Jewish Day School Fall Sports Preview

Above: The Epstein School track and field team finished third at the MAAC Middle School Track & Field Championships in May with strong performances from (from left) Eitan Ventura, Avi Young, Jay Satisky, Tal Brill, Isaac Jaye, Ella Gamson and Josh Aronstein.

Summer break is over, and student athletes at the Davis Academy, Atlanta Jewish Academy, the Weber School and the Epstein School are ready to get back on the field, court and track for the fall sports season. Here are some highlights of what to watch for at some of Atlanta’s Jewish day schools.

Weber

As the Weber School heads into its first year of competition in the Georgia High School Association, it does so with two of its most successful programs carrying the torch and the second-year Rams softball team looking to build some respect in Class A competition.

Weber’s softball team is entering their second year.

Weber’s volleyball team will play a full schedule of area and nonarea matches. With the additions of transfers Jolie Seir and Fiona Neidorf to a roster featuring 10 returning players and four seniors, the Rams are looking forward to a solid season. They open with a nonarea match at Atlanta International School on Friday, Aug. 12.

Going into his fifth season at the helm, Rams cross-country head coach Kristan Moses fields a young but talented roster of girls and boys. Led by Luke Pearlman, Brent Rodgers, Andrew Freedman, Sydney Rein, Courtney Berman and Hannah Krinsky, Weber looks to make some noise in one of the fastest cross-country regions at any level in Georgia.

In the second year of Rams softball, head coach Scott Seagraves is looking for his young roster to continue building a softball tradition at the high school. Jessica Seagraves and Lindsey Gelernter lead the way this season with new pitcher Liana Slomka. The Rams open at Holy Innocents’ on Tuesday, Aug. 16.

AJA

Atlanta Jewish Academy’s varsity volleyball team is continuing summer workouts while preparing for the fall season. Coach Lesley Thompson is confident that AJA will have an exciting season

The Atlanta Jewish Academy middle school volleyball team finished first in its division last season.

with eight returning players, including seniors Naomi Moosai and Brooke Ratner, and a strong group of freshmen. The first game is Thursday, Aug. 11, at St. Francis.

The middle school volleyball team also has high hopes. Under Coach Penny Eisenstein, the middle school team has won 85 percent of its games and last season finished first in the division. The middle school season starts Sept. 1.

AJA’s middle school soccer team is trying to repeat last year’s first-place division finish. Its first game is scheduled for Aug. 30.

Davis

The Davis Academy’s 2016 Athletes of the Year, Simon Ben-Moshe and Madison Kamean, graduated in the spring with the Class of 2016.

Davis has hired Erin Sweigert as the newest member of the physical education staff; she is coaching soccer this year. Preseason training for Davis Middle School fall sports (volleyball, softball, soccer and cross country) begins Aug. 9 to 11; tryouts take place the following week.