continued from page 31

32 | SEPTEMBER 15 • 2022 

SPORTS
ON THE COVER

Burke Jackson, the school’s 
first African American 
teacher, and former princi-
pal Vincent Reed.
The high school is part 
of the District of Columbia 
Public Schools system and is 
in the Tenleytown neighbor-
hood of D.C. Its enrollment 
in the 2020-21 school year 
was 1,951.

HARD-WORKING FAMILY
Education and work are 
important in Mica Gelb’s 
family.
Betsy Shapiro is in her 
30th year as a deputy direc-
tor in the civil division of 
the U.S. Department of 
Justice. She graduated from 
the Georgetown Law School 
in 1986.
Amos Gelb, an Emmy 
Award-winning senior pro-
ducer at CNN from 1987-
2000, is the founder and 
director of the Washington 
Media Institute, which pro-
vides college students with 
an intensive media boot 
camp to help them bridge 
the gap between graduation 
and the workplace.
He also is the publish-
er of D.C. Witness and 
Baltimore Witness, not-for-
profit websites that strive 
to bring transparency and 
accountability to each city’s 
criminal justice system.
He graduated in 1986 
from Harvard University, 
where he was a member of 
the college’s successful row-
ing team.
Mica Gelb’s sisters are 
Noa, 26, and Eliya, 23.
Noa just earned a master’s 
degree at the University of 
Edinburgh (Scotland) and 
plans to continue her acting 
career.

Eliya wants to be an ath-
letic trainer. She was an 
intern in the U-M football 
team’s athletic training 
department last season — 
she and her brother were 
both on the field at the Big 
Ten championship game 
Dec. 4 at Lucas Oil Stadium 
in Indianapolis — and now 
she’s a graduate assistant 
athletic trainer with the 
Baylor University softball 
team in Texas while pursu-
ing a master’s degree. 

Mica Gelb, No. 55, stands nearby 
while his teammates say a pre-
game prayer.

GELB FAMILY

Swimmer Boosts His Michigan Senior 
Olympics Medal Count

After not competing in the Michigan Senior 

Olympics for two years, swimmer Steve Matz 
wasn’t about to miss out again.
So despite not training for the two weeks 
leading up to last month’s Senior Olympics 
because of a case of COVID-19 that sapped 
his stamina, in his words, the triple-boosted 
Matz swam at Oakland University.
The 70-year-old Franklin resident won two 
gold medals and one bronze medal in the 
men’s 70-74 age group.
The golds were in the 50-yard breaststroke 
(:38.38) and 100 breaststroke (1:26.75). The bronze was in the 50 free-
style (:31.94).
“I was surprised with how well I did,” Matz said. “I was especially con-
cerned about the 100.
“When you compete, your adrenaline can take over and you do more 
than you think you can do. It also helped that I’m in good shape.”
Matz first swam in the Senior Olympics in 2016. He won two gold 
medals and one bronze medal and set state records in the 50 and 100 
breaststroke in his age group.
In the next three years, Matz won seven gold medals and two silver 
medals in swimming at the Senior Olympics. Then came a two-year lull.
The Senior Olympics were not held in 2020 because of the COVID-
19 pandemic, and Matz 
didn’t participate in 2021 
because of concerns about 
competing indoors.
Matz also swims in the 
Michigan Masters compe-
tition. He’s the defending 
state champion in the 50 
and 100 breaststroke in his 
age group.
Competitive swimming 
isn’t Matz’s only passion. 
He’s a trial lawyer at his 
own law firm, Matz Injury 
Law in Southfield.

quick hits
BY STEVE STEIN 

Boxing Organization to Honor 
Orthodox Promoter
Orthodox boxing promoter Dmitriy Salita will be honored by the 
World Boxing Council at the organization’s 60th annual convention in 
November for his “contributions to resurrecting professional boxing in 
the great city of Detroit.”
Salita Promotions’ regular Detroit Brawl cards have featured top-
notch local and international 
boxers. A WBC official 
presented Salita with a medal 
and announced the convention 
honor at a recent Detroit Brawl 
show.
Salita is the WBC’s 
co-ambassador to the Middle 
East.
The WBC is an international 
professional boxing 
organization. It’s one of four 
major organizations that 
sanction pro boxing bouts.

SALITA PROMOTIONS

Dmitriy Salita promotes a 
nationally televised 2019 fight 
that featured two-time Olympic 
gold medalist and world champion 
boxer Claressa Shields of Flint.

STEVE MATZ

Steve Matz’s Michigan Senior Olympics 
medals.

STEVE MATZ

Steve Matz

