NEW YORK – The Yeshiva University Athletics Department held its annual awards dinner, inside the gym at Max Stern Athletic Center, on Thursday evening. Over 250 people, including YU student-athletes, coaches, team managers, and members of the athletics/university administration took part in the festivities.
Co-Presidents of the Yeshiva University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, junior
Zoey Botnick and graduate student
Michael Stark, delivered opening remarks. Yeshiva University Athletics Director Greg Fox officially welcomed everyone to the awards dinner. President Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman then delivered a motivational and educational speech to the attendees. Several student-athletes announced the winners of the Coach's Awards.
The men's basketball players and coaches received their 2021-22 Skyline Conference Championship rings.
There were also several major, graduating, and special recognition awards that were presented by different speakers, including former Director of Athletics and current Associate Dean of Students Joe Bednarsh, as well as Faculty Athletic Representatives Jon Green and Robert Russell. Fox delivered the closing remarks.
This was another successful year in Yeshiva Athletics. Nine teams reached its sport's championship event or playoffs.
The men's soccer team advanced all the way to the Skyline Conference Championship match for the first time in program history. Senior
Ethan Fettaya, junior
Lucas Baredes, and classmate
Yonatan Reiter earned spots on the Skyline All-Conference first team. Graduate student
Marc Ziarno, junior
Josh Ziarno, and senior
Shon Benbaron landed on the All-Skyline second team. Both Fettaya and Baredes were named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Region second team.
The women's tennis team earned a berth in the Skyline Conference Championships. Rookie sensation
Shira Adler was honored with a selection to the Skyline All-Conference second team.
For men's cross country, senior
Marshall Northman was selected as the Skyline MXC Scholar-Athlete of the Year and earned a spot on the All-Skyline first team. Teammate
Jake Greenberg landed on the All-Skyline second team.
Despite 10 out of 16 players on the roster being rookies, the Yeshiva University men's basketball team finished in a virtual tie for first place in the Skyline standings, won a first-round conference playoff game over St. Joseph's University Long Island, and earned a berth in the semifinal round of the conference championships. Rookie phenom
Zevi Samet had an outstanding year, being named the Skyline Men's Basketball Rookie of the Year, earning a spot on the All-Skyline first team, landing on the D3hoops.com All-Region third team, being named the Region 3 Rookie of the Year, earning a spot on the All-Met second team, and being named the NCAA Division III Statistical Champion in 3-point field goals made per game (3.96). Sophomore
Max Zakheim was selected to the All-Skyline second team, while
Elliot Steinmetz was honored as the Marty Riger Outstanding Jewish Coach of the Year by the Jewish Sports Heritage Association, Inc.
The Yeshiva University women's basketball team set a program record for most overall wins and conference victories in a season. Senior
Yuval Nitzan is now the program's all-time leading scorer with 1,174 career points. She was also name to both the All-Skyline first team and the D3hoops.com All-Region third team.
Three YU fencers, sophomore
Alexander Siegman, senior
Julia Polster, and classmate
Leorah Lalezari qualified for the NCAA Northeast Regional Championship. Polster was selected as an EWFC Woman of the Year Nominee and won 45 epee battles during the season. Lalezari earned a spot on the EWFC All-Academic team.
The men's tennis team went 5-2 in league play this year and defeated St. Joseph's University Long Island in the opening round of the Skyline Championships to earn a berth in the semifinal round. Rookie
Michael Natkin was named to the All-Skyline first team, while senior
Eitan Jeselsohn landed on the All-Skyline second team.
There were 11 student-athletes who were honored with College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team accolades, thanks to their strong performance in both athletics and academics. The honorees are
Daniella Bessler (women's soccer and women's basketball),
Ashley Botnick (women's volleyball), Adler (women's tennis),
Liana Friedman (women's tennis),
Jess Rom (men's soccer),
Rafael Cohen (men's soccer), Nitzan (women's basketball),
Shai Rahamim (women's basketball),
Matan Zucker (men's basketball),
Yoni Mayer (men's tennis), and Jeselsohn (men's tennis).
The Maccabees once again dominated in the classroom. YU led the Skyline with a school-record 82 student-athletes earning a spot on the Conference Fall Academic Honor Roll.
Here is a list of our award winners for the 2022-23 season.
Coach's Awards
Special Awards
The Bernard "Red" Sarachek Award:
Matan Zucker
The Arthur D. Tauber Award:
Alexander Siegman
The Stanley Watson Award:
Marshall Northman
Graduation Awards
The Aaron Meyer Memorial Award
In recognition of selfless dedication to the athletics program
Presented to
Eliyahu Solomon
(Baseball)
The Norman Palefski Memorial Award
Presented to
Eitan Jeselsohn (Men's Tennis) as the most outstanding Yeshiva University graduating male scholar-athlete.
The SCW/SSSB Merit Award
Presented to
Ilana Rouhani (Women's Soccer) as the most outstanding Yeshiva University graduating female scholar-athlete.
Male Graduating Student-Athlete of the Year (Individual Sports)
Presented to
Marshall Northman
Men's Cross Country
Female Graduating Student-Athlete of the Year (Individual Sports)
Presented to
Julia Polster
Women's Fencing
Male Graduating Student-Athlete of the Year (Team Sports)
Presented to
Jess Rom
Men's Soccer
Female Graduating Student-Athlete of the Year (Team Sports)
Presented to
Yuval Nitzan
Women's Basketball
