Sports were the thing at the SJCC this summer. From shooting hoops at basketball camp to sending our own delegation of athletes to the JCC Maccabi Games in Kansas City, we were always on the move.
For the first time in more than 20 years, the SJCC sent a delegation to the JCC Maccabi Games under the Seattle/Mercer Island banner. From Aug. 2-7, Ethan Frankel, Elliott Kaiserman, Lucy Glazer and Julian Young represented our community in Kansas City, competing in swimming and soccer. Our swimmers brought home a combined 13 medals, while Elliott earned bronze with a soccer team made up of athletes from six different delegations.
And our athletes didn’t stop there. For current Mercer Island High School freshman Fiona Stone, whose family have been members of the J since 2005, a love of volleyball took her much farther from home — all the way to the 2026 Maccabiah Games in Israel.
Fiona has had a passion for volleyball since fourth grade. Her family also had a connection to the Maccabiah Games: Her uncle competed as a swimmer in 1993. So, when her father, Scott Stone, learned the U.S. was sending a U15 volleyball team for the first time, he encouraged Fiona to try out.
After submitting a highlight video, Fiona made the team, giving her the opportunity to take her love of volleyball internationally and visit Israel for the first time.
“It was a cool experience, just being there, not only for my sport, but also for a Jewish event,” Fiona said.
Around 900 athletes represented the U.S. at the Maccabiah Games, part of the largest global Jewish gathering in Israel since Oct. 7. Fiona was among the youngest athletes competing and part of the only international team in the U15 volleyball competition, facing three Israeli teams.
Her team finished fourth, and while they didn’t medal, Fiona still found the experience incredibly rewarding. One of her favorite moments came during a close game when she delivered several strong serves and aces for her team.
“I felt like I led the team really well when we were at a high-pressure moment,” she said.
But the experience extended far beyond the volleyball court. After the competition, Fiona had the opportunity to explore Israel and learn more about its history and culture. Her visit to the Western Wall was particularly special.
“It just really felt sacred,” Fiona said. “I felt connected to my ancestors.”
Closer to home, there were plenty of athletic victories happening on the softball diamond, too. This season of SJCC Summer Softball, we had 98 individual participants spread across six different teams (Team Adam, Team Jconnect, Team Mensch Warmers, Team Questionable for Sunday, Team SJCC and Team Tekiah).
SJCC Board member Aaron Hanan has participated in the SJCC Summer Softball League for around eight years. It’s the friends, community and friendly competition that keep him coming back each season.
That includes a little winning, too. Aaron and his Team Tekiah teammates celebrated their second consecutive league championship this year.
But for Aaron, the league is about much more than the final score. One of his personal goals as a board member is to help further unite the SJCC community, and he explained that softball allows him and others to meet members they may never otherwise run into at the J.
“Two seasons ago I joined a new team. I knew about three of the 12 members, but after two seasons of playing together, we’re a tight-knit group,” Aaron said.
Similar to Fiona’s experience, Aaron describes the softball program as a great way to meet new people, play a sport you love and feel immersed in the Jewish community.
Whether competing thousands of miles from home or stepping onto the softball field right here on Mercer Island, our athletes found more than an opportunity to play a sport they love. Their experiences brought new friendships, new memories and another way to connect with the Jewish community — on and off the court and field.
And we’re already looking ahead to what’s next. In summer 2027, the SJCC hopes to send a delegation of more than 20 athletes to the JCC Maccabi Games in Austin and Philadelphia.
Want to get involved with our Summer Softball League or be part of our 2027 JCC Maccabi delegation? Email sports@sjcc.org to learn more.