achievement!"
Coach Sven Deffte attributes their success to good fortune and hard work: "It went perfectly for us," he says. "But the boys have also put in a lot of effort."
The C1 team will now face formidable opponents like HSG Handball Lemgo, TSV GWD Minden, and newly formed rival JSG Westfalen (consisting of Ahlener SG and ASV Hamm-Westfalen). Sven Deffte expresses excitement about the challenge.
The C2Coulda-Been: B1 Youth's Misfortune
Simultaneously, the B1 Youth of JSG ELE has been unable to qualify for the Regional League. Despite a valiant effort led by coach Berkant Kayaalti, poor luck has kept them from taking the regional spot. The team ended tied for third with HSG Handball Lemgo II in Steinhagen-Brockhagen, with Lemgo taking the second spot due to a victory in the direct comparison. Kayaalti lamented, "Lady Luck wasn't on our side," but admitted, "We had a good day, but not the super day we needed."
Multiple Titles for JSG Gladbeck
In the 2025/2026 season, both the A and C youth teams of JSG ELE Junior Team Gladbeck will compete in the Regional League. JSG ELE's A youth team didn't need to play qualifiers, having long prepared for the regional league season under coach Tobias Thiel. Recently, SV Teutonia Riemke joined forces with the JSG A youth team.
Coach Thiel sees the partnership as a knowledge-sharing opportunity: "We're going to Riemke and showing how we have managed to increase our width but also quality in the youth area." The move comes as some local clubs struggle to keep up with youth handball work due to lack of resources and personnel.
The JSG ELE-Teutonia Riemke Partnership
The partnership with SV Teutonia Riemke allows the A youth team of JSG ELE to participate in the regional league in the 2025/2026 season. However, the team won't play any competitive matches until the league starts. Coach Thiel believes that numerous test matches against strong opponents will offer ample practice for the squad.
While the JSG ELE team narrowly missed the opportunity to participate in the Bundesliga qualification, head of handball Tim Deffte acknowledges that the team isn't quite ready for that level just yet.
Keep tabs on more local sports news from Gladbeck right here! Go, C1 team!
Sports enthusiasts eager for a change may find interest in JSG ELE Junior Team Gladbeck's football division, demonstrating a diverse range of skills in various sports.
With their impressive performance in handball, the Handball C1 Youth of JSG ELE Junior Team Gladbeck has set a new standard for sports excellence, beating formidable opponents and securing a spot in the Regional League.
