Age no barrier
WHEN the Australian Maccabiah lawn bowls team takes a group photo, there will be a younger face in among the elder statespeople.
WHEN the Australian Maccabiah lawn bowls team takes a group photo, there will be a younger face in among the elder statespeople.
Twenty-eight-year-old Addy Wetzler, who plays for Mentone Edge Bowls Club in the Victorian Premier League, will be heading to his first Maccabiah Games in Israel next month.
“I’m over the moon and extremely grateful to Maccabi Australia for the opportunity to wear the green and gold and represent my country,” Wetzler, who is the youngest player in the team by more than 20 years, told The AJN.
The young bowler from Caulfield admitted he never imagined spending his weekends rolling balls down the green.
“A family friend took me down to the club when I was 15 years old and I only really started playing because it was an excuse to get out of playing summer sport at school,” he said.
“But it’s a very competitive sport, and unlike other sports because you can’t just release your aggression because you have to control yourself.”
Wetzler hasn’t been a part of Maccabi throughout his lawn bowls career, but competed for Australia at the 2006 Maccabi Australia International Games in Sydney.
“That was a great event and I really had a great week with all the guys from different countries.
“I’m never going to be able to compete at the Olympics Games or the Commonwealth Games, so I’m really looking forward to represent- ing Australia for a second time and being a part of the athletes village style of event.”
The 10-man team will also fea- ture veteran bowlers from all across the country including, Gary Benveniste from South Australia, Michael Zusman from Western Australia, Paul Kurta, Steven Rubenstein, Les Gerber and Michael Yelen from Victoria, and Phillip Joel, Rod Silber and Basil Melnick from New South Wales.
Josh Levi
Photo: Peter Haskin
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