Philadelphia, PA, October 12 – 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:
- Maccabi USA rugby team | 2015 Pan American Maccabi Games
- Eitan Babcock (Carnegie Mellon Univ. / Milwaukee Rugby)
- Andrew Berson (Dartmouth College)
- Erik Dollman (Albany Knickerbockers / Albany Bootleggers)
- Jon Fonvielle (Mystic River Rugby)
- Dan Freedman (Santa Barbara Grunion / Coach at Santa Ynez Valley Youth)
- Joe Freundlich (Chicago Westside Condors)
- Zachary Getson (Auburn Univ. / Griffins Rugby)
- Howard Goldsmith (Chicago Westside Condors)
- Eyal Hakim (Boca Raton Buccaneers / Coach at Florida Atlantic)
- Sam Harrison (Coach at Colorado College)
- Zachary Hiller (Houston United)
- Jaeson Kaylegian (Univ. Illinois-Chicago / Chicago Riot)
- Robert Keene (Univ. Pacific / Modesto Rugby)
- Michael Korn (Glendale Raptors)
- Joseph Krassenstein (Univ. Southern California / Santa Monica Dolphins)
- Max LaVictoire (New York Rugby)
- Jake Levine (Dartmouth College)
- Eli Mandel (Univ. Washington)
- Adam Markun (Middlebury College)
- Samuel Rabb (San Francisco Golden Gate)
- Ben Rotstein (New York Rugby)
- Michael Rudzinsky (South Carolina / Mystic River Rugby)
- Matthew Sarna (Maryland / Potomac Exiles)
- Adam Satz (Univ. South Carolina)
- Dallen Stanford (Tiger Rugby)
- Tristan Sylk (Media Rugby)
- James Tayson (New England College / Santa Monica Dolphins)
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.