University of Delaware Athletics
Men’s Tennis Alumnus Jason Schwartz to Represent Team USA at Maccabiah Games
6/10/2022 1:20:00 PM | Men's Tennis
NEWARK, Del. – University of Delaware men’s tennis alumnus Jason Schwartz has always dreamed of representing the United States on the international stage. The 1998 UD graduate will have the opportunity to do just that this summer when he dons the Red, White and Blue at the 21st Maccabiah Games in Jerusalem from July 12-26. Schwartz will be competing in both singles and doubles in the 45+ men’s tennis division.
It will be a family affair for Schwartz as he will be joined in Jerusalem by his brother Todd, who will be competing alongside him in the 45+ division, as well as his father Joseph, who will be representing the United States in the 80+ division. Jason and Todd have requested the coaching staff to play together as doubles partners, and will hopefully receive good news on the decision later this month before they head over to Israel.
Schwartz was a three-year member of the men’s tennis program at Delaware, putting on the Blue & Gold from 1996-98. After receiving a medical redshirt for the 1996 spring season, he went 4-3 during the 1997 campaign when the Blue Hens won the America East Championship, the program’s only conference title. Schwartz was the 1997 Lee J. Hyncik Award recipient for the junior with the highest GPA. His best individual season came as a senior in 1998 when he tied for the team lead with a 12-6 record in singles, mostly playing at the No. 4 position in the lineup, and earned the Most Valuable Athlete by the University of Delaware Alumni Association.
BlueHens.com recently caught up with Schwartz and asked him about the process of qualifying for Team USA and what it means for him to be representing the Red, White and Blue this summer.
What have you been up to since you graduated from UD?
Most of my professional career has been spent teaching Physical Education in public and Jewish private schools as well as coaching after-school sports including tennis, soccer, basketball and flag football. Tennis has always been the main sport that I have coached, including coaching Jewish teens in the JCC Maccabi Games which takes place in different cities throughout the USA every summer. For the last six years, I have been teaching physical education at Norman S. Edelcup Sunny Isles Beach K-8, part of Miami-Dade County Public Schools. I live in Hollywood, Florida with my wife, Rotem, and our two cats, Panda and Tiger.
Have you been playing tennis competitively?
I have continued playing tennis competitively on and off over the years since college. Luckily living in South Florida, one can play tennis year-round and there are always talented people to play. In addition to playing matches with friends and family, I play in local tournaments and leagues.
What was the process of qualifying and making the Team USA roster?
I had to register for the official Maccabi USA National Tryouts that were held in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida at the PGA National Resort on November 11-12, 2021. To qualify, I played matches against other people also competing to make the team in my age range, 45 +. The tryouts were overseen by the Team USA Head Coach who ultimately determined who qualified for the team. I felt confident that I would qualify after winning most of my matches.
What does it mean for you to be heading to the Maccabiah Games and representing Team USA?
It gives me great pride to represent Team Maccabi USA in the 21st World Maccabiah Games. Most athletes dream about representing their country in their sport no matter at what level. I have played tennis representing my local youth team, high school, and college, but to represent the USA takes it to the next level. In the past, I have coached Jewish Teens in the JCC Maccabi Games and saw how much fun they had and now I get to reverse the roles and be the athlete and enjoy all the activities!
Thinking back to your time at UD, did you see yourself eventually playing on an international level like the Maccabiah Games?
At the time I was at UD I was not thinking about playing on an international level but enjoying more the college scene and playing against other universities. I was aware of the World Maccabiah Games since my local coach in Miami Shores, was coaching a player, Dean Cohen, who competed in the 1993 World Maccabiah Games and actually won the gold medal in the Open division. It was something that I wanted to experience at some point in my life and here I am making a dream come true. Staying in good shape and continuing to play competitive tennis since college has given me the opportunity to qualify now at the age of 46!
What does it mean to have your brother and father there competing alongside you?
It is an amazing feeling to have my father, Joseph, and brother, Todd, there with me on the team and share the same experiences together as a family in Israel. Tennis has always been a family activity for us since we were kids practicing with each other every week. Tennis has always brought us closer together throughout the years no matter what else is going on in our lives. The memories that will be made on this trip will be cherished forever. We are lucky that our family will also be able to come to watch us compete.
About the World Maccabiah Games
The Maccabiah is the world’s largest Jewish athletic competition in the tradition and values of Maccabi, emphasizing the centrality of the State of Israel in the life of the Jewish people. The Maccabiah takes place every four (4) years in Israel - "the Jewish Olympics" as they are often called, are Maccabi World Union's largest and most famous enterprise.
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