randy.cruz@me.com BY GARY ABBOTT, USA WRESTLING | JULY 07, 2017, 6:10 P.M. (ET)
The U.S. wrestlers pose as a group prior to the Opening Ceremonies of the World Maccabiah Games in Israel. Photo courtesy of Nate Engel.
BEERSHEVA, Israel – The U.S. Maccabiah wrestling team is in Israel, preparing for this weekend’s wrestling competition at the 20th World Maccabiah Games. Jewish athletes from all over the world have assembled for this major international sports competition.
The U.S. team was formed based upon the results from the Maccabiah USA Team Trials in Philadelphia held on April 2. The U.S. wrestlers are competing in both styles during the tournament.
Weigh-in for freestyle is on Saturday, with freestyle competition on Sunday. Greco-Roman will follow on Monday.
The veteran star on the team is Nate Engel, longtime Team USA member in Greco-Roman and currently an assistant wrestling coach at the U.S. Naval Academy, who was a Maccabiah Games gold medalist in both styles in 2013. Engel is competing at 57 kg in freestyle
The team includes numerous wrestlers from the college ranks, including brothers Mitch and Matt Finesilver of Duke, plus Parker Kropman (Binghamton), Sage Heller (Hofstra), Donald McNeil (Rider), Michael Kosoy (NC State), Jack Mutchnik (American) and Gordon Wolf (Lehigh).
Two team members are high school stars from top prep school programs, Zachary Sherman of Blair and Mosha Schwartz of Wyoming Seminary. Schwartz is a past USA Wrestling Cadet Triple Crown winner.
The U.S. team is led by two successful coaches who are active within USA Wrestling, head coach Chris Feder of San Rafael, Calif. and Assistant Coach Robinson Prebish of Richmond, Va.
The USA has been a power in wrestling in past Maccabiah Games. In the most recent Games in 2013, Team USA won 14 wrestling medals, with three champions. Included were nine freestyle medals (including two golds) and five Greco-Roman medals (with one gold).
The Maccabiah World Games, a competition for Jewish athletes across the world, is the third largest multi-sport event on earth behind the Olympic Games and the Pan American Games. Wrestlers are part of the overall 1,100+ member Team USA at the 2017 World Maccabiah Games, which features 10,000 athletes, from 80 countries, participating in 43 sports.
Fans can get results and information on the Maccabiah Games from their official website below:
http://www.maccabiah.com/2017/
20th USA Maccabiah Games wrestling team
57 kg FS/59 kg GR. – Nathan Engel, Annapolis, Md.
57 kg FS/59 kg GR – Moshe Schwartz, Franktown, Colo.
61 kg FS/66 kg GR – Zachary Sherman, Plantation, Fla.
61 kg FS/66 kg GR – Bo Schlosser, Franktown, Colo.
65 kg FS/71 kg GR – Parker Kropman, Rochester, N.Y.
65 kg FS/71 kg GR– Jack Mutchnick, Owings Mills, Md.
70 kg FS/75 kg GR- Mitchell Finesilver, Greenwood Village, Colo.
74 kg FS/80 kg GR- Matt Finesilver, Greenwood Village, Colo.
86 kg FS/85 kg GR – Sage Heller, Riverwoods, Ill.
86 kg FS/85 kg GR – Gordon Wolf, Lawrenceville, N.J.
97 kg FS/98 kg GR. – Donald McNeil, Plainville, Mass.
125 kg FS/130 kg GR – Michael Kosoy, Boca Raton, Fla.
Head coach Chris Feder, San Rafael, Calif.
Assistant coach Robinson Prebish, Richmond, Va.