"Words will never be able to describe how this experience truly felt. It felt like a culmination of sacrifice, effort, hard work, and chasing my dreams all ending in a miraculous gold medal."
Q: How did you get involved with the Israeli National Team and describe the process you went through to join the team?
A: I was first introduced to Israel Lacrosse in my sophomore year of high school at a summer showcase tournament. I saw a player on the opposing team with a Star of David on his helmet. I asked him about it and we spoke about Israel Lacrosse and his involvement. I was interested right away in how I could get involved. Fast forward, and we are teammates on Israel's Men's National Team.
My first event with Israel Lacrosse was the 2022 Heritage Cup, which is an exhibition tournament hosted every year during the NCAA Lacrosse Championship Weekend. It is a tournament where over 20 countries send men's, women's, U-18, U-15, and U-13 teams to compete for the trophy.
Playing was a part of the journey, but I also wanted to get involved with the organization in Israel, to grow the sport of lacrosse. I was a part of the Israel Lacrosse Development Team at the 2023 World Lacrosse Championships where the men's team placed seventh in the world. My first real opportunity to play and be on the Men's Field team came at the 2025 European Lacrosse Championships in Wroclaw, Poland. To make this team, tryouts were held the previous year, during the fall with scrimmages against Boston University (Division I) and Babson College (Division III). The team was announced in the spring of 2025 and I was ecstatic to see my name was on the 22-man roster. Besides the scrimmage, every tournament and appearance I participated in was under watchful eyes. My career and success at WestConn was also followed and tracked by the National Team coaching staff.
Q: Can you describe the various accomplishments of Israel's National Team since you joined and what some of your contributions have been?
A: I trained with the team prior to and during the 2023 World Lacrosse Championships, but did not participate in any of the games. I was involved off the field with coaching opportunities for Israel youth teams and visited Israel in the summer of 2024. I knew the best way to get on the field was to move to Israel and train full time for the National Team. I found out I made the Men's National Team in the spring of 2025, after I graduated from WestConn. I immigrated to Israel in May of 2025, shortly before the European Lacrosse Championships in July. For the tournament, I was a goalkeeper for the team, but would be the second option behind the current starter who played at the University of Maryland. It was unlikely that I would see the field much in this spot, so I spoke to the head coach and said I could also play in the field. He trusted me to train at both positions and be ready to perform at the highest level. I was the team's backup goalie in case I was needed, but played the entire tournament as a D-Middie (shortstick defensive midfielder).
The Men's European Lacrosse Championships began on July 10, 2025 in Wroclaw, Poland. We opened pool play on July 11 against Portugal and won 17-5. We finished pool play with four wins and no losses, defeating Scotland (11-6), Switzerland (12-2), and Norway (10-0). During pool play is when I saw the field the most as a D-Middie. They did not keep full stats for the games, but I played quality minutes in every game collecting several ground balls, a few caused turnovers, and even had a shot at the goal against Norway. My main task in each game was to stop my matchups from scoring, play strong team defense and clear the ball and push transition when I could. I also battled for the ball on faceoffs, coming off the wing, and helped our team ride the ball back against the opposition's clear. My teammates would say it looked like I was trying to sacrifice my life on the field, because of how passionate and aggressive I was playing. I did my job to the best of my ability.
In an incredibly close game that saw us behind for most of the time, we defeated England, 8-6, in the next round. We battled extreme adversity during this game, but leaned on each other to win the game. We beat England to land a matchup against Italy in the Gold Medal Game two days later. It felt incredible to be a part of that game and actually compete for a gold medal in lacrosse and the title, Champions of Europe. It was another tough and very close game, going down to the last second. We won the Gold Medal Game on July 19th, 9-8, against a tough Italy opponent and celebrated with pure bliss and joy, jumping and cheering with our parents, teammates, and supporters.
We then received our gold medals, lifted the European Championship trophy, and celebrated together. Truthfully, it was one of the best days of my life. It was an incredible journey and tournament, and I felt blessed to end up on top. To bring back a gold medal to Israel feels amazing. It is Israel's first gold medal in field lacrosse. This whole experience felt like a real-life miracle. With our success, we also qualified for the 2027 World Championships of Lacrosse in Japan. This is all in an effort to prepare for the 2028 Olympics, where lacrosse will be present for the first time.
Q: What has been the most rewarding aspects of this experience for you?
A: The most rewarding part of this whole experience and winning the gold was making my family proud. I represent them in everything I do and accomplish. I was able to not only represent them, but also my faith, my friends, coaches, previous teammates, supporters, the Jewish people, and the Nation of Israel.
Other extremely rewarding aspects were fulfilling my childhood dreams, the camaraderie with my teammates, honoring the name on my jersey, writing history, and inspiring future generations of Israeli lacrosse players. Another extremely rewarding part of this experience was winning against all odds. Nobody in this tournament wanted us to win; no teams or fans wanted to see Israel raise the trophy at the end of the tournament. To outshine the darkness made the victory that much sweeter, to win against hate, prejudice, and discrimination.
Q: Describe one or more amazing game, play, or off-the-field event that sticks out for you.
