Philadelphia, PA, March 15 – Rick Ehrlich, USA Open Swimming Chair for the 19th World Maccabiah Games, announced the appointment of the Open Swimming team participating in the Games, July 2013. The team will be coached by Barry Roffer and Douglas Markoff.
“We have two very experienced USA Swimming coaches. Both Barry Roffer and Doug Markoff have spent many years coaching USA Swimming club teams and both have extensive backgrounds within the Maccabi Movement. Both Barry and Doug will be able to guide our swimmers and use their experience to help when needed,” Ehrlich said.
Team members are: Marlee Ehrlich from Cherry Hill, NJ – Harvard University; Alexander Elias from Lutherville, MD – University of Pennsylvania; Shelby Fortin from Weston, CT – University of Pennsylvania; Sivan Fraiman from Davie, FL; Eric Friedland from Austin, TX – University of Texas; Halle Friedman from Marietta, GA; Joshua Furth from Stamford, CT; Leah Goldman from Burlingame, CA; Alexander Grant from St. Petersburg, FL; Aaron Greenberg from Eden Prairie, MN; Lauren Green from Eden Prairie, MN – University of Minnesota; Hayley Hacker from Pacific Palisades, CA – University of California Los Angeles; Logan Klinsky from Brentwood, TN; Jacqueline Levere from Los Altos, CA – Yale University; Lauren Levy from Bethesda, MD – Brown University; Rebecca Lewinson from West Windsor, NJ – Princeton University; Matthew McPherson from Nashville, TN; Andrea Murez from Venice, CA – Stanford University; Ryan Salmon from Savannah, GA – Georgia Institute of Technology; Marcus Schlesinger from Nuevo, CA; Garrett Weber-Gale from Austin, TX; Michael Weinstein from Allentown, PA; Michael Wohl from Chapel Hill, NC; and Zachary Zlotoff from San Jose, CA – University of the Pacific.
Olympian Garrett Weber-Gale, has won two Olympic gold medals and five World Championship gold medals. He is best remembered for taking part in the 4×100 freestyle relay with Cullen Jones, Michael Phelps, and Maccabiah Alumnus, Jason Lezak. Andrea Murez, a member of the Open Swimming team at the 2009 Maccabiah Games where she won multiple gold and silver medals, has won two NCAA titles in 2012, four Pac-12 titles, and has been named All-American three times while swimming for Stanford University.
“My expectations are extremely high for our team. We have a lot of very talented swimmers but at the same time, most of our swimmers have not competed in an international event. However, based on past experiences, I am confident that our swimmers will rise to the occasion and swim their best,” Ehrlich said. “As in the past several Games, we will have an Olympian on our team, Garrett Weber-Gale. I am sure Garrett will swim fast and be an inspiration to the team.”
For more information about the Maccabiah Games or to schedule an interview with one of our athletes, please contact Sara Feinstein at 215.561.6900 x119.
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, the Pan American Maccabi Games and the Maccabi competitions in Europe and Australia, 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.