MVP, the premier Jewish Orthodox Boys’ Basketball Camp at Camp Seneca Lake, under the direction of Irv Bader and Judah Rhine, celebrated its eighth consecutive season of record-breaking registration and enrollment. Four divisions, 24 teams and over 120 games were played over the course of the five-day camp. The games were competitive and exciting with many last-minute buzzer-beater endings. This year’s MVP featured players with all levels of playing ability. Players from grades three through 12 represented many schools throughout the tri-state area including Yavneh, Noam, YNJ, Moriah, Ashar, TABC, Frisch, JEC, HAFTR, HALB, HANC, North Shore Hebrew Academy, YCQ, Har Torah, SAR, Ramaz, Derech HaTorah, MTA, Rambam, MAY, DRS, Kushner, Beit Rabban, Ben Porat Yosef, Magen David, Yeshivah of Flatbush, Hillel Yeshiva and others. Campers traveled from as far away as Chicago to join MVP. Some of the counselors/coaches were former MVP players and were able to give over their experiences to this year’s MVP players from their years at MVP.
Upon arrival, each MVP player received his very own reversible MVP jersey featuring the MVP logo. Each day at MVP was filled with a jam-packed schedule starting with Shacharit, followed by breakfast and then a series of activities including conditioning, clinics, swim, featuring the Seneca GIANT slide, league games, after-lunch visits to Seneca Sprinkles Ice Cream Parlor, three-on three and two-on-two and one-on-one competitions and much, much more. After dinner, all MVP players went to the shul for Mincha and Maariv. Following the night games and the nightly individual skills contests for each grade (plus a movie for juniors), the late-night barbecues gave all the MVP players across all the divisions and schools the opportunity to interact and meet up with each other. Special events that took place included the annual spectacular MVP challenge endurance competition. On the final day of MVP 2016, the championship games for each division were played at the beautiful, brand-new Seneca Center Complex as well as Seneca Park (featuring stadium seating). They were followed by lunch and the annual closing awards ceremonies, where over 100 trophies were distributed to champions from all the many competitions that took place during the course of the week, including the MVP awards to the MVPs of each of the leagues. Once all the buses were boarded, every MVP player was so excited to receive his very own MVP Klipped Kippah and MVP cinch sack and was already looking forward to MVP 2017.
In reviewing this year’s MVP experience, co-director Judah Rhine stated, “This was by far our best season ever. There is something here for everyone. Every camper is truly an MVP.”
This year, MVP was privileged to have legendary head coach at Yeshiva University Johnny Halpert. Coach Halpert gave clinics to the campers and said, “This is by far the best basketball program for Jewish basketball players.”
In addition, MVP had their resident staff including Barry Neuberger, associate athletic director at Columbia University; Andy Weitzen, head coach of Ramaz Middle School Varsity as well as others, who gave multiple clinics to all the MVP players.
MVP has already started planning for MVP 2017, which promises to be even better! Please continue to check the Seneca website, www.senecalake.com, and click on the MVP link for information on MVP 2017 and to check out pictures from this past season. Once again, registration for this past season was sold out, which resulted in a waiting list. Please make sure to register early so you don’t get closed out.
For more information, go to www.senecalake.com and click on the MVP link or contact Judah Rhine at [email protected] Irv Bader at [email protected].
By JLNJ Staff
