NEW YORK – The Yeshiva University Athletics Department held its annual awards ceremony, on Friday afternoon. The event was once again done virtually via Zoom. YU student-athletes, coaches, team managers, and members of the athletics administration took part in the festivities.
Yeshiva University Director of Athletics,
Joe Bednarsh, hosted the ceremony. Yeshiva University President, Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, delivered opening remarks.
This was a unique year in Yeshiva Athletics. Thank you to the Yeshiva Athletics administrators, athletics trainers, and the YU medical experts for doing all that they did to provide our student-athletes with the opportunity to be able to practice and participate in athletics events, as well as making this year a memorable one for them with great experiences and unforgettable moments on and off the field of play.
Four teams reached its sport's championship event or playoffs. The men's basketball team went 7-0 to extend its winning streak to 36 games, which ties the second-longest unbeaten stretch in Division III men's basketball history. Thanks to the strong season, the men's basketball team finished ranked No. 3 in the nation by D3hoops.com. Junior
Ryan Turell and senior
Gabriel Leifer were once again named D3hoops.com All-Americans. The former was selected as the Player of the Year, for the second year in a row, by the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association. The latter was bestowed with CoSIDA Academic All-District honors and was named a 2021 Jay Fielder Outstanding Jewish College Athlete of the Year Award winner. Senior
Eitan Halpert was selected to the All-Met team, while Yeshiva University Head Coach
Elliot Steinmetz earned his second-straight Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association Division III Men's Basketball Coach of the Year recognition.
The golf team rallied to secure fourth place at the Skyline Conference Championships. Junior
Aaron Cohen and first-year golfer
Zachary Perl both earned top 10 finishes in the individual standings, and as a result, they were both named to the All-Skyline team. Perl earned a pair of Skyline Golf Rookie of the Week accolades.
Junior
Zaelig Averch, of the Yeshiva University men's fencing team, was named an NCAA All-American by going 14-4 in foil competition this year. He also qualified for the NCAA Northeast Regional along with teammate
Joshua Polster. The Yeshiva University women's fencing team had three fencers earn a berth in the NCAA Regional event: Junior
Ilana Aidman, classmate
Ruth Lando, and senior
Talya Stehley.
The men's tennis team clinched a berth in the Skyline Conference Championships for the seventh consecutive season.
The women's tennis team closed out the year with a thrilling Skyline victory over Purchase College. Senior
Alexandra Huberfeld capped off the victory by earning a gutsy come-from-behind three-set thrilling victory on her senior day, at No. 2 singles, by scores of 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (3).
Here is a list of our award winners for the 2020-21 season.
Coach's Awards
Special Awards
The Bernard "Red" Sarachek Award
Gabriel Leifer
The Arthur D. Tauber Award
Zaelig Averch
The Stanley Watson Award
Estee Brooks
Graduation Awards
The Aaron Meyer Memorial Award
In recognition of selfless dedication to the athletics program
Presented to
Chana Boltax
(Women's Soccer/Women's Basketball/Softball)
The Norman Palefski Memorial Award
Presented to
Yoni Sacknovitz (Men's Tennis) as the most outstanding Yeshiva University graduating male scholar-athlete.
The SCW/SSSB Merit Award
Presented to
Noa Applebaum (Softball) as the most outstanding Yeshiva University graduating female scholar-athlete.
Male Graduating Student-Athlete of the Year (Individual Sports)
Presented to
Joshua Polster
Men's Fencing
Female Graduating Student-Athlete of the Year (Individual Sports)
Presented to
Alexandra Huberfeld
Women's Tennis
Male Graduating Student-Athlete of the Year (Team Sports)
Presented to
Gabriel Leifer
Men's Basketball
Female Graduating Student-Athlete of the Year (Team Sports)
Presented to
Basya Goldstein
Women's Soccer/Softball
