38 | SEPTEMBER 1 • 2022 

SPORTS

possible levels of sports com-
petitions, and strengthening 
their connection to the State 
of Israel and the Jewish peo-
ple,” she said.
“While the competition 
lasted only one day,” Gerdov 
said, “the three-week expe-
rience included touring sig-
nificant sites, learning about 
Jewish culture and history, and 
connecting with Jews from 
around the world, and learn-
ing about Israel.”
Their three weeks in Israel 
awakened a connection for 
both Gerdov and Wooten to 
their Judaism. “We were both 
aware of our Jewish heritage, 
but it wasn’t fully present in 
our day-to-day lives. That’s 
why this trip was so import-
ant. The trip helped us learn 
more about what being Jewish 
means for us,” Gerdov said.

“It was pretty powerful,” 
agreed Wooten said. “It was 
important for us to learn 
about Jewish culture, history 
and the religion. There was so 
much culturally going on that 
we were exposed to, super- 
powerful experiences.”
Before the competition, 
they participated in “Israel 
Connect,” the pre-tournament 
week of touring and learning. 
“Being at Masada and Yad 
Vashem while learning about 
our people’s history, persecu-
tion and stories made me feel 
responsible to learn more,” 
Gerdov said.
“There is so much more 
history than I knew. It opened 
my eyes to how much I have 
to learn and the responsibility 
I have,” Wooten said. “We’re 
both secular, and we learned 
there is a place for us as secu-

lar Jews in the diaspora. That’s 
a large reason why we went.”
While Maccabi-USA pro-
vided some funding for travel 
and the trip in Israel, Gerdov 
and Wooten raised $12,000 
for their portion of travel and 
tournament expenses. “We 
were supported mostly by 
members of the local com-
munity that heard about our 
journey,” Gerdov said.
“We are very grateful to 
those who helped make our 
journey possible,” added 
Wooten.
Returning home only for 
a visit after the Maccabiah 
Games, Gerdov moved to 
Seattle, where he just began a 
job as a program manager at 
Microsoft. Sports will remain 
part of his life. “Max Soifer, 
one of my Maccabiah coaches 
and a former University of 

Washington athlete and coach, 
told me of coaching and judg-
ing opportunities that I plan 
to take while I also explore 
some of my other athletic pas-
sions that gymnastics has set 
an amazing foundation for,” 
Gerdov said.
Wooten is returning to 
Ann Arbor for his senior year 
to compete and graduate in 
spring 2023 with a degree in 
business administration and 
a minor in music. His extra-
curricular life includes being 
a drummer in the band Joe 
and the Ruckus. “We have 
played house parties around 
campus-area venues, such as 
the Blind Pig [Ann Arbor bar] 
and private events,” he said. 
The Michigan men are 
supporting Maccabi USA’s $8 
million endowment campaign 
for future athletes. 

continued from page 37

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