Philadelphia, PA, February 25 – Derek Borisoff and Leland Faust, 19thMaccabiah USA Open Water Polo Co-Chairs announced the Open Men’s and Women’s Water Polo teams participating in the Maccabiah Games, July 2013. The teams will be coached by Douglas Peabody, a silver medal alumnus of the USA’s 1989 Maccabiah team. Derek Borisoff, also an alumnus of the 1989 silver medal USA Maccabiah Team will serve as assistant coach for the Men’s team.
Peabody has extensive experience coaching Water Polo at the highest levels. He was recently honored by USA Water Polo with the 2011 Distinguished Men’s Coaching Award. In 1992, Peabody founded the San Diego Shores Foundation for Water Polo and has had over 2,500 athletes participate in its programs since its inception.
There are a number of members of the Water Polo teams’ that share more than their passion for the sport. Brothers Devon and Spencer Borisoff are sons of Derek Borisoff and alumni of the 2007 and ’11 Pan Am Maccabi Games and Spencer is an alumnus of the USA’s 2009 Open Men’s Water Polo Team. Brother and sister Michael and Madeline Rosenthal’s father Daniel, is an alumnus of the USA’s 1977 Maccabiah Swim team. Brothers Griffin and Spencer White are joining older brother and alumnus of the USA’s 2009 Open Men’s Water Polo Team, Zachary this year.
The Men’s team include: Devon Borisoff from La Canada, CA, University of Southern California; Spencer Borisoff from La Canada, CA, University of Southern California; Scott Churchman from Los Angeles, CA, Occidental College; Andrew Hoffenberg from Rancho Santa Fe, CA, Princeton University; William Klein from Pasadena, CA, Brown University; James McNamara from Encino, CA, Brown University; Cory Nasoff of Rancho Santa Fe, CA, University of California Los Angeles; Michael Rosenthal from Miami, FL, University of Southern California; Albert Samuels from Villa Park, CA, Loyola Marymount University; Ross Sinclair of Newport Beach, CA, University of California Santa Barbara; Griffin White from Mission Viejo, CA, University of California Los Angeles; Spencer White from Mission Viejo, CA, University of California Los Angeles; and Zachary White from Mission Viejo, CA, University of California Berkeley.
The Women’s Team includes: Robyn Crabtree from Cutler Bay, FL, Marist College; Sophie Hoegh from Ann Arbor, MI, University of Michigan; Hannah Koper from Santa Barbara, CA, San Marcos High School; Hannah Lapkin from Tustin, CA, Princeton University; Rachel Mitchell from Danville, CA, Monte Vista High School; Mackenzie Mone from Murrieta, CA, Iona College; Laurent Presant from Poway, CA, a graduate from Brown University; Madeline Rosenthal from Miami, FL, a junior at the University of Southern California; Emma Sasson from San Diego, CA, a freshman at University of California San Diego; Natasha Schulman from Los Angeles, CA, a senior at the University of California Los Angeles; Gabriella Serure from Coral Gables, FL, a freshman at the University of Michigan; Sierra Stillwater from San Diego, CA, a junior at Patrick Henry High School; and Dakotah Sturla from Davis, CA, a graduate of the University of California Davis.
“I think we have the best Open Men’s team ever and we are all looking forward to recapturing the gold medal,” Faust commented. “These Games [2013] mark the debut of Open Women’s Water Polo and we have a very strong group of young women who will vie for the gold medal. Doug Peabody is the preeminent coach in Water Polo and will bring out the best in both the Men’s and Women’s Teams.”
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.