Westport’s Oscar Edelman Grabs Gold in Israel during The 2022 Maccabiah
Westporter Oscar Edelman brought home gold for the United States with his basketball skills and pride in his heritage at the 2022 Maccabi Games in Israel. Edelman and Maccabi USA won the final basketball game against Israel during the international sporting event that brought 10,000 athletes and high ranking leaders, such as President Joe Biden and Israel alternate Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, together for competition and celebration. The games celebrate Jewish heritage and tradition, something Edelman has enjoyed both on the courts in Israel and here at Westport’s Greens Farms Academy. GFA’s John Nash spoke with Edelman last year after learning that he’d been selected for the team, with Edelman telling him “I’m usually the only Jewish kid when I play and now I’m playing with kids wearing yarmulkes, which was really cool.” Edelman comes from a family of Jewish athletes, including his mother - who was also invited to the Maccabi games - his grandfather who was a tennis player, and great grandfather who also excelled in basketball, according to GFA. Edelman was back home today and was celebrated by the local & State community leadership for his gold medal and hard work. Contributed photo.
Westport’s 11U Heads to States, Continuing Success as a Team
Westport’s 11U Baseball Team won their sectionals this past weekend, continuing their success from last season into this year as they head to Newington this weekend for the State Championships. The team of boys is familiar with the progression - they conquered the State Championships last year. Contributed photo with players Dylan Burdeshaw, Miles Delorier, Henry Ellis, Justin Goldshore, Wyatt Johnson, Christopher Lambert, Chase Landgraf, Jack McGrath, Luke Moneyhon, Torrey Rossetter, Toby Slavin, Grant Theisinger and Nolan Walters, manager Justin Walters, Coaches Marc Theisinger and Jon Ellis.
Lucky Duck: Westporter Wins 2022 Great Duck Race, $5,000 Prize, with Duck #410
Janet Mittleman, a Westporter for 32 years, was this year’s Lucky Duck as her rubber ducky won the Westport Rotary’s Great Duck Race today on Jesup Green. Mittleman and her five year old grandson James Gladstein were all smiles as they came to claim their prize from First Selectwoman Jen Tooker and members of the Westport Rotary clubs after their duck, #410, made its way the fastest down the manmade river - with water supplied by Westport firefighters. Thousands of ducks took the plunge today from the bucket of an AJ Penna frontloader, with every duck randomly assigned a number that corresponded to a donor’s ticket. All money collected from the duck race goes back into the community as the funding supports numerous non-profit organizations and local events through the Westport Rotaries. WestportLocal.com photo
Runners (floaters?) up for this year’s race included:
Nick Battaglino
Anna Brady
Rob Graham
Alexnder Strompen
Tracey Cauley
Wen Hsu
Rady Johnson
Jason Wolgast
Silvia Durno
