Carrying The Tradition Forward: A Look Back at the 2025/2026 Maccabiah Games

The 2025 Maccabiah Games did not unfold the way Maccabi USA Rugby had hoped.

As a result of the conflicts surrounding Israel, the 2025 games were rescheduled to 2026. Our players stayed ready, and used the extra time to hone their craft and their fitness.

After the Games were rescheduled, the changes created challenges across the international rugby competition, with teams and competitors ultimately unable to participate. For Maccabi USA Rugby, that meant making the difficult decision to withdraw both the Men’s Open team and the Youth team.

It was disappointing. These opportunities to represent our community, our country, and our shared heritage are special, and we had invested a lot in building toward them.

Thankfully, the Women’s Open team was still able to take the field. They carried forward the proud tradition of Maccabi USA Rugby in Israel, finishing second and bringing home a medal. More importantly, they continued to represent the spirit of the program: competing at a high level, building connections, and helping grow the future of women’s rugby.

Even though some of our teams couldn’t make it to the Maccabiah, the work of building those teams didn’t stop.

There were players who committed their time, trained together, and were ready to represent Maccabi USA. There were coaches and staff who invested countless hours. And there was a group of people who continued to believe in what this program can be and what it means to connect rugby with our Jewish heritage.

A mixed Maccabi USA Men’s Side Competed at Can-Ams ’26 to continue to build bonds and compete together

So, as we look back at the past two years, we also want to recognize the players who would have represented Maccabi USA Rugby in Israel.

Their names are part of this story, too.

The Maccabiah is about more than a single tournament. It is an opportunity to come together through sport, to represent something bigger than ourselves, and to strengthen a community that spans generations and borders.

We are proud of the tradition that came before us, grateful to everyone who has helped carry it forward, and excited about what comes next.

We’re continuing to build toward 2029.

Women’s Open Side

Alecia Eschenbrenner – Chicago North Shore
Ellie Fromstein – Beantown
Samantha Herbert – Morris
Amanda Korfin – Bowdoin
Jenny Kronish – USA Eagles
Sarah Levy – USA Eagles
Gabrielle Pennino – Chicago North Shore
Eliza Phillips – Hartford Wild Roses
Imari Scipio – Austin Valkyries
Olivia Snyder – University of Pittsburgh
Aliya Vandal – Hartford Wild Roses
Molly Whitman – Santa Monica

Coaches

Ben Wells – Middlebury
Eyal Hakim – Boca Raton

Athletic Trainers

Julie Tucker – National Collegiate Rugby/Blake HS
Cerys Ridd – University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire

Men’s Open Side

Andrew Abt – Greenwich
Zack Ananian – Mystic River
Alex Appel – Mystic River
Mickey Bateman – Denver Barbarians
Alexander Bercovici – Austria
Dan Berger – Schuylkill River
Judd Berman – USA U23s/Trinity College
Michael Blatteis – Phillipine Volcanoes/Life West
Jared Braun – University of Cal-Berkeley
Ari Flink – OMBAC
Josh Galant – Olympic Club
Zach Getson – Dallas Harlequins
Joey Goldbloom – Denver Barbarians
Chase Schor Haskin – Miami Sharks (MLR)
Reed Hirshman – Scottsdale Blues
Simon Honig – Buffalo
Ilan Izakov – OMBAC
Jacob Jaffe – Arizona University
Cooper Laczkowski – St. Bonaventure
Matthew Mairowitz – Miami Tridents
Mason Pedersen – Seattle Seawolves (MLR)
Dan Ponti – OMBAC
Matt Sarna – Wilmington
Adam Satz – Denver Waterdogs
Ethan Schecter – White Plains
Josh Schwartz – Queens College
Lucas Taub – NYAC
Mikey Wein – Penn State

Coaches

Michael Rudzinsky – Mystic River
Mason Pedersen – Seattle Seawolves (MLR)
Taylor Howden – NOLA Gold (MLR)

Youth Boys Rugby

Elijah Delport – Snoqualmie Valley Wildcats
Jonah Guthartz – PlayRugby USA
Mikah Israel – Stamford
Ross Reibark – Union County Mudturtles
Jacob Rybchin – Staples HS
Rafael Saitowitz – War Eagles
Mathew Zukerman – War Eagles/USA South

Coach

John Delport – Snoqualmie Valley Wildcats