Sherry Levin, Director of Athletics and Steve Schechter, Boys’ Varsity Coach, both at the Beaver Country Day School in Chestnut Hill, MA, will volunteer as coaches for the USA Team competing at the 12th Pan Am Maccabi Games in São Paulo, Brazil, December 26, 2011 – January 2, 2012. Levin will be the Head Coach for the Open Women’s Basketball Team and Schechter will be the Head Coach for the Juniors Boys’ Soccer Team.
This will be Levin’s fifth international experience with Maccabi USA, the first two were as an athlete with the Open Women’s Basketball Team at the World Maccabiah Games in Israel in 1981 and 1985. She later returned as a Team Manager in 1989 and 1993. Since that time, Levin (a member of the Newton North High School, Holy Cross College and New England Basketball Halls of Fame) has served in various volunteer leadership positions with Maccabi USA where she is currently a member of the organization’s Board of Directors. As a Coach for the Women’s Basketball Team, she will have the opportunity to share her experiences with young Jewish athletes. “The Team has a wide range of talent and I intend to focus our attention on representing the USA and competing with other Jewish athletes from throughout Latin America,” said Levine. “It’s been 30 years since my first Maccabiah experience as a member of the 1981 Women’s Basketball Team and it has truly lived up to its billing of ‘two weeks to experience, a lifetime to remember!'”
This will be Schechter’s first experience with Maccabi USA, due in a large part to Levin’s suggestion to get involved. “Sherry has raved about her Maccabiah experiences with Maccabi USA and that sparked my interest in participating,” Schechter said. “I truly have a passion for coaching Soccer and working with young athletes and was drawn to the opportunity to celebrate my Jewish Identity with other Jewish athletes and coaches from throughout the Diaspora.” The Juniors Boys’ Soccer Team is highly talented, with each athlete having either high-level club experience or U.S. Development Academy experience. Schechter expects all his athletes and staff to have a rewarding and positive athletic experience and hopes they develop life-long friendships and stronger bonds to their shared Jewish heritage.
Both Levin and Schechter plan to bring a diverse group of athletes, in each of their disciplines, and create organized Teams that will compete to the best of their abilities. Their individual and shared experiences at the 12th Pan Am Maccabi Games will increase their leadership skills and only enhance the skills and leadership they already bring to their respective positions at the Beaver Country Day School.
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 co-founder 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.