The Jewish Link of New Jersey and Teaneck Doghouse would like to recognize 15 year old Max Yarkony as this week’s Sportstar of the Week. The Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School sophomore just completed a terrific season of wrestling, culminating in a Wittenberg Championship team trophy for RKYHS. When asked about Yarkony, Coach Dave Cilio told the JLNJ “Max has been going up against very stiff public school and prep school wrestlers and the majority of the time, defeating his opponents. He has had strong placings in several tournaments and his confidence is building. It’s good to see such a hard working and dedicated young man, experience such success on the mat. When he was picked as the most Outstanding Wrestler by the tournament directors, in our last tournament, the happiness on his face was priceless!”
Max, congrats on a great season and being a key contributor to RKYHS’s historic run at Wittenberg. If you had to select one person, who would you say is your role model and why?
Coach Cilio, because he taught me how to become better not only in wrestling but also in school and everyday life.
What is your favorite sport?
I actually have two, wrestling and chess, both involve strategy and concentration. You always have to have the next couple of moves in mind.
What is your greatest sports accomplishment?
Winning my weight class in the West Orange public school tournament and getting the Outstanding Wrestler award (MVP of the tournament).
Who is your favorite athlete and why?
My older brother Marc, because he is a great role model, and a great team leader when he played soccer and basketball for the kushner team. He teaches me that you have to be humble and with a lot of practice comes reward.
What is your pre-match routine, if you have one?
Being in the locker with my teammates chanting our teams name out loud and proud before we go onto the mat, getting all our nerves out of our system so we can come out with confidence.
What is your earliest sports memory?
My earliest sports memory was when I was 7, and my dad was chasing me down the soccer field, because I was running after someone who pushed me.(An eye an eye you know…)
What is your favorite sports memory?
When my team and I won the Henry Wittenberg Yeshiva Tournament. I was so happy because we worked so hard. For a small school like Kushner with only 16 wrestlers, winning that tournament was a huge deal.
What do you like to do when not competing?
When I am not playing sports or working out, I love to spend time with my family and friends.
What is the best thing about being a Sportstar?
That I finally beat my older brother, by getting Sportstar of the Week before him. (He gave me the okay to use this line.)
The Teaneck Doghouse Sportstar of the Week will receive a $15 gift certificate to Teaneck Doghouse. Please send nominees for an upcoming Jewish Link of New Jersey and Teaneck Doghouse Sportstar of the Week to [email protected]. We are once again searching for Mother’s Day sportstars, if your mother/daughter/sister or spouse is a sportstar please reach out to us at [email protected] so we can recognize her.
By JLNJ Sports Desk
