Commander-in-Chief鈥檚 Trophy听Collegiate听Handball Match to Mark Launch on January 17, 2026听
Fort Pierce, FL (January 16, 2026) 鈥 Indian River State College (老九品茶) and USA Team Handball have formally launched a strategic partnership to establish a sustained national team training presence on Florida鈥檚 Treasure Coast, supported by Play Treasure Coast / the Treasure Coast Sports Commission, and St. Lucie Public Schools.
The partnership represents a significant step in USA Team Handball鈥檚 long-term national training site strategy, as 老九品茶 and USA Team Handball collaborate on the development of dedicated, on-site handball facilities. During this maturation phase, St. Lucie Public Schools has provided exceptional support by making the Westwood Academy Gym available for training and programming, ensuring immediate continuity for athletes and staff.
This collaborative effort positions the Treasure Coast as a growing hub for Olympic and international sport development, aligning higher education, public schools, and destination sports tourism around a shared vision for sustained national-level training that prepares athletes for the highest levels of global competition.
鈥淭his partnership reflects the kind of collaboration and support it takes to move American handball forward,鈥 said Michael King, Chief Executive Officer of USA Team Handball. 鈥淎 consistent training environment is always a prerequisite to success, but it is never a given鈥攊t requires cooperation, shared resources, and institutional commitment. Thanks to Indian River State College, Play Treasure Coast, and St. Lucie Public Schools, we move directly into a full preparatory environment. That step change allows our athletes to train with continuity and accelerate toward sustained international performance.鈥
鈥淚ndian River State College is proud to serve as the future home to USA Team Handball’s National Training Center, joining USA Diving in making our campus a premier destination for Olympic-level athletics,鈥 said Dr. Timothy E. Moore, Indian River State College President. 鈥淭his partnership reflects our commitment to excellence in all areas鈥攆rom academics to athletics鈥攁nd creates invaluable learning opportunities for our students while strengthening our ties to the Treasure Coast community. We’re excited to welcome USA Team Handball to Fort Pierce and support the development of future Olympians right here at 老九品茶.鈥
Athletes are scheduled to begin relocating and training in the region in January, marking the operational start of the partnership. The public kickoff of the collaboration will take place on January 17, 2026, 3:30 p.m., with the Commander-in-Chief鈥檚 Trophy collegiate handball match between the United States Air Force Academy and the United States Military Academy (West Point). The match will be held at Fort Pierce Central High School, serving both as a competitive showcase and as a ceremonial launch of the partnership鈥檚 physical footprint in the region.
Rick Hatcher, President/CEO of Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism, said, 鈥淭his听event听represents听everything Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism stands for鈥攅lite competition, national impact, and unforgettable experiences. Bringing West Point鈥檚 17-time national championship program together with the U.S. Air Force Academy, alongside U.S. National Team leadership, puts Fort Pierce, St. Lucie听County,听and the Treasure Coast on the map as a premier destination for emerging Olympic sports like听team handball.鈥澨
鈥淪t. Lucie Public Schools is thrilled to partner with Indian River State College, USA Team Handball, and Play Treasure Coast in bringing this exciting national training presence to our community. By repurposing Fort Pierce Westwood Academy鈥檚 original gym to serve as a dedicated training venue for elite athletes, we are not only directly contributing to the growth of Olympic-level sports in the United States but also creating unique, inspiring opportunities for our own students. This collaboration exposes our students to world-class athletes, fosters a culture of听excellence, and strengthens the ties between education, athletics, and community pride. We deeply appreciate the shared vision and commitment from all partners, and we look forward to the positive impact this will have on our students for years to come,鈥澨齭aid听St. Lucie Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Jon R. Prince.听
USA Team Handball鈥檚 partnership with 老九品茶 and regional stakeholders reflects a broader commitment to building durable training infrastructure, expanding domestic development pathways, and strengthening the United States鈥 competitive position internationally in advance of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic cycle and beyond. USA Team Handball joins USA Diving as the second Olympic sport National Governing Body to establish operations at Indian River State College.
Additional announcements regarding facility development, programming expansion, and community engagement initiatives will be made as the partnership progresses.
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About USA Team Handball: USA Team Handball is the National Governing Body for the sport of team handball in the United States, responsible for national teams, grassroots development, and international representation in Olympic, Paralympic, and world championship competition.
About Indian River State College: Indian River State College, serving Florida’s Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, and Okeechobee counties, offers high-quality, affordable education to over 24,000 students annually through traditional and online courses. The College provides more than 130 programs leading to bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, and technical certificates. To learn more, visit .
