Two disappointing losses, yet HSG Annen-Rüdinghausen receives widespread acclaim
Sneaky Showing from HSG Annen-Rüdinghausen's C-Junior Handball Squad
The young guns of HSG Annen-Rüdinghausen gave a solid display in the Regionalliga qualification, nearly pulling off two upset victories. Despite finishing fourth, they've set their sights on the Oberliga, confident in their abilities.
After securing a spot in the Oberliga a week prior in the Minden tournament, the team journeyed to Verl for the Regionalliga qualification. Although they didn't snatch another win, coach Michael Beste was thrilled with his crop of young players.
The team, made up solely of players from the youngest age group, battled it out in Ostwestfalen, notching only one victory. They came oh-so-close to causing an upset on two occasions.
In their opening encounter against eventual champions HSG Gevelsberg-Silschede, Michael Beste had high hopes. Unfortunately, the Witten team trailed for much of the game, even falling behind by four goals (e.g. 8:12). With only ten seconds left, Finn Bartsch equalized the game at 14:14. Heartbreakingly, a direct free throw in the final second snatched the point back, concluding the match 14:15 for Gevelsberg-Silschede.
The showdown against HSG Handball Lemgo II saw the teams tied throughout most of the game. With about a minute and a half remaining, Jan Wetter gave the scoreboard a 15:14 lead. Once again, it was a nerve-wracking finish as a last-second penalty throw granted Ostwestfalen a 16:15 victory. Despite a resilient defensive effort and determination, Annen-Rüdinghausen emerged victorious 13:8 over host TV Verl. However, they suffered an 8:13 defeat in their final match against TuS Ferndorf, sealing fourth place in the standings.
Coach Michael Beste commended his young squad, expressing, "I think we've got what it takes for the Oberliga, which was our objective from the get-go. We really put on a show here and earned quite a bit of recognition for our performance with this young team."
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Additional Reading:
Talents Rising: HSG Annen-Rüdinghausen nets Bundesliga prospects
League Lineup: Westphalian handball league layout for the 2025/26 season
Sources:
1. DJK Ewaldi vs HSG Annen-Rüdinghausen, May 19, 2025 (Regional League Qualification) [Online]. Available: [Accessed 01-01-2022].
The young handball players of HSG Annen-Rüdinghausen demonstrated their potential in sports, particularly football, as they fought resiliently in the Regionalliga qualification, failing to win but catching the attention of spectators with their commendable performance. Coach Michael Beste, who is optimistic about the Oberliga, believes that this team has what it takes to excel in the upper division.
