NEW YORK, NY – Thursday evening marked the first time ever that the athletics award banquet was held in the Max Stern Athletic Center, as the teams have grown exponentially over the years. Over 280 athletes, administrators, and guests were present to celebrate the fifteen 2009-2010 athletic teams that Yeshiva sponsors. Attendees were treated to a night of special awards for their teammates along with the unveiling of a new Championship banner for the men's volleyball team.
The night began with Athletics Director
Joe Bednarsh welcoming everyone and presenting the sportsmanship awards to the 5 teams that were given the award by the Skyline Conference coaches in their respective sports. The 5 teams to be presented the sportsmanship awards were: Men's Soccer, Women's Basketball, Men's Volleyball, Men's Tennis, and Baseball.
Following the sportsmanship presentation was the 4-year athlete awards, again present by Mr. Bednarsh. The department annually presents watches to those athletes that have participated on an athletic team for 4 seasons. This year, 6 student-athletes were presented with watches, namely:
Joshua Pransky (Philadelphia, PA, Beren) (Baseball),
Alex Claster (Kansas City, MO, Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy) (Basketball),
Daniel Belecen (Caracas, Venezuela, Talmud Tora Sinai) (Soccer),
David Kahana (Silver Spring, MD, MJBHA) (Volleyball),
Ariel Simchi (Fair Lawn, NJ, Frisch) (Wrestling), and
Isaac Kuyunov (Hollis, NY) (Wrestling). Following the presentation, the attendees enjoyed a catered dinner with their teammates.
After dinner, Mr. Bednarsh congratulated wrestling coach Neil Elman for completing his 40th season at Yeshiva. A marble plaque was presented to him for his 40 years of service. The Henry Wittenberg Award is named after Yeshiva's first wrestling coach, and given to the wrestler whose competitiveness and leadership best reflects the values of the legendary coach. This season, the award was presented to
Ariel Simchi (Fair Lawn, NJ, Frisch).
Next up was the men's volleyball team, beginning with the presentation of the HVMAC Coach of the Year award for Arnold Ross. The team was then called up as a group to unveil the HVMAC Championship banner that will forever hang in the MSAC gymnasium.
After going through each team and presenting the coaches awards (please see below for the list), Mr. Bednarsh presented the Aaron Meyer Award to
Joshua Pransky (Philadelphia, PA, Beren). Two years ago, Yeshiva athletic trainer Aaron Meyer passed away after more than 10 years of service to the Yeshiva student-athletes. This award is presented annually to the student-athlete who best demonstrates the spirit, selflessness, and dedication to their team and the athletics program. Joshua is a dual sport athlete (baseball/soccer) who was presented the award by last year's recipient, Achiya Yaffe.
Presenting the next award was Dr. Victor Schwartz, University Dean of Students, and David Himber, Dean of Students. The Emille Offenbacher award is presented annually to the most outstanding graduating male athlete. This year's recipient was
David Kahana (Silver Spring, MD, MJBHA) (Volleyball).
Dr. Schwartz and Dean Himber were joined by Associate Dean of Students Beth Hait for the presentation of the SCW/SSSB Award for the most outstanding graduating female athlete. This year's award went to women's tennis player
Stephanie Kimmel (Allentown, PA, YU Flatbush).
The Norman Palefsky Award was presented next, by SSSB Dean Michael Ginzberg and SSSB Associate Dean Ira Jaskol. This award is awarded annually to the most outstanding graduating male scholar-athlete, recognizing success both on the field of play and in the classroom. The recipient of this award was wrestler
Isaac Kuyunov (Hollis, NY).
The SCW Dean Dr. Karen Bacon, SCW Associate Dean Ethel Orlian, and Deans Ginzberg and Jaskol presented the ECAC Merit Award, which goes to the most outstanding graduating female scholar-athlete. The criterion remains the same as the Palefsky award, and this year
Chana Gila Ovits (Brooklyn, NY, Prospect Park Yeshiva) was the recipient.
