Benjamin Student-Athletes Compete Internationally
Student-athletes Alessandra Baldari and Ben Lubarsky have one more stamp on their passports after traveling abroad to compete in their respective sports.
Lubarsky, a junior basketball player, competed in The Maccabiah Games in Israel. The Games feature nearly 10,000 athletes from 85 countries competing in 45 sports. The event is the third-largest sporting event in the world, trailing only the Olympics and World Cup in size. Among the spectators during the opening ceremony in Jerusalem was Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“The experience of playing in Israel was unreal. I learned a lot about the people and everyday life in Israel and I realized what a beautiful and nonviolent place it actually is,” Lubarsky said.
Lubarsky was one of 12 players and one of the youngest to be selected for the 18 player US team. His team won a gold medla. Lubarsky’s love for basketball started when he was just five years old and his neighbors put up a basketball hoop in their driveway. He has been playing for Benjamin since seventh grade. His ultimate goal is to play basketball for a Division 1 college.
Baldari traveled to Italy this past April where she competed in the Spring Nationals swim meet. Baldari, who holds dual US and Italian citizenship, has competed a total of three times in Italy, including during the Summer Junior Nationals.
“At my most recent Italian meet, I had to adjust to jet lag, as I landed only two days before my first event. I was extremely tired the first few days of competition, but as the meet progressed, I adjusted better to the time difference, and I swam much faster,” Baldari said.
“ Aside from the jet lag, competing abroad was one of the best experiences I've had through swimming. I met an entire new group of people I have been in touch with for years, and it has opened an opportunity of swimming for Italy in the future.”
Baldari started competitively swimming at the age of 10 and has been on the Varsity swim team at Benjamin since eighth grade.
“As someone who is planning to swim at the Division 1 level, I have learned that hard work and dedication to your sport are keys to achieving your goals . . .Try to see everything as a learning experience and focus on what you need to do to improve,” she said.
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A premier PK3 - Grade 12 independent, coeducational day school with campuses in North Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens. Since 1960, The Benjamin School has provided a challenging college preparatory education to a diverse student body in a structured, nurturing community environment.