Even as a young child Ben’s favorite activity was catching and
throwing a ball. By the time he entered middle school he was
competing on the interscholastic football, basketball and
lacrosse teams as well as playing for a Long Island Junior
Soccer League and Island Garden and Rising Stars AAU basketball
teams. His parents recall with fondness the frenetic schedule oe maintained the one spring when he played travel lacrosse, PAL baseball, LISL soccer and Island Garden basketball.
At Great Neck South High School, Ben is a three sport athlete,
starting four years on varsity lacrosse at long pole defense,
three years on the varsity basketball team and two years on the
varsity football squad. He actually was brought up as a freshman
to play on the varsity for the last two games of the football
season. After his senior year, he won the coach’s Versatility Award since during his career he played quarterback, wide receiver, running back, safety, cornerback, linebacker, defensive end, kicker and punter. He scored the winning and sole touchdown in the 7-0 win over cross town rival, Great Neck North, which concluded his senior year.
Ben was a starter since his sophomore year on the basketball
team, earned All Conference honors all three years, assisted with two playoff wins after his sophomore basketball season, and as a senior with capturing the Nassau AA-II Conference championship and a playoff victory before bowing out in the quarterfinals. Ben’s AAU basketball team won several regional tournaments including a bid to
the Division II National Championships and includes several players who will continue to play at the collegiate level.
Ben was the high scorer as a midfielder for the Great Neck South Middle School, but was asked by the varsity coach to play defense and has received All Conference honors as a freshman and sophomore and All Conference Honorable Mention after the junior year lacrosse campaign. The squad was awarded the 10th seed in their conference
after his sophomore year and has set as a goal again winning a playoff birth as a senior. Ben was actively recruited by several Division I colleges to play lacrosse and was excited when Coach Danowski of his “dream school”, Duke, called this past July and offered him a spot with the 2008 Blue Devil recruiting class.
Ben served as captain on all three teams this past year and although very competitive and expecting to win every contest, his teammates will tell you that he is held in high regard for his unselfish play, always placing the team ahead of personal achievement. He leaves Great Neck South not just with great memories of victories, but having learned the value of hard work, discipline, leadership, team work and overcoming adversity.
In the classroom Ben is also accomplished, meriting after his junior year Advanced Placement Scholar with Honor status and will graduate with 9 AP classes. He heads off to Duke in the fall not only in the hopes of playing for NCAA national lacrosse championships, but with the expectation of studying business or pre-law. One of his favorite high school courses is Law and Government and he has been following closely this year’s historic presidential nominating campaign in the Democratic Party. During his participation in the Maccabi Games, competing for the Sid Jacobson’s basketball team which garnered Silver and Gold medals after his freshman and sophomore years, he learned the importance of community service during the Days of Caring and Sharing in Richmond, Virginia and Stamford, Connecticut.
Ben is honored to be the recipient of this prestigious award and hopes his accomplishments, both academically and athletically, continue to be a source of pride for the Mazors, his family, faith, and country.
