I Health & Fitness Soccer Stardom 19-year-old forward plays for a national championship. Steve Stein Special to the Jewish News S tephanie Crawford has always been a force on the soccer field. Now she literally is a Force. The high-scoring forward helped the U19 Bloomfield Force team win the United States Youth Soccer Association regional tournament in late June in Rockford, Ill., and earn a berth in four- team national tourna- Stephanie ment July 22-27 in Little Crawford Rock, Ark. This is the first time Crawford has played in the Force program after competing against Force teams during her 10 years with the Michigan Hawks. The Force won the U18 national championship last summer, so it will be taking aim at back-to-back national titles in Arkansas. Crawford played in all five regional games for the Force, even though she's still recovering from late April knee surgery. She scored the Force's final goal in its 3-1 win over the Kansas College select team in the regional championship match, played on a muddy field in torrential rain. "The knee aches a little after I play, but it's getting better," said Crawford, 19, a former Novi High standout who is a sophomore on the University of Michigan women's soccer team. Crawford played in 18 games in a reserve role for the Wolverines last season. She'll be playing for a new coach this fall — former U.S. women's national team coach Greg Ryan. At Novi, Crawford won three state championships and was a two-time member of the Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association Dream Team. She won four State Cup and two regional championships during her decade with the Hawks. Travel Troubles Even though it's months away, organizers of the Jewish Women International Mid- America Bowling Association tourney are fretting about skyrocketing airfares. The JWI Bowling Association of Metropolitan Detroit is hosting the 2009 Mid-America tourney, to be over two weekends in February at Novi Bowl. "We're keeping a close eye on airline prices:' said JWI Metropolitan Detroit past president Carolyn Fine. The biggest concern is for the bowlers who come from Minneapolis. Last week's Northwest price was listed as "from $425!' JWI Detroit hopes 150 bowlers will compete. Local bowlers will roll Feb. 7-8 and out-of-towners Feb. 14-15. Dana Glinski and Dena Wein are the 2009 Mid-America tournament co-chairs. Wein recently completed a term as JWI Mid-America president. JWI Metropolitan Detroit has new officers for 2008-10. They are president Lois Greenberg, vice president Leigh C r ot e- thi city / et- t a n Herskovic, treasurer Shelley Gershune and secretary Mitzie Zucker. Past presi- dent Cindy Moss installed them. The 2008-09 JWI Detroit season will begin in early September. Five leagues are offered, with morning, afternoon and evening times. Contact Fine at (248) 932- 1077 or cfine@mindspring.com. Beijing Next U-M sophomore swimmer Mon Mandel will be on the Israeli team at the Olympics. Mandel, who owns Israeli records in the 100- and 200-meter butterfly, will swim those events in China. He became the first Israeli to break the 2:00 barrier in the 200 fly when he went 1:59.79 at the European championships earlier this year. The Netanya native is a two-time All- American. He was a member of U-M's fourth-place 400-yard and seventh-place 200-yard medley relay teams at the 2008 NCAA championships. ❑ Send news to sports@thejewishnews.com. UM PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, ENDLESS HOSPITALITY AND OPEN HEARTS Enjoy first class independent senior living at our SPECIAL SUMMER RATES*. Studio with walk-in closet and full bathroom REGULAR One bedroom with walk-in closet, $1440 full bathroom, and kitchenette SANCTUARY AT MARIAN OAKLAND REGULAR Larger One bedroom with walk-in $1650 closet, full bathroom, and kitchen with stove ALL PRICES INCLUDE: • 3 nutritious meals daily • All utilities (except phone & cable) • Light housekeeping weekly • Life-enriching activities • Shuttle bus to grocery store, shopping, and area attractions A Trinity Senior Living Community Every Life is Sacred 29250 W. 10 Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48336 *Must move in by September 21, 2008 Just East of Middlebelt EQUAL HOUSING www.TrinitySeniorSanctuary.org OPPORTUNITY www.TrinitySeniorSanctuary.org 1409180 July 24 2008 A37