After closing remarks from Mr. Bednarsh, Joshua Pransky led the group in Benching. In all, over 50 athletes were recognized from all 15 sports for various awards. The athletics department would like to congratulate everyone and wish them luck on finals and an enjoyable summer.
COACHES AWARD WINNERS BY SPORT
Jeremy Schwartz (Brooklyn, NY, MTA) – Baseball;
Martin Leibovich (Buenos Aires, Argentina, ORT II) – Basketball;
Jaclyn Ramras (Woodmere, NY, SKA) – Basketball;
David Sweet (Chicago, IL, Fasman Yeshiva) – Cross Country;
Simi Lampert (Baltimore, MD, Yeshiva of Greater Washington) – Cross Country;
Ari Friedman (Passaic, NJ, Mesivta of North Jersey) – Fencing (Epee);
Joseph Rothenberg (East Brunswick, NJ, JEC) – Fencing (Foil);
Jordan Feld (Flushing, NY, MTA) – Fencing (Sabre);
Elizabeth Penn (New Rochelle, NY, Bronx Science) – Fencing (Epee);
Rebecca Miller (Toronto, Canada, CHAT) – Fencing (Foil);
Rebecca Sperling (New Rochelle, NY, Frisch ) – Fencing (Sabre);
Sam Ulrich (San Diego, CA) – Golf;
Achiya Yaffe (Jerusalem, Israel, OC) – Soccer;
Janna Login (Boston, MA, Maimonides) – Soccer;
Joseph Itkis (Newtown, MA, Maimonides) – Tennis;
Leah Michels (Milwaukee, WI, Torah Academy of Milwaukee) – Tennis;
David Kahana (Silver Spring, MD, MJBHA) – Volleyball;
Abigail Smolensky (Houston, TX, Beren Acedemy) – Volleyball;
Isaac Kuyunov (Hollis, NY) – Wrestling.
OTHER AWARDS BY SPORT
Jeremy Schwartz (Brooklyn, NY, MTA) – Baseball Silver Slugger;
Binyamin Cooper (Teaneck, NJ, YUHS) – Baseball Gold Glove;
Aryeh Magilnick (Santa Monica, CA, YULA) and
David Gilboa (Tenafly, NJ, Frisch) – Bernard “Red” Sarachek Award;
Jordan Feld (Flushing, NY, MTA)– Fencing Arthur D. Tauber Award.
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS BY SPORT
Martin Leibovich (Buenos Aires, Argentina, ORT II) (Basketball) – First Team All-Skyline, All-Met Second Team, All-American Jewish Sports Review;
Avigail Varnai (Skokie, IL, ICJA) (Basketball) – HVWAC All-Conference;
Stephanie Kimmel (Allentown, PA, YU Flatbush) (Tennis) – Second Team All-Skyline;
Zachary Stern (Columbus, Ohio, Columbus Torah Academy) (Soccer) – Second Team All-Skyline;
Janna Login (Boston, MA, Maimonides) (Soccer) – HVWAC All-Conference;
Odelia Rosenberg (Paramus, NJ, Maayonot) (Soccer) – HVWAC All-Conference;
David Kahana (Silver Spring, MD, MJBHA) (Volleyball) – HVMAC All-Conference, First Team All-Skyline;
Joesph Bajtner (Skokie, IL, Ida Crown Jewish Academy) (Volleyball) – HVMAC All-Conference;
Zanvy Grauman (Silver Spring, MD, Berman Hebrew) (Volleyball) – HVMAC All-Conference;
Abigail Smolensky (Houston, TX, Beren Acedemy) (Volleyball) – HVWAC All-Conference;
Elizabeth Penn (New Rochelle, NY, Bronx Science) (Fencing) – EWFC Second Team All-Conference;
Chana Gila Ovits (Brooklyn, NY, Prospect Park Yeshiva) (Fencing) - EWFC Second Team All-Conference;
Zach Charles (New York, NY, Ramaz) (Tennis) – First Team All-Skyline
