Imagine it’s Aug. 8, 2008. You are in Beijing for the first time. Masses of people are pushing you from all sides and speaking in tongues you don’t understand. You hear a roar and thunderous applause and you strain on your tiptoes to see what is happening down the tunnel in front of you. Flags of all colors spring up from the crowd periodically. Millions will watch you circumambulate the track in a matter of minutes. The butterflies that have been in your stomach for a few hours suddenly become a lot worse. The lights get brighter as you walk into Beijing National Stadium. You wave at the throngs of spectators and proudly wave your nation’s flag.
Only for dreaming kids and our best athletes does a scene like this even seem possible. For the rest of us, it exists only on television. These athletes become stars for the summer. They play in the shadows of greats like Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Carl Lewis and Michael Johnson.
But for recent Washington University alumnus Monica Hanono and current senior Jamie Kressel, this dream has crept a little closer. Hanono and Kressel will use their Israeli citizenship for a bid to play softball on the world’s grandest stage. “It would be a miracle. I hope it happens, but going to the qualifiers and playing at that level would be an amazing experience in itself,” said Kressel.
The trek started two summers ago with Kressel’s trip to Israel to compete in the Maccabiah Games. The event is held once every four years in Israel. The Maccabiah Games are, according to Kressel, “a sort of Jewish Olympics.” With countries from all over the world competing, the event served as Kressel’s introduction to international play. After being named to the Jewish Sports Review College All-American team last season, Kressel received an e-mail from the Israeli coaches regarding the tryouts this past June.
“I thought it would be an amazing opportunity,” said Kressel. “You only get one chance in your life to do something like this, and it was a chance to play softball a little longer.”
From a tryout group of over 30 girls, Kressel and Hanono were among 12 selected to play in an exhibition this past summer against the professional New England Riptide in Boston. After only an hour of practice together, the Israeli competed hard, but fell to the National Pro Fastpitch league champions 3-1, despite a double by Hanono and an RBI by Kressel. “They get paid to play so it was kind of intimidating. Only losing by two is amazing since we had never played together before,” said Kressel.
The world of international softball has enlightened Kressel of the financial struggles of the infant softball programs of other nations.
“When we went to the Maccabiah Games with the USA, we were given boxes and boxes of stuff,” she said. “Other programs just don’t have the funds to support softball. After we played Argentina we just gave them all of our equipment: our cleats, our bats, our catchers gear.they just couldn’t afford it.”
Though their situation is not as serious, the Israelis, too, are also facing financial problems. Coaches have been seeking sponsors to pay for equipment, uniforms and plane tickets for all the American athletes. In addition, the coaches have been pressing lawmakers to forgive the mandatory military service and residency requirements for citizenship.
But with near-daily accounts of suicide bombers and attacks, these dilemmas are the least of their concerns. Armed guards travel everywhere with the team, even to exhibitions on American soil. The team is not permitted to wear Jewish stars or fly the Israeli flag, as to avoid any problems.
Security was the main concern for most of the athletes’ families but Kressel seemed calm.
“Once you get there, it’s normal. I’m used to having the guards; you become friends with them,” she said. “You get used to having people with guns walking the streets. It’s just part of their way of life.”
After the money is raised, the paperwork is filled out and the security is in place, American athletes from Princeton to Wash. U. will travel to Israel for two weeks of practice in the winter before heading to the European qualifier next summer. With Division I athletes competing for spots alongside Kressel and Hanono, some might overlook the Division III athletes.
“A lot of D-I players think there’s a huge difference between us and them. We chose to play D-III because of the academics. It’s hard when people assume that because you play D-III you aren’t as good. I think as long as everyone has an open mind there’s no problem,” noted Kressel.
Keeping an open mind extends to the country of Israel as well. Kressel stressed the Israeli desire for Americans to come visit.
“They’re happy that there are Americans coming in. They want people to see that it is a great place and it is relatively safe,” said Kressel.
Even in spite of the turmoil and security concerns, Kressel and her American comrades recognize the importance of playing for the Israelis.
“I think since there’s so much going on there, so much pain, it would be something for all the Israelis to be happy and proud along with all their other teams,” she stated. “I think the main thing Israelis want right now is for people to understand that what we see on the news here is not what’s really going on.”
All political pressures aside, playing on the Israeli national team gives Jewish players from around the world a banner to unite behind and provides an instant bond. Kressel and her family agree that having heritage and culture in common will help the team’s success on and off the field.
Faced with the prospect of playing her native homeland in the Olympics, Kressel responded, “I think I’d be in awe. You just go out there and try your best and hope to God you win.”