Though the JCC Maccabi Games are coming to a close in San Diego, Bay Area participants earlier this week wasted little time turning in top performances, earning hardware and bragging rights along the way.
Representing the JCC of San Francisco at the Olympic-style competition, swimmer Becca Roth captured three gold medals in the 14-and-under (14U) 50-yard freestyle, 200-yard freestyle and 50-yard backstroke. Brittany Salazar of the JCCSF also won a silver medal in the 14U 200-yard mixed team medley relay, and the Peninsula JCC’s Erika Segal captured bronze in the 50-yard freestyle. Lauren Klafter, also from the Peninsula JCC, got the gold in the 16U 50-yard freestyle.
Making its first Maccabi Games appearance, the JCCSF flag football team joined players from the Columbus, Ohio, delegation to start the week off undefeated with victories over Springfield, Mass., Nashville, Tenn., and Miami.
“These have been terrific games,” said Nathaniel Bergson-Michelson, director of marketing for the JCCSF. “The kids are having a lot of fun down here.”
Tuesday marked an exciting day for the JCCSF boys’ 16U basketball team, which edged out the Israeli team, 53-40. A comfortable lead for the S.F. squad was almost erased as Israel pulled within one point, 37-36, with six minutes left to play in the fourth quarter. Determined to get the win, the JCCSF team surged ahead to secure a 13-point lead before the final buzzer.
The previous day, the Contra Costa JCC 16U team beat Phoenix, 61-33, and Richmond, Va., 51-26.
On the girls’ side, both 16U basketball teams with Bay Area players were victorious. Orange County/Omaha/Palo Alto defeated San Diego/Las Vegas, 38-35, and Phoenix/San Antonio, 60-33, while the JCCSF squad turned in three consecutive wins including a 39-19 victory over Stamford/Allentown.
In volleyball action, after a loss Monday to York/Tucson/Denver, the Palo Alto/St. Paul 16U girls’ volleyball team bounced back with a win over Phoenix/San Antonio. The pack then split games against Boca Raton, falling first 25-11, then taking out the Florida-based delegation, 26-24.
The JCCSF’s Aaron Goldwyn took three out of his four singles matches, 8-0, 5-8, 8-0, 8-3.
Off the field, the young athletes explored San Diego, visited Sea World and organized a carnival for special needs kids and military families from Camp Pendleton during the “Day of Caring and Sharing.”
“They’re really having a great time,” said Jackie Lewis, Maccabi Games director at the JCCSF. “They’re just really excited.”
She added that other delegations and cities approached her throughout the week to share their excitement about coming to San Francisco next year, one site of the 2009 Maccabi Games.
“We all can’t wait to get back to the fog,” Lewis said with a laugh. “It’s really hot here. I keep saying to people next year it will be 60 degrees and a wind will be whipping through, but no one believes me.”
The latest results were not available at press time.