Coach Levin Wins Gold Medal in Brazil

Riley Nelson '14

Imagine representing your country at an international sports competition.  Beaver’s Athletic Director, Sherry Levin, had that opportunity when she coached the Women’s American Basketball Team at the Pan American Maccabiah Games in the thriving metropolis of Sao Paulo, Brazil.  She had ten high school students, college students, and a few college graduates.  There was also one player from Canada.  In all, 1,700 athletes from all over the Pan American countries, as well as Australia, Canada, Mexico, and Israel, competed in sporting events such as water polo, soccer, softball, and tennis.  These are only a few of the many sports. Ms. Levin also had the special experience of being able to share the trip with her daughter, Marcia Zimmerman ‘15, commenting that, “For me personally being able to share the trip with Marcia made it extra special.”  Marcia acted as the team’s manager.  

The team played a total of five games against tough competitors including Panama, Brazil and Israel.  The result of those games: a gold medal.  America competed against Israel in the exciting gold medal game on January 1, winning 60-38.  International basketball is very fast paced and aggressive. The games were forty minutes total with ten minutes quarters and a twenty-four second shot clock.  The court was also slightly bigger with measurements of 108 feet by 54 feet.  The size of an NBA court is 94 feet by 50 feet.

The Maccabiah World Games in Israel, held every four years, is the largest Jewish sports competition in the world.  Ms. Levin comments that, “Playing in another country, for a sport that you love, connected by your heritage, is really a tremendous experience.”  The Pan American Maccabiah Games, European Games, and Australian Games are the regional competitions that are also held every fourth year.  In 1981, Ms. Levin played for the United States in the World Games.  In that competition, she won a silver medal.  This time, as a coach, she came home with the gold.  She later said that, “It was an extraordinary experience, one that I will treasure forever.  The experience of coaching internationally will only make me a better coach, and I have memories that will last a lifetime.  My goal is to coach in the World Games in 2013.”  For Ms. Levin, I’m sure this is an event that she will never forget.