The School Newspaper of Cherry Hill High School East

Eastside

The School Newspaper of Cherry Hill High School East

Eastside

The School Newspaper of Cherry Hill High School East

Eastside

East athletes compete nationally

Although summer is supposed to be a time to rest and rejuvenate one’s mind and body from a stressful school year, many of Cherry Hill East’s most prominent athletes traveled the nation to compete in what they do best. Often, these student athletes are trying to either get noticed by college and professional scouts, play against the highest competition available or simply work on one’s game.

Kyra Holiday (‘10) not only plays for the girl’s varsity basketball team, but also for an AAU team called the Philadelphia Bells. Holiday traveled all over the East Coast this summer to states such as Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York. The Junior Nationals, held in Washington D.C. last summer, attracts the best teams from all over the East Coast. Throughout the summer, the Bells were extremely competitive and successful.

“We did real well. If we didn’t get first [in the tournaments], we definitely placed, so we were very competitive,” said Holiday.

Included in their success was a fourth place finish at the Junior Nationals. Holiday believes that her participation in these highly prestigious tournaments are opportunities for her to display her skills.

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“Most of the time we are looked at by college coaches or coaches from other AAU clubs,” said Holiday. With her summer travels over, Holiday is now beginning to focus on East basketball, as she has high hopes for the team this upcoming season.

Marlee Ehrlich (‘12), a who plans to swim for East this winter, spent a week in Detroit, Michigan, collecting medals. In fact, she won ten gold and twelve total medals in swimming at this year’s JCC Maccabi Games, which took place from August 17-22.

The Maccabi games are an Olympic-styled sporting event held annually for teenage Jewish athletes from across the country and around the world. In addition, Ehrlich won three of her gold medals while on the same relay team as fellow East student Eliana Bennett (’10).

“The Maccabi Games are a good way to get to know other Jewish athletes my age, and it’s fun to compete,” said Ehrlich.

This upcoming season, Ehrlich hopes to bring her summer success to the Cougar swim team, which already is expected to be one of South Jersey’s best.

Jeff Bohus (‘09) spent most of his summer playing in numerous baseball tournaments in locations such as, Cincinnati, Georgia, Florida, Virginia and South Carolina. Bohus plays for the Philadelphia Senators, an AAU team that attracts some of the top baseball players from around the Philadelphia area. College and professional scouts were in attendance, especially in Marietta, Georgia, which hosted 192 teams.

Aside from allowing one to showcase his or her abilities, Bohus also believes the tournament benefits the athletes by allowing them to compete against people from other states.

“You can see how you and your team compare to other players from other parts of the country, so you can work towards being a better player,” said Bohus.

With more Cougar athletes participating in tournaments around the nation, athletes have faced top-notch competition in their respective sports. Perhaps these experiences will allow athletes at East to be better prepared for the upcoming seasons.

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