Gesher Yehuda is the only school of its kind. Established over 18 years ago, it serves the needs of students with learning challenges and helps them gain self-esteem and confidence. Many of its students go on to college. Over the last few years, Gesher Yehuda’s High Heat Tournaments has become one of the most sought after and highly anticipated events of the summer. The High Heat tournament was created by Gesher Yehuda’s President Michael Cayre over 8 years ago as a top line Professional Tennis Tournament.
Now, the young adults of our community have picked up momentum and made these games bigger and better every year. The tournament is now run by kids for kids. This year, over 850 players participated in a wide array of sporting events throughout Deal.
“The tournament is a labor of love for the many people who have volunteered their time to Gesher Yehuda. The young people involved in the making of this tournament are truly amazing,” said Frieda Tawil, a gesher Yehuda board member. “They have worked for the past six months—it’s a huge undertaking but they make everything look simple. As a board member, I am very proud of our volunteers without whom the program would not run smoothly. Each year they aim higher to make the tournament bigger and better, this year reaching that goal. I’m sure next year will be yet bigger and better.”
“We enjoy raising money for Gesher Yehuda; it’s such an important school in our community,” one of the participants said.
Early rain did not dampen all the players’ determination. Held at several different locations, there was loads of action all around. Traveling from one event to the next, one could feel the scope of the extensive planning and dedication that each volunteer put into this special day. The large following it has generated is a true testament to each participant and volunteer’s commitment to raise funds necessary for Gesher Yehuda. Their hard work led to many hard fought tournaments. Each event coordinator spent countless hours perfecting and organizing each team.
The morning began with softball. 144 men on 12 different teams battled throughout the course of the afternoon.
After playing in the first High Heat Softball Tournament over 6 years ago, Steven Gindi got involved and has helped organize and run the softball tournament since. “I take great pleasure in helping each year for Gesher Yehuda. So many players have given of themselves to help make the day what it is,” he said.
Gindi was joined by Ikey Mavorah, Max Sutton, Sam Esses, Ray Esses, Esty Levy, Elliot “Chef” Chrem, and many other participants, all of whom were happy to lend a hand to make this day a huge success.
The softball champions included: Ikey Mavorah, Michael Beyda, Eddie Rishty, Elliot Rishty, Selim Levy, Victor Bousso, Eddie Sassoon, Teddy Ishak, Isaac Shalom, Michael Cohen, Ray Esses, Jimmy Malakh, and Michael Salomon. The MVP this year was Selim Levy.
Joseph Sutton has always had a passion for running basketball tournaments since he was a child. He started his first one when he was in 5th grade, and the event grew bigger and bigger every year.
“My tournament was called Hot Shot,” Sutton explained. “A few years ago, my best friends started running a tournament called High Heat and during this past year they asked me to run their basketball tournament for them. Instead of having to run two tournaments, Eric Setton, who runs High Heat, and I realized that it would be more effective for us to merge our tournaments. By doing so, we’d have the already established Hot Shot basketball tournament, along with the all of the other sports that High Heat has every year. They also would be able to use my house as the venue which conveniently contains basketball, tennis, and volleyball courts this way all the events would occur on one site thereby giving the tournament the ability to have a big scene. And, thank G-d, it was a huge success. There were 400 athletes and at least 300 spectators at the finals of the basketball tournament. We went through 800 hamburgers; the turnout was incredible.”
The basketball winners in the younger division for the Gesher Yehuda High Heat Tournament this year were Solomon Sued, Abe Dweck, Jack Sasson and Evan Terzi. In the older division, the winners were: Marc Dweck, Joseph Sutton, Dennis Dweck, Jack Catton, and Sammy Sabbagh.
Girls’ soccer consisted of mostly high school girls, and included over 16 teams with 4 divisions. Led by Barbara Maleh, the girls had a great time and showed tremendous energy. Barbara was assisted by Stephanie Maleh, Linda Mizrahi, Gaby Sabbagh, Claire Setton, David Tawil and Estelle Tawil. The 1st place winners were: Cynthia Haddad, Sherry Ades, Harriet Sasson, Juny Idy, Estelle Tawil, Shirley Chera, and Millie Marcus. The runners up were: Shelly Hafif, Rebecca Rahmey, Adele Greenberg, Rachel Chabot, Renee Franco, Esther Chera and Barbara Kroub. Stephanie Maleh was the MVP in the girls’ soccer league.
Other winners included the surfing champions. In the short board Division B, Alex Hedaya was the year’s champion. In the short board Division A, Ruby Antebi was champion.
In Girls’ Basketball, the participants included Aura Setton, Orly Wahba, Jennifer Kassin, and Mariel Rishty, who was selected as MVP. In tennis, first place went to Abie Nissim and Charles Cohen; there runner ups were Steven Shamah and Louis France. The volleyball winners were Max Antar, Sol Wahba, Isaac Antar and Sara Yedid. And the Ultimate Frisbee participants included Eddie Hazan, Michael Esses, Morris Dabah, Morris Jerome, Allie Russo, and Marc Elmann.
There are many people who deserve thanks for their help and input in putting together this event. Gesher Yehuda would like to thank Rachel and Jeff Sutton for graciously opening up their home, Frieda Tawil andShirley Mansour, and their families, for all of their hard work and efforts continuously for Gesher Yehuda. Many thanks also go to Eric Setton, Mark Dweck, Morris Dweck, Abie Cohen, Maurice Schmool,Joey Sasson, Maurice Sued, Barbara Maleh, Stephanie Maleh, Claire Setton, Joe Sutton, Jack Sitt , Eddie Hazan ,Ben Mann, Robby Chattah, Steven Gindi, Orly Wahba, Vicky Ades, Merle Kassab, Joseph Kassin, Rebecca Cohen, Eddie Matut, Solomon Suede, Maxie Cohen and all the of the other hard working High Heat Tournament volunteers, who helped orchestrate the girls and guys basketball, girls soccer, softball, tennis, surfing, volleyball, ultimate Frisbee and volleyball tournaments. Gesher Yehuda would also like to thank all of its generous sponsors. A special thank you also goes to Rachel Sutton for supplying the pictures.
Staye tuned for next year’s date for this prestigious day of tournaments.
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Randi Shomer is a freelance writer, community member, and mother of four children.
