HAFTR senior takes bronze at Maccabi Games

HAFTR High school senior Jason Fruchter took home the bronze medal for doubles in tennis at this year’s Maccabi Australia games.

Fruchter, 17, is currently ranked at number two on Long Island in the United States Tennis Association. The Maccabi Australia games had him playing against players across the age spectrum.

“I got to meet Jews from all over the country and play a sport I love,” he told The Jewish Star.

In the singles match, Fruchter lost a close game in the quarter finals with a Hofstra college student who eventually managed to place fourth in the competition. Undaunted, the next day Fruchter played hard in the doubles matches to seize the bronze with his partner.

This is the second medal Fruchter has won at the Maccabi games. As a freshman, he took the silver medal in the Argentina Maccabi games. Fruchter along with the fellow HAFTR senior, Shelby Rosenberg, was one of several religious Jews at the Maccabi games.

Fruchter said he’s learned something from the experience.

“I learned that there are Jews, they may not be religious but they recognize they’re Jews.” he said.