BELLAIRE • MEMORIAL • RIVER OAKS • TANGLEWOOD • WEST UNIVERSITY

From Bellaire to Birmingham

By Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld, Staff writer | August 17, 2017

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A mix of athletes from Houston and Baltimore stayed at Mindy and Gary Cohen's home during the Maccabi games. (From left) Blake Myers, Ryan McGuire, Dylan Soussan, Matt Ingerman (from Baltimore), Alex Meltzer, Cory Kowitz (Baltimore), Clay Cohen and Gary Cohen, and Mindy Cohen (in middle). Not pictured: Moi Camhi from Houston.

Blake Myers was one of 69 students from Houston to travel to Birmingham, Al. for the recent Maccabi games. He was one of eight boys – six of whom were from Houston - staying with Mindy and Gary Cohen in their Birmingham home. Always a small world, it turns out that Blake’s mother Lisa Myers and Gary were next-door neighbors back when they both lived in Cherry Hill, NJ. There was a lot of reminiscing.

Blake Myers (middle) stayed with Mindy and Gary Cohen in their Birmingham home. Always a small world, it turns out Gary used to live next door to Blake’s mom, Lisa.

A rising junior at Emery, Blake played soccer and went on to the semi-finals, ultimately losing to the Dallas game, and all the participants enjoyed the fun and fanfare of the event. The delegates of Houston had a great week and enjoyed pursuing their favorite sport in a friendly environment.

Pictured: Teenagers who won Team Houston Awards in the 2017 Maccabi games in Birmingham.

Singer Matisyahu performed at the Opening Ceremony and the block party hosted by Maccabi was a major highlight, including acrobats, a DJ and Southern flavors. The Houston girls basketball team played on a mixed team with Dallas and had an incredible upset win over the Israel team in the last 17 seconds for the gold medal. See all of the Team Houston results here.