BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Rising junior Kevin O’Donnell (Pointe-Claire, Quebec/Selwyn [San Diego Mesa College]) of the Wagner College men’s water polo team helped Canada finish in Fifth Place at the 20th World Maccabiah Games on July 4-18, 2017, in Israel.
Canada was among seven nations competing in men’s water polo action at the Maccabiah Games as Germany, Hungary, Mexico, Brazil, the United States and host Israel all battled for international bragging rights.
Canada finished 2-4 in round-robin group play as the squad defeated Germany (9-8 W) and Mexico (15-12 W), but fell to Hungary (16-4 L), the United States (14-8 L), Brazil (22-10 L) and Israel (28-3 L).
As a member of Wagner’s inaugural men’s water polo team, O’Donnell finished the 2016 season with 44 goals, 25 steals, and 21 drawn exclusions. The sophomore transfer scored a team-high five goals against the Brown University Bears in the program’s first-ever game on September 3, 2016.
Before arriving on Grymes Hill, O’Donnell transferred from San Diego Mesa College, where he was a member of the 2015 Pacific Coast Athletic Conference championship squad. Additionally, the utility player was part of the U18 and U22 All-Star Teams at the Canadian National Club Championships.
The Maccabiah Games is the world’s largest Jewish athletic competition in the tradition of the Maccabees — emphasizing the centrality of the State of Israel in the life of the Jewish people.
The Maccabees were the leaders of a Jewish rebel army that took control of Judea between 164 BCE and 63 BCE and reasserted the Jewish religion in the area.
The Maccabiah Games take place every four years in Israel. They are the Maccabi World Union’s largest and most famous enterprise.
The principal mission of the Maccabiah Games is to facilitate a worldwide gathering of young Jewish athletes in Israel — staging the highest possible levels of sports competitions and strengthening their connection to Israel and the Jewish people.
Maccabiah Games officials offer the athletes opportunities to tour the land of Israel and integrate all Maccabiah participants with the Israeli society and localities in the country; initiating and creating an unforgettable experience comprised of competitive sports, cultural events and lifetime memorable experiences.
In addition to being competitive, the sports competitions are also dedicated to the values of fair play, mutual respect, victory of body, intellect, and the pursuit of excellence.
The 20th Maccabiah Games were the biggest since the Games started in 1932 — including about 10,000 athletes and 22,000 fans from more than 80 countries.
