Earlier this season, in the locker room before a semifinal playoff game, Yeshivat Noam Head of School Rabbi Chaim Hagler addressed one of the Noam teams. In the middle of his motivational charge to the team, Rabbi Hagler told the team to “look around the room, look at your teammates, look at the jerseys you are wearing, you are part of a legacy—a proud legacy of Yeshivat Noam athletes. A Noam Knight is a good teammate, plays with middos and gives their best effort every time they put on a Noam Knights uniform.” The overflowing wall of banners in the Noam gym and the success of Noam Knights alumni both on and off the court speak volumes to the legacy that Rabbi Hagler was referencing.
This year the Noam athletic department made an active decision to harness the amazing talents of Noam Knights alumni by inviting them to serve as coaches and mentors of the current Noam Knights. Nine high school seniors, from three different schools, all former Knights, were selected: Arianna Chesner, Hannah Friedman, Jordana Marks, Maya Krause, Alexa Leffel, Maayan Berkowitz, Nava Forman, Harry Orlinsky and Josh Orlinsky. During their time as Noam coaches the high schoolers were mentored and supported by Yeshivat Noam Athletic Director Steve Gutlove and Yeshivat Noam’s Coach S, Leora Sulimanoff.
Chesner, Friedman, Marks and Krause, under the leadership of coach Ariela Herman, were members of one of the most dominant teams in the history of the Yeshiva Middle School Sports Association (YMSSA). These three time undefeated YMSSA champions have also been stand out high school players and this year were able to share what they learned from Herman with today’s Noam Knights.
Leffel was a star in her own right on the Noam hockey team. She has continued playing hockey throughout high school and brought her expertise to the Noam team. Leffel helped the players in every aspect of the game, from how to properly hold the stick to tricks of the trade during the game. She helped with defense, shooting and everything in between. Working one on one, she helped to improve the current goalie’s already impressive skills. Leffel’s pep talks at the games were a team favorite, as the players all admired her and her skills. While she didn’t get a banner as a student, she is hoping to see her name on the Noam walls as an assistant coach.
Berkowitz and Forman are born leaders and sporstars (both were featured as Drinkup Sportstars of the Week, earlier this year). After successful careers as Noam Knights they have gone on to lead the Ma’ayanot Rapids soccer team under coach Marc Zharnest. This dynamic duo are multi-sport athletes at Ma’ayanot; Maayan plays for the Rapids softball team and Nava was a key member of the volleyball team.
Harry and Josh Orlinsky have had a storied middle school and high school basketball careers winning championships with coach Dovey Forman at Yeshivat Noam and a MYHSAL co-championship in the COVID-shortened 2020 season under coach Oswald (Oz) Cross. In addition to being great ball players, Harry and Josh have coaching in their blood. Their uncle Eli Orlinsky founded the Bergen Broncos along with Forman.
Gutlove told The Jewish Link “The experiment has been a tremendous success. The two girls teams earned spots in the fall YMSSA semi finals, with one team advancing to the championship. At the time of this story the spring teams led by Coach S and the HS seniors are all heading into the playoffs: 8-0 girls hockey, 8-0 girls soccer, 8-0 sixth grade girls basketball and 6-2 sixth grade boys basketball. More important than the on-the-court success, the kesher being forged between the former and current Knights is worth more than all of the championship banners in the world.”
Gutlove encourages interested Noam alumni to reach out to him for spots on next year’s Noam Knight’s coaching staff.
