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New competitor wins Senior Olympics weightlifting event.

Steve Stein
Special to the Jewish News

T

wentv-eight years ago,
Michigan State University
student Jeff Ellis capped off
a successful competitive weightlift-
ing career when he took first place
in the 181-pound weight class in the
Michigan Intercollegiate
L ,
Powerlifting
Championships.
At least, Ellis thought starting his life
as a certified public accountant would
bring an end to his competitive weight-
lifting days.
But Ellis was back at it this year. After
finding out that the Michigan Senior
Olympics Summer Games has a bench
press competition, he trained for about
six weeks and won the gold medal
in the 50-54 age group last month at
Powerhouse Gym of Rochester Hills. A
196-pounder. Ellis pressed 275 pounds.
This is the first Year that Ellis is
eligible to participate in the Senior
Olympics. The West Bloomfield resident
turned 50 in May.
It wasn't difficult for Ellis to get back
into the competitive swing of things. "I
never stopped working out. I just didn't
compete:' he said.
He's going to continue to compete, but

Jeff and Josh Ellis

only in bench press. "I'm not going to do
dead lifts or squats," he said. "My knees
and back won't allow it."
Ellis doesn't think he'll compete again
this year, but 2010 is another story.
Next year's Michigan Senior Olympics
Summer Games is a qualifier for the
2011 Summer National Senior Games in
Houston, and Ellis is confident he can
earn a ticket to Texas.
Ellis' workout partner for five years
has been his son, Josh Ellis, 18, a

recently graduated star athlete at Walled
Lake Western High School.
WL Western made the state football
playoffs all four years Josh Ellis was in
the program. He was brought up to the
varsity team for the playoffs when he
was a freshman and sophomore, and he
was on the team his final two years in
high school.
Like his father, Josh Ellis is a cham-
pion weightlifter. He broke school bench
press records in the 155- and 165-pound
weight classes with presses of 235 and
266 pounds while he was a sophomore
and junior.
An honorable mention all-conference
football player and all-conference track
sprinter, Josh Ellis had an opportunity
to continue his football career as a wide
receiver at Albion College, but he decided
to attend Michigan State University and
be strictly a student. At least for now.
"The people at Albion told Josh that if
he ever changed his mind, give them a
call," Jeff Ellis said.
Josh Ellis graduated from \\'L Western
with a 3.75 grade point average.
Michelle Ellis, 21, Josh's sister,
already attends MSU. She played soccer
for three years at WL Western. They are
Jeff and Lori Ellis' two children.

Adam's Ace
Adam Jahnke was an
Academic All-State golfer
when he played for West
Bloomfield High School.
He graduated from West
Bloomfield with a weight-
ed 4.3 grade point average
Adam Jahnke
before heading off to the
University of Michigan.
Jahnke now owns an accomplishment
on the golf course that matches his aca-
demic achievement.
The 26-year-old attorney from Royal Oak
shot his first career hole-in-one July 12 at
Mystic Creek Golf Course in Milford. He's
been playing golf for more than 20 years.
Jahnke's ace came on the 128-yard, par-3
fourth hole. He used a pitching wedge.
"I'd come close to making a hole-in-one
a couple of times," he said. "This shot was a
little into the wind and a little downhill. It
landed about eight feet behind the hole and
spun back in. That was the coolest part of it
I watched the shot go in the hole:'
Jahnke's friend Aaron Beresh of Royal
Oak and Aaron's father, Bruce Beresh of
West Bloomfield, witnessed the hole-in-
one. Jahnke shot 80 for 18 holes. ❑

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Softball Honors

0

n July 25, the annual Michael Yendick Pure
Heart Award was presented to Dale Taub at
Drake Park in West Bloomfield during the
B'nai B'rith Softball League Games.
This award, named in honor of Michael Yendick,
a longtime B'nai B'rith member who died in 2000
from colon cancer, is presented annually to a B'nai
B'rith softball player who exhibits the strength of
character, effort, competitive spirit and heart. All
that defined Yendick.
Candidates were nominated by peers by each
team in the B'nai B'rith Softball League. Taub
received a plaque that bears his name along with

the names of former recipients.
Since Yendicks's death, a camp in his memory
has been set up by Oakland County-based Tamarack
Camps in association with the Michigan Chapter
of the Chron's and Colitis Foundation of America.
About 80 campers, ages 7 to 17, with the same
debilitating disease that Yendick was stricken with,
are able to attend.
father, Al Yendick, with the help of
Marty Melton, B'nai B'rith International athletic
chairman and league commissioner, plays an
important role in keeping the memory of Michael
Yendick alive to inspire others. 7_

Bernice Yendick and Al Yendick of Livonia, Dale Taub of

Farmington Hills and Marty Melton of West Bloomfield

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