Aug. 26, 2008

Garden City, N.Y. - From August 17 to 22, over 3,000 Jewish teens from the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Hungary, Israel, Mexico and Venezuela came together for a week of competition, community service and social activities in Detroit as part of the Maccabi Games. Adelphi University assistant men's basketball coach Eric Schwager also took part as the head coach of the Mid-Island, Plainview Jewish Community Center (JCC) U14 boy's basketball team.

"I am extremely proud of my team's desire and hunger to compete at the Maccabi Games," Schwager said. "Not only did we accomplish our goal in attaining the silver medal, but we had fun doing it, which is what counts the most."

Beginning in December, Schwager volunteered his time and traveled to the JCC and ran practice for the team every Sunday. He took a team of eight players to the Detroit games, which were held in conjunction with two other sites, San Francisco and Akron.

Schwager's team participated in pool play on August 18 and 19 to earn a ranking, heading into the medal round. On day one the Mid-Island team dropped their first two games to Atlantic County and Detroit Blue by 11 points and 10 points, respectively. The second day played out much like the first with Schwager's team dropping two games to Chicago and Baltimore.

With an 0-4 record in pool play, Mid-Island was given the 12th seed in the medal round and faced 13th seeded San Francisco in the first round of championship action. Schwager guided his squad to a 69-46 blow out victory and earned a semi-final match-up with ninth seeded Seattle. Mid-Island kept rolling, topping Seattle 45-33 to earn a shot at the Blue Division gold medal.

In the gold medal game Mid-Island came up just shy of the win, falling to New York neighbors Staten Island, 41-35, earning a Silver medal. "We played really hard in the first half, as we were only two points down late in the game," Schwager explained. "We committed a few too many costly turnovers in the fourth quarter which hurt us. Staten Island capitalized on our mistakes, but having the opportunity to play in the gold medal game along was an amazing experience that I will never forget."

"This shows what type of person coach Schwager is, giving up his time and putting his efforts into such a worthwhile organization," Head Men's Basketball Coach James Cosgrove said. "It also shows what kind of coach he is, leading his kids to a silver medal."

In addition to the athletic competition, the Maccabi Games offers the athletes the opportunity to perform community service. As participants in the 2008, Detroit JCC Maccabi Games took part in efforts to fight hunger and provide sporting equipment for those less fortunate as part of the game's tzedekah projects. In Judaism, "tzedakah" refers to the religious obligation to perform charity, and philanthropic acts.

Both local and visiting athletes participating in the Maccabi Games, along with others in the Metro Detroit community donated nonperishable food items to Yad Ezra in Berkley, the Gleaners Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan and Leket, the Israeli National Food Bank. Local synagogues, temples, and the Jewish Community Center also participated in the food drive. In addition, Detroit JCC Maccabi Games participants donated gently used athletic clothing and equipment to children in countries around the world, including Israel, through the Global Gear Drive.

"Having the chance to give back to the community is something that I really enjoy doing," Schwager stated. "I am glad that I had the opportunity to guide such fine young men and having the chance to coach them at the same time was a true blessing for me."

Now Schwager returns to the Adelphi University bench to help the Panthers prepare for their final season in the East Coast Conference, and even though silver was nice, he knows gold will be better.