While U.S. athletes were pursuing Olympic gold in Beijing, China during the third week of August, a half a world away in Detroit, Michigan, five female teenage athletes from our community led their teams to gold and glory at the 2008 JCC Maccabi Games. These related but disparate endeavors were spiritually linked by 9-Time Olympic Gold Medal Winner Mark Spitz, the keynote speaker for the Opening Ceremonies held at the Palace of Auburn Hills arena. As if channeling Spitz's athletic accomplishments and the last names of their respective host families, Gold and Goldman, the Sid Jacobson (East Hills) JCC Basketball and Soccer teams gave sparkling 14 carat performances in route to championships in both sports. Jericho High School junior Marissa Resnick and sophomore Renee Kiviat were integral members of the Sid Jacobson Gold Medal-Winning Basketball Team, and Jericho High School sophomores Amanda Epstein, Michelle Florin, and Syosset High School sophomore Staci Frankl anchored the Sid Jacobson Soccer Team that also garnered Maccabi gold.

The road to victory was paved with glitter for a Sid Jacobson Girls Basketball Team that dominated the tournament from start to finish. The team consisted of nine girls from Nassau and Queens, most of whom are high level Varsity and AAU players. Five of the nine were returning players from last year's team that won the silver medal in Orange County, California. Their goal this year was to "take care of unfinished business" and that mindset was evident in their preparation, which began in early spring, and in their play throughout this year's games.

Sid Basketball breezed through the preliminary round games, defeating Chicago 71-25, 92nd Street Y 56-21, Los Angeles Westside 58-18, and Vancouver 72-10. Entering the playoffs as the undefeated 2nd-seeded-team, they faced a combined team from Boston/Winnipeg/Seattle in the Quarterfinal. This 10th-seeded team gave its all but ultimately fell short as Sid Basketball won by a score of 56-42. Baltimore, the 3rd-seeded team, was Sid's opponent in the semifinal game and they gave them a run for their money before Sid pulled away and won by a score of 61-48. The Finals matched Sid against the top-seeded team from Southern New Jersey but like all the opponents that came before them, they succumbed by double digits as Sid sealed the deal with a 49-37 victory.

Marissa and Renee made significant contributions to this gold medal run. Marissa was the point guard for a potent offensive attack that dominated the scoring from both the inside post positions and the outside perimeter. Marissa made highlight reel-type assists as the offensive playmaker and hit three-point shots with regularity that softened up the opposing defense. Renee led a suffocating defensive effort that prevented opposing players from establishing any type of offensive rhythm. In the more difficult semifinal game, Renee snatched three steals at the end of the first half, which led to fast breaks and a lead that the team would never relinquish.

Out on the soccer field, the Sid Jacobson Girls Soccer Team experienced the thrill of victory as well; however, the outcome was far less certain and the margin for error was razor thin. Sid Soccer saw five players, or half the roster, age out from last year's bronze medal-winning team, causing Amanda, Michelle and Staci to step up and assume leadership roles as three of the returning team veterans. The team met little resistance in the opening round games, defeating Detroit White 8-1, Virginia Beach 10-3, and Vancouver 9-1, getting contributions from the entire roster. However, one team gave Sid a competitive match, Los Angeles Blue, but Sid ultimately prevailed by a score of 4-2.

Winning all four of their opening round games gave Sid Soccer the 2nd seed in the playoff round just like Sid Basketball. With Michelle and Staci anchoring the defense and turning away the opposition's scoring opportunities, Amanda provided most of the offense in a dominant Quarterfinal performance, scoring 5 goals including a sliding tip-in of a cross at the goal line, leading Sid to a 7-2 victory over the Suffolk Long Island team.

Sid Soccer knew the semifinal rematch against LA Blue would be tough, but they had no idea just how difficult it would be. Trailing throughout the match by scores of 1-0, 2-1 at half-time, and 3-2 late in the game, Sid Soccer came from behind to tie LA Blue 3-3 and force two 10-minute overtime periods. Neither team scored in the first overtime, and with penalty kicks looming, Amanda scored a "you had to be there to see it" winning goal, juggling the ball, chipping it over two defenders, and shooting the ball out of the air, over the goalie, and into the top corner of the net.

The Finals could have been anti-climactic after such an emotional and tension-filled Semifinal, but the team was focused and determined with a championship at stake. Sid's opponent was the previously unbeaten Los Angeles White team. LA White was unscored upon in their four preliminary round games and the Quarterfinal, and only gave up one goal in a Semifinal win against a strong Toronto team. So despite their accomplishments to get this far, Sid Soccer entered the Finals as the underdog. The game began as a defensive struggle but with distinctive offensive styles. LA White's strategy was to score from outside the box with long, powerful shots, while Sid played a possession game trying to work the ball inside. The second half began with the score still tied at 0-0, but that changed in a hurry with two consecutive goals by Amanda. LA White, in the unfamiliar position of trailing in a game for the first time in the tournament, became frustrated and got called for five fouls in a 15-minute period. With time ticking down and seemingly off their game, LA White showed their resilience by scoring on a corner kick to cut the deficit in half. Sid Soccer turned to Michelle and Staci and leaned on them to keep LA White from potentially tying the score and sending the game into an uncertain overtime. When the final whistle blew, Sid Soccer had won their second gold medal in the last three years, the first coming at the 2006 Maccabi Games held in Stamford, CT.

All in all, Amanda scored an astounding nine of the last 13 goals from her center midfield position and was far and away the leading scorer in the age group during the playoff round. Her quick foot skills, tremendous effort, superior field vision, and accurate shooting made it difficult for opposing teams to defend her. The semifinals and finals were a total team effort, each won by a narrow one-goal margin primarily because of outstanding goaltending and stellar defense led by the team's two rock-solid defenders. Michelle contributed to the defense with her aggressive play, outstanding speed, and tremendous intensity. Her second and third efforts thwarted many scoring opportunities and frustrated opposing players. Staci had a great tournament and an outstanding final, playing with calm and focus. She handled numerous 1vs.1 situations deftly and swatted away potential breakaways on numerous occasions. The Gold Medal game provides the best example of the defensive duo's toughness and resilience. Sid Soccer did not allow LA White, who seemingly scored at will throughout the Games, with a single goal from the field.

The JCC Maccabi Games were established as an annual competition in 1982 for Jewish teenagers between the ages of 13 and 16 years old. The Games are the largest Jewish teen event in the world. Participating athletes are given room and board by a host family, perform community service, learn about their Jewish heritage, meet peers from other cultures, make enduring friendships with teammates, and garner memories that last a life time. Bringing home not one, but two gold medals will certainly enhance the memories of this particular year's experiences for these five talented young athletes. Congratulations to Marissa, Renee, Amanda, Michelle, Staci, and all their teammates on this impressive accomplishment that sets a high bar and a gold standard for future Maccabi participants from our area.