A delegation of 35 local Jewish teen athletes recently returned from Tucson, Arizona, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, after competing at the 2025 JCC Maccabi Games.

Fourteen of those athletes earned medals in multiple sports, medaling in basketball, dance, flag football, golf, soccer, swimming and tennis. In addition, Kansas City sent a staff delegation who connected with peers from JCCs and the broader Jewish community worldwide.

“There was an incredible sense of connection among the athletes, with a strong emphasis on Jewish values, sportsmanship and cultural pride,” said Carly Stein, chief operating officer of The J. “The energy was contagious, and we plan to bring that same spirit to the 2026 JCC Maccabi Games in Kansas City.”

The JCC Maccabi Games is an Olympic-style sporting competition held each summer in North America and is the largest organized sports program for Jewish teens in the world. The week of competition also features an array of cultural and social activities. This year, more than 1,200 Jewish teens from across North America, Israel, Great Britain, Argentina and Ukraine competed.

Several athletes and coaches received “Midot” medals in recognition of exceptional sportsmanship, teamwork and respect on and off the field. Recipients included Gabriel Goodbinder, Coach Kelly Lagrant, Margot Lubliner, Coach Mitch Martin, Shefer Rudnick, Elijah Shalinsky, Sasha Weiner and Aiden Zack.

“I am so proud to be a part of this team,” said Bob Hennecke, director of sports and recreation at The J and Kansas City Maccabi delegation head. “Seeing our athletes connect, support one another and represent Kansas City on such a large stage was truly unforgettable.”

The Kansas City Maccabi delegation’s upper bracket basketball team included (from left) delegation head Bob Hennecke, Hudson Weikal, Nathan Weiner, Ayden Mooney, Teddy Zitron, Uriel Noorollah, Phineas Green and Coach Mike Liss.

Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy students

Seven HBHA students were part of the Kansas City delegation. Shefer Rudnick earned the “Midot” medal for exemplifying Maccabi’s core values, and Naama Reem took home a silver medal in volleyball.

In basketball, Teddy Zitron (senior), Phineas Green (sophomore) and Uriel Noorollah (sophomore) competed in the upper bracket, while Gus Zitron (9th grade) and Evan Schlozman (8th grade) played in a younger division.

For Teddy Zitron — competing in his third and final Maccabi Games — the event was a highlight. “This year we were in the upper bracket, so the competition was fierce,” he said. “It was pretty cool playing on a D1 college court and seeing two HBHA athletes win medals.”

Beyond the games, athletes enjoyed championship matches, a Pittsburgh Pirates game and meeting peers from across the globe.

“It’s not just a normal tournament — you compete, but you also make friends, watch other sports and share meals with people from all over,” Zitron said.

The athletes and their respective sports were:

Boys 15U Basketball (Pittsburgh):

  • Zack Blinn
  • Daniel Brick
  • Evan Schlozman
  • Gabe Sherry
  • Elliot Spizman
  • Zack Wieland
  • Gus Zitron
  • Coach: Jason Sautter

Boys 17U Basketball (Pittsburgh):

  • Phineas Green
  • Ayden Mooney
  • Uriel Noorollah
  • Hudson Weikal
  • Nathan Weiner
  • Teddy Zitron
  • Coach: Michael Liss

Boys 17U Soccer (Pittsburgh):

  • Aiden Zach

Dance (Tucson):

  • Brooklyn Birnbaum – Gold (2), Silver
  • Dahlia Feinberg – Silver (2)
  • Isabella Malyarov – Gold, Silver (2), Bronze
  • Hazel Metcalf – Silver (2), Bronze
  • Logan Nicholls – Gold (3), Silver

Flag Football (Tucson):

  • Elijah Shalinsky – Silver
  • Coach: Mitch Martin

Girls 15U Volleyball (Pittsburgh):

  • Naama Reem – Silver

Girls 17U Basketball (Tucson):

  • Macy Schroering – Silver
  • Tatum Schroering – Silver

Girls 17U Soccer (Tucson):

  • Margot Lubliner – Bronze

Girls 17U Softball (Pittsburgh):

  • Roz Swinburne Romine – Silver

Girls 17U Volleyball (Tucson):

  • Shefer Rudnick
  • Maya Rumple
  • Coach: Kelly Lagrant

Golf (Tucson):

  • Hudson Zach – Silver

Swimming (Tucson):

  • Lauren Brand – Gold, Silver, Bronze (5)
  • Sasha Weiner – Gold (8), Silver, Bronze

Tennis (Tucson):

  • Jacob Palan – Gold
  • Jacob Williams

Track (Pittsburgh):

  • Quinten Standridge

To kick off the 2026 JCC Maccabi Games in Kansas City, The J is hosting a community kickoff event on Sunday, Oct. 5. Individuals interested in learning more are encouraged to attend the celebration that will start the countdown to Aug. 2 through 7, 2026. Information about participation – as an athlete, host family, volunteer and more – will be available. More information is available at thejkc.org/MaccabiKickOff. 

The 2026 Kansas City delegation will start forming in October of 2025. More information is available by contacting Maggie Osgood Nichols at (913) 327-4612 or Ilan Lakritz at (913) 327-8551.