The Jewish Link of New Jersey and Teaneck Doghouse would like to recognize 16-year-old Ilan Cohen as this week’s Sportstar of the Week. The Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School rising junior lead the Kushner Cobras baseball team all season and helped them take home the Ezra Schwartz Memorial Baseball Tournament three months ago. Cohen leads the team behind the plate handling the pitching staff. He is an excellent defensive catcher, controlling the run game and stopping numerous would be wild pitches. At the tournament, Cohen led the team with seven hits including two doubles and one triple—and hit eight home runs in the home run derby.
Ilan, congrats on the tournament win. Who is your role model and why?
Yadier Molina because he is who I’ve looked up to over the years of being a catcher.
What is our favorite sport?
Baseball obviously.
What is your greatest sports accomplishment?
Hitting a grand slam to give my team the lead in the championship game of the district tournament.
Who is your favorite athlete and why?
Carlos Beltran, because when I was younger, I was an outfielder and when he was on the Mets, he was the player I admired most.
What is your pregame routine?
Mixing around the dirt on the pitchers mound and behind the plate before every game, to make sure it’s comfortable for myself and the pitcher.
What is your earliest sport memory?
Practicing with my older brothers baseball team when I was about 2 years old.
What is your weirdest sports memory?
When Louis Castillo dropped the ball against the Yankees, in the bottom of the ninth inning, allowing the Yankees to win the game.
What is your favorite sports memory?
When the Mets advanced to the World Series by defeating the Cubs on the 2015 NLCS.
What is your favorite thing to do when you are not playing sports?
Watch MLB network or any baseball game that is on.
What is the best thing about being a Sportstar?
Everyone asks me for advice and I enjoy helping anyone to improve their game.
By JLNJ Sports Desk
The Teaneck Doghouse Sportstar of the Week will receive a $15 gift at the Teaneck Doghouse. Please send nominees for an upcoming Jewish Link of New Jersey and Teaneck Doghouse Sportstar of the Week to [email protected].
