Expansion Teams!

Akiva and Hillel day schools expand their
after-school athletic offerings.

JULIE WIENER STAFF WRITER

ewish day schools are not
known for their athletic pro-
grams.
However, the term day
school sports is no longer an oxy-
moron. Although Yeshiva Beth
Yehudah, its Sally Allan Alexan-
der Beth Jacob School for Girls,
and Darchei Torah do not have
sports programs, both Akiva Day
School and Hillel Day School have
small, but growing programs. And
response from the students at
Akiva and Hillel has been over-
whelmingly positive.
"Akiva's had a [boys'] basket-
ball team for awhile, at times
more highly organized than oth-
er times," said Ken Kohn, an Aki-
va parent who has been coaching
the school's varsity team for four
years. "My initial goal was just to
help give these guys some exer-
cise." However, according to Mr.
Kohn, the team ended this year's
season with more wins than loss-
es (10-6) and several victories at
a national tournament in New
York for Jewish day schools.

j

"The guys have progressed over
the years," said Mr. Kohn, an at-
torney who volunteers to coach the
team. "This program's done a lot
for them. It's taught them team-
work, given them perspective on
competitiveness and introduced
them to a lot of people they don't
normally meet." Akiva's competi-
tors included Eton Academy, the
Jewish Community Center and
numerous metro Detroit parochial
schools.
Freshman Lull Gottfried spoke
enthusiastically about Mr. Kohn's
coaching. "When I came to Akiva,
I heard sports were a joke ... that
kids on the team just wanted to
have fun," he said. "But this year
we worked together as a team."
Mr. Kohn agreed. "At first, no
one took it seriously," he said. But
now that the team has started to
win games, playing "does their
self-esteem a lot of good."
The resurgence of the boys'
team has generated interest
among girl athletes at Akiva as
well. This fall, a group of girls —

led by Mr. Kohn's daughter,
Rachel — asked for their own
team. Although the boys' team has
tryouts, all girls who were inter-
ested played on their team. Be-
cause they started late in the
season, the girls only played two
games this year, but Mr.
Kohn hopes to arrange
a full schedule for
next year.
For eighth-
grader Bina
Rabinowitz,
playing on
the girls'
team was
her first
exposure
to basket-
ball. "The
first game
we ever
played, no
one knew
how to play. It
taught us a lot of
teamwork, and we
learned how to work
together and trust one
another." Although no one in her
family is interested in sports, she
says the experience has turned
her into an enthusiast. "I wasn't
a sports fan or anything before,"
she said. "Then all of a sudden I
started liking basketball. Now I
love watching basketball."
In addition to Mr. Kohn's coach-

ing, physical education teacher
Bill Andradi coaches junior var-
sity basketball. Because Akiva al-
locates no money for the teams,
members pay for their own uni-
forms and other expenses.
Akiva's players face numerous
challenges. Because of their
lengthy school days,
team members have
little time to prac-
tice. This year, the
boys' team prac-
ticed twice a
week and the

Ken Kohn
and Akiva's
basketball
team earned
a trophy in
New York.

PHOTO BY
DANIEL LIPPITT

girls' team prac-
ticed once a week.
And players must
contend with a smaller-
than- regulation-size bas-
ketball court.
Like Akiva, Hillel currently has
no budget for team expenses, so
participants pay their own way.
However, whereas one of Akiva's
coaches is a volunteer and one a
staff member, all of Hillel's coach-
es are staff members. This year,
Hillel had middle school boys' bas-

ketball (with one girl player), boys'
tennis, girls' volleyball and a
cheerleading squad.
Alita Cyrlin, who directs Hil-
lel's middle school physical edu-
cation program and oversees the
sports., said she would like to offer
boys' and girls' cross country and
girls' tennis next year and hopes
eventually to have a "full athletic
program."
Hillel's teams compete with
public, private and parochial
schools. Like Akiva's teams, the
practice schedule is light, usually
twice a week, and the focus is
more on learning than winning.
While there were tryouts for bas-
ketball, the volleyball and tennis
teams were open to all students.
"My concern was just the kids
playing and feeling success," said
Ms. Cyrlin. "I personally wasn't
thinking about winning and los-
ing."
Seventh-grader
Jennifer
Schanes played volleyball com-
petitively for the first time on Wi-
lds new team. "It was exciting to
play against other schools," she
said, "It was fun when everyone
was cheering for us."
Sixth-grader Jason Garden has
been playing tennis since he was
6, but this year was the first time
he got to play on a team. "It's ex-
citing to be competing with your
good friends against the different
schools," he said. ❑

A Day full of activities
for people of all ages..

Come and join the fun..
8:30am-1 pm Pancake Breakfast @ the YMCA
10am-12noon Fishing Derby

Ir

meet at Quarton Lake

1pm Parade Down Birmingham

Celebrate Birmingham

Theme: Birmingham at the Movies
Date: Sunday May 18th
Where: Downtown Birmingham
Parade at 1pm Afterglow in Shain Park 2.4pm
FUN for everyone of all ages

see Cruella De Vil and the Dalmations
The largest Basset Waddle in the country
300 Basset Hounds
Clowns, Bands and a whole lot more

2-4pm Afterglow in Shain Park

Moonwalks, Pony rides, clowns,Chalk Art, Magicians,
Petting Farm, Bands, Soccer, Batons and more.

Get involved and win...
Character Look-a-like Contest
march in the parade and be judged in the
park get your family and friends together.

For - more information about Celebrate Birmingham or to get involved call Laura or Megan at 810.642.8500

Thank you to some of our Sponsors...City of Birmingham, Birmingham/Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce,
Birmingham Principle Shopping District, Beverly Hills Racquet & Health Club, Metro Parent Magazine, Birmingham Rotary,
Birmingham Lions Club, Bassett Rescue, Birmingham YMCA, Adventures in Toys, Comerica Bank,
Maureen Electa Monte Photography, Old Woodward Grill, Jacobsons, The Jewish News and more