A: The most amazing game I was a part of was the European Lacrosse Championship semifinal against England. We knew we could succeed against other teams in the tournament, but on paper, England was the best. They were the favorites to win as they had won eight of the last nine Championships; having been crowned the champions of Europe since 2004. Israel had never beaten England in lacrosse, losing by one goal in the previous European Championship Gold Medal Game in 2016.
It was a true David versus Goliath story. It was pouring rain the whole time and it was one of the closest lacrosse games I have ever played in, with both teams going goal for goal. It was an incredibly difficult game to play in. England was very well coached, very disciplined, and worked like a machine. We had to match that professionalism ourselves and give it absolutely everything we had to win. They were ahead almost the entire game until we tied it and took the lead late in the fourth quarter.
Most of the fans in the crowd were cheering against us, not even for England, but against us. They were screaming profanities and hate against my teammates and myself. We had to hold together and lean on each other to fight our way to victory. In Israel, we say rain is a blessing.
When the final whistle went, the biggest weight came off my shoulders because I knew we had made history. We swarmed together as a team and ran to our parents and fans who came down from the stands to celebrate. I remember feeling pure joy with my teammates, my parents who were there, and supporters of Israel Lacrosse, while the opposing fans were threatening us, cursing us, and booing us. We had no choice but to ignore the hate being thrown at us.
As a team, the day before this game, we went to a Nazi concentration camp in Poland. We were empowered by this pain and this desire to outshine the darkness. I felt so much more pride and joy celebrating in front of the people who hate me for who I am, while I was just enjoying the sport I love and representing my family. Once we won this game, we knew as a group we could win the gold medal.
Q: What have you learned about yourself and/or how have you grown as a person and an athlete through this experience?
A: This experience has fully shaped who I have become. Lacrosse gave me the opportunity to represent many things much bigger than myself. It was a long journey to get to where I am now, filled with lacrosse. It was filled with many wins, losses, challenges, successes, different positions, different teams and coaches.
"Forward and Toward the Next Challenge" was always my heading. Through each step, I learned I can achieve my dreams if I truly believe they are possible and continuously work every day to achieve them. I learned how to play for the teammates next to me and how close of a family you can find in sports. I have been lucky to have such a close family not only at WestConn, but also Israel Lacrosse. I learned it is not an easy journey and will require a lot of sacrifice, but the more you put in, the more you get out. I know it is cliche, but I learned through my own journey, that it is true. It may appear like a steep and impossible climb, but step by step, you can reach the top of the mountain. Never give up!
Q: How did your experience as a lacrosse player at WestConn for Coach Ryan Cavanagh lead to this for you? How did it help you succeed?
A: I would not be in the position I am today, both as a person and player, without my experience at WestConn. It forged who I am on and off the field. I transferred to WestConn in the middle of my sophomore year, spring of 2022. I came in as a new player into the program and had to find my way quickly. I had to find how I could best help the team succeed and bond with my teammates.
Luckily, at WestConn, I walked into my new family. My teammates and coaches were extremely helpful in helping me acclimate and made me feel at home. The first thing I realized and felt at WestConn is that I could be my true self. I was appreciated and accepted for who I was on and off the field.
At first, I was a young player with not much experience, so I had to lean on some of the upperclassmen, such as Zak Santoemma to guide me. Coach Cavanagh trusted me to start the season in the cage and the rest is history. I took the opportunity and ran with it. Over time, I learned the ins and outs of the program and the guys on the team, growing into a leader on and off the field. WestConn taught me how to lead by example, not to shout and command all the time, but to lead the team forward in tough circumstances and games.
The biggest thing I took away from playing at WestConn that has helped me succeed is the family I made. I learned very quickly how close you can get with your teammates and coaches, existing as a real family. We always supported each other, always had each other's backs, always loved each other.
In the Fall of 2021, our teammates, Jacob Chapman and Tyler Graham, tragically passed away in a car accident. There was a lot of shock and pain on this team, and this event brought us all close together. We were now playing for them and something much bigger than ourselves. I learned to play for the teammates next to me and give them everything I had to help us succeed. The guys on the team are my brothers for life, and I will forever be in debt to WestConn for that.
We had our eyes set on winning championships and bringing WestConn to the top of the Little East Conference (LEC). We fell short in 2022, but had to learn how to regroup and prepare for the next year. We all shared the same goals and worked together towards those goals, pushing each other forward along the way and never losing sight of what's important. I learned through my time at WestConn to always have fun, do everything with full energy, be grateful for everything (every practice, every game, every bus ride, every moment together on and off the field), and be yourself. Belief will carry you all the way, and sports are more about life than the sport itself.
In 2023, we shocked the LEC and powered our way to host the 2023 LEC Championship game at home against UMass Boston. We believed in each other and took what we knew was ours. We ended that beautiful day as champions and I was lucky enough to lift the trophy into the sea of my beautiful teammates. I was honored to win MVP and hear my teammates chanting for me, reminding me of the love we all shared for each other.
The biggest takeaways I took from WestConn was that sports can bring you so much life, so many memories, and incredible moments with friends and family. I owe WestConn and Coach Cavanagh a thank you for making me the successful lacrosse player I am today. I also need to thank all of my teammates, Coach Lanehart, Coach Byrnes and the rest of my coaches, all of the faculty, the trainers (especially Mark Allen), other students, and my family for giving me such incredible opportunities, helping me succeed, and for making me the person I am today.