Fox Chapel swimmers earn medals, take pleasure in alternative to compete in Maccabi Games

By:

Josh Rizzo


Saturday, August 16, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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Cameryn Brindza loved the educational expertise that got here together with taking part within the Maccabi Games. The occasion, which was held in Pittsburgh in the course of the first week of August, was a world competitors for Jewish youngsters just like the Olympics.

Brindza, 16, attends Fox Chapel and gained six medals in swimming occasions.

“I was talking to the girls from Canada, and this was their first time swimming short-yard courses,” Brindza stated. “It was fun to talk to people and learn about the swimming culture from where they are from (compared) to America.”

Brindza collected gold medals within the 200 again, 100 again and 400 IM. She additionally gained silver within the 50 again, 200 fly and 200 IM. Brindza was considered one of three Fox Chapel swimmers to medal on the occasion.

Her brother, Drew, positioned second within the 500 free and picked up bronze medals within the 200 again and 200 IM. Matthew Lappin, 14, gained a bronze medal within the 200 breaststroke.

Drew was pleased with how he carried out after a number of weeks off at summer time camp.

“I hadn’t done my club practice in a while,” Drew stated. “Not getting in the pool every day, I didn’t like it at the start. I wasn’t expecting anything at all, especially after I missed a couple weeks.”

Drew stated he competed in a number of backstroke occasions, which is what he does loads of with the Killer Whales membership group. However, Drew stated he felt most snug within the 500 free.

“It’s one of my favorite races. I felt really good,” Drew stated. “My pacing was good, and I wasn’t that far off from my time.”

Cameryn stated she felt most snug within the 400 IM. She stated she usually wouldn’t have had a contest this time of yr and loved the change of tempo.

“I think it’s a good reset, as I’m usually disconnected from the people I normally race against,” Cameryn stated. “I talked to more people and saw how different girls raced.”

The Jewish Community Center of Pittsburgh promoted this as a first-of-its-kind occasion for the video games. The setup this yr allowed the athletes to stay, eat and compete on Pitt’s campus.

The JCC felt this could assist the group take away capability constraints that had damage the video games in recent times.

“This model offers top-notch facilities and a transformative experience for Jewish teen athletes from all over the world while enabling hundreds more to experience the magic of JCC Maccabi than has been possible in its 40-year history,” stated Samantha Cohen, Senior Vice President and Director of JCC Maccabi at JCC Association of North America, in a information launch.

Cameryn loved the setup.

“I would definitely do it again,” she stated.

Tags: Fox Chapel