Philadelphia, PA, January 21 – Ken Schwartz, USA Chairman Open Badminton, 19th Maccabiah Games, announced the appointment the USA Open Badminton Team competing at the 19th Maccabiah Games in Israel, July 2013. This team will be coached by two athlete/coaches, Shannon Pohl and Aleksandr Boyarin, who will use their experiences to guide the athletes to the gold.
“Nothing is as great as representing your country and sharing a team accomplishment like the Maccabiah gold medal with your Maccabi family,” Schwartz said.
Team members include: Daniel Berdichevsky of Wayland, MA; Aleksandr Boyarin of Dedham, MA; Igor Marmer of South San Francisco, CA; Shannon Pohl of Chicago, IL; Rebecca Radfar of Skokie, IL; Taylor Seplowin of Lake Zurich, IL; Alan Shekhtman of Waban, MA; and Walker Weinstein of Bellevue, WA.
Shannon Pohl has represented the United States in various tournaments including the World Championship Badminton team in 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2009. She won a bronze medal at the Pan American Championships in 2008 in Singles. Aleksandr Boyarin has vast experience coaching Juniors Badminton teams around the United States and as a player.
The team has a great mix of youth and experience that will be instrumental to their success both individually and as a team. Under the guidance of Pohl and Boyarin, the other athletes plan to reach the top of their game.
“I hope that the team has a great cultural experience meeting athletes from around the world and seeing the sights in Israel,” Ken Schwartz said. “As athletes I want them to prepare and compete for gold medals. Nothing compares with standing on the award podium and hearing the USA National Anthem playing. We hope that these athletes come home with great experiences and memories about the Maccabiah Games and Israel to share with their individual communities.”
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.