MACCABI USA RUGBY HALL OF FAME TO INDUCT RAY CORNBILL, STUART KROHN, AND SHAWN LIPMAN
Philadelphia, PA, February 13, 2018 – The Maccabi USA Rugby Family is pleased to announce the induction of Ray Cornbill, Stuart Krohn and Shawn Lipman into the Maccabi USA Rugby Hall of Fame on Friday, March 2, 2018 from 7-10PM in Las Vegas. The ceremony will include the USA Sevens, the 5th stop of the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Series. Following the ceremony, Maccabi USA Rugby alumni, current, and future players will represent Team USA in the Las Vegas Invitational tournament.
“We are inducting three great men into our Hall of Fame class” said Jon Velie, Chairman of Maccabi USA Rugby Hall of Fame. “All epitomize commitment, sacrifice, winning and camaraderie. From our first coach, to a leader from the 1997 gold medal team, to the most decorated player in Maccabi USA Rugby history, are a great way to continue the tradition for a team, a family, and a people who have so much great pride.”
Prior to joining the Maccabi USA Family, Ray Cornbill coached the USA Eagles National Side from 1979-1982. In 1985, he became the first ever Maccabi USA Rugby Head Coach in 1985, leading the team to a bronze medal. He was selected to coach again for the next two Maccabiot, winning both bronze and silver medals. Cornbill was a member of the selection panel for the USA Eagle National Team from 1976-1983 and helped Maccabi USA Rugby compete in tournaments with USA Rugby.
Stuart Krohn, is a three-time alumnus of Maccabi USA. He was a member of the silver medal winning Men’s Rugby Team at the 1993 Maccabiah Games, part of the gold medal winning Men’s Rugby Team at the 1997 Maccabiah Games, and Head Coach of the silver medal winning Men’s Rugby Team at the 2005 Maccabiah Games. In addition to his involvement with Maccabi USA, Krohn played at the University of Colorado-Boulder, UC Santa Barbara, Kronenbourg, France RFC, and Stade Toulousaine, helping the team win the French National Champions in 1984-1985. He also competed in New Zealand, Hong Kong, and South Africa. He was a member of multiple all-star teams both in the US and abroad. One of Krohn’s greatest accomplishments is starting ICEF Rugby. ICEF Rugby is a leadership, team building, and character development program that uses rugby as a vehicle to provide skills to inner-city youth to prepare them for college. UC Santa Barbara Grunions
Shawn Lipman is a four-time athlete alumnus of Maccabi USA. He was a member of the 1989-1997, and 2009 Maccabiot. He was captain of the Rugby teams in 1993 and 1997 and was selected as MVP of the Maccabiah Games in 1989, 1993, and 1997. He additionally served as Flag Bearer for Opening Ceremonies at the 1997 Maccabiah Games. Lipman is a two-time coach alumnus of Maccabi USA, having coached the Open Men’s 7’s Team to gold and Open Men’s 15’s Team to bronze in 2013, and the Open Men’s 15’s Team to Gold in 2017. He won 8 medals in seven Maccabiah Games, which is more medals in open team sports at the Games than any other athlete and is the first person to win Gold in rugby fifteens as a player and coach. He played for Santa Monica Rugby Club and was named as Most Valuable Player in seven seasons. In 2006 Shawn was inducted to the Santa Monica Rugby Hall of Fame. In 1988, Lipman was selected for the United States Eagles National Team and went on to play over 20 international matches, including 9 test matches. He represented the Eagles at the 1991 Rugby World Cup. Lipman was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2004, with other notable athletes like Mark Spitz, Sandy Koufax and Jason Lezak. In 2011, Lipman was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
The World Maccabiah Games, first held in 1932, are an international Jewish multi-sport event held quadrennially in Israel. Rugby was first introduced to the World Maccabiah Games in 1985. Team USA won gold in 1997 narrowly beating South Africa and won the first gold in Sevens Rugby in 2013. In July 2017, Team USA won another 15’s Gold Medal over South Africa.
For additional information, contact Jon Velie at jon@velielaw.com or 405-821-5959 and visit www.usmaccaiahrugby.com