For more than a century, the Maccabi Games are a proud tradition of athletic competition and today is the largest event for Jewish teen athletes around the world.

This year Sid Jacobson JCC sent 55 of their finest athletes to the Detroit MI JCC Maccabi Games on Aug. 17-22 to participate in boys' and girls' basketball, soccer, swimming, tennis and boys' golf. The games encompassed individual as well as team sports and nonathletic activities such as a "Day of Caring and Sharing" and evening activities.

Thanks to the practice and dedication of our athletes and the enthusiasm and commitment of our volunteers and staff, Sid Jacobson JCC girls' basketball, coached by Jon Cohen and Mike Wimmer and the girls soccer team, coached by Jon Shmuel and Tom Ruane, both brought home gold medals. The girls' basketball team included Meghan Erdman, Allison Keller, Renee Kiviat, Stefanie Klapper, Taylor Kruter, Marissa Resnick, Jessy Rosen, Michelle Ross and Melissa Tischler. The girls' soccer team included Cassandra Betancourt, Sapir Edalati, Amanda Epstein, Michele Florin, Staci Frankl, Danielle Gilman, Rachel Nelson, Brie Ruane, Talia Schwartz and MadisonYoung.

In addition, boys' tennis players, Zachary Lessen and Addison Berniker won medals in the boys' 13-14 divison. Josh Turek-Herman won a silver medal in the 13-14 200-yard butterfly. Jessica Strumeyer on girls' 15-16 tennis also won the bronze medal.

Sarah Schmitt, Delegation Head and JCC Program Director of Membership & Fitness said: "Congratulations to all the athletes who participated. They all did an amazing job and should be proud to have participated in such a great athletic event but allowed them to give back to the Detroit community."