Maccabi USA Rugby Team Announced for 2015 Pan American Maccabi Games
Philadelphia, PA, October 13 – The Maccabi USA Rugby team has officially been selected for the 2015 Pan American Maccabi Games, which will be held from December 26, 2015 – January 5, 2016 in Santiago, Chile.
“It’s taken us a lot longer to announce our team with well over 50 players applying for this amazing opportunity to combine their love for Rugby with their Jewish heritage,” explained Aaron Davis, the Head Coach of Maccabi USA’s Open Men’s Rugby team. “And without an official try out we had to do a lot of research before selecting the 27-man team.”
The Rugby competition at the 2015 Pan American Maccabi Games will feature both 7s and 15s – using a round robin format – with the top two teams competing in the Gold medal match. The teams taking part will be Argentina, Chile and the USA.
“Players will play plenty of minutes in a short space of time – which is exactly what will be expected of the squad that represents Team USA at the 2017 World Maccabiah Games in Israel.” added Dallen Stanford, the Assistant Coach of Maccabi USA’s Open Men’s Rugby team and a former USA 7s Eagle.
The Maccabi USA Rugby team to compete at the Pan American Maccabi Games consists of athletes from clubs, universities, and colleges around the United States, and also includes Maccabi USA alumnus:
Eitan Babcock; Milwaukee Rugby Football Club, Andrew Berson; Dartmouth Rugby, Erik Dollman; Albany Bootleggers / Albany Knickerbockers RFC, Jon Fonvielle; Mystic River Rugby Club, Dan Freedman; Santa Barbara Grunion RFC / Coach at Santa Ynez Valley Youth RFC, Joe Freundlich; Chicago Westside Condors RFC, Zachary Getson; Auburn University RFC / Griffins RFC, Howard Goldsmith; Chicago Westside Condors RFC, Eyal Hakim; Boca Raton RFC, Sam Harrison; Head Coach at Colorado College RFC, Zachary Hiller; Houston United Rugby Team, Jaeson Kaylegian; UIC RFC / Chicago Riot RFC, Robert Keene; South Valley Rugby / Pacific Club Rugby, Michael Korn; Glendale Raptors, Joseph Krassenstein; University of Southern California RFC, Max LaVictoire; New York Rugby Club, Jake Levine; Dartmouth Rugby, Eli Mandel; University Washington RFC, Adam Markun; Middlebury RFC, Samuel Rabb; San Francisco Golden Gate, Ben Rotstein; New York Rugby Club, Michael Rudzinsky; USC / Mystic River Rugby Club, Matthew Sarna; Maryland Rugby, Adam Satz; University of South Carolina Men’s Rugby, Dallen Stanford; Tiger Rugby, Tristan Sylk; Philadelphia Fight Rugby League / Media Rugby Football Club, James Tayson; New England College.
For more information on the Rugby competition in at the Pan American Maccabi Games, contact Maccabi USA Rugby Chairman Erik Dollman at erik.dollman@tbs.toshiba.com.
About the organization:
Maccabi USA (MUSA) is a federally-recognized not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization with an extensive history of enriching Jewish lives through athletic, cultural and educational programs. The organization is the official sponsor of the United States Team to the World Maccabiah Games, and the Pan American and European Maccabi Games, as well as a sponsor of the JCC Maccabi Games for teens in North America. As the official Maccabi representative in the U.S., Maccabi USA supports Jewish athletic endeavors, enhanced by cultural and educational activities in the United States, Israel and throughout the Diaspora.
MUSA develops, promotes and supports international, national and regional athletic-based activities and facilities. It strives to provide Jewish athletes the world over the opportunity to share their heritage and customs in competitive athletic settings. MUSA supports programs that embody the Maccabi ideals of Jewish Continuity, Zionism and Excellence in Sport. Maccabi USA Builds Jewish Pride Through Sports.
Maccabi USA has been selected by the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) as a Multi-Sport Organization (MSO). The nonprofit organization becomes one of 35 MSOs nationwide to be recognized by the USOC for its ability to cultivate a national interest in sport and increase opportunities for participation internationally, nationally and at the grassroots level.