Zara Tickner Selected To Participate In Pan-American Maccabi Games In Chile

2016 May 19

After two stellar seasons spearheading the defensive unit for Wittenberg University's field hockey team, sophomore Zara Tickner (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) will showcase her skills at the Pan American Maccabi Games in Santiago, Chile, from Dec. 26-Jan. 5.

Maccabi USA is a not-for-profit organization that "endeavors, through sports, to perpetuate and preserve the American Jewish community by encouraging Jewish pride, strengthening Jewish bonds and by creating a heightened awareness of Israel and Jewish identity," according to its mission statement on its web site. The upcoming event in Chile is the 13th Pan American Maccabi Games, with competitions scheduled in a wide range of sports and activities, ranging from basketball to golf to chess.

Tickner has earned All-North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) honors following each of her first two collegiate seasons in the Red & White. The Tigers recently concluded a 2015 season that ended with a narrow 1-0 NCAC Tournament semifinal loss to top-seeded Kenyon.

Tickner is looking forward to the combination of cultural and competitive opportunities presented by her participation in the Pan American Maccabi Games.

"Field hockey has been an integral part of my life, especially as a college student-athlete," Tickner said. "I am honored to have been chosen to play on the USA Team for the Maccabi Pan-Am Games, and I couldn't be more excited and proud to represent the USA, Wittenberg and my Jewish heritage in Santiago, Chile, next month!"

Wittenberg Head Coach Kelley Hubbell is pleased that Tickner is taking advantage of this opportunity as well. She knows that her center defensive back will gain both personally and athletically from the experience.

"I am proud of Wittenberg's campus community and love the diversity within our field hockey program," said Wittenberg Field Hockey Head Coach Kelley Hubbell. "I am always eager to support our student-athletes' growth as global citizens through study abroad and/or competitive experiences like Zara's opportunity to compete in the Maccabi games.

"She will gain so much athletically playing with elite Division I athletes on this international stage, as well as personally exploring Chile and her Jewish heritage. It is a very exciting and I am confident she will represent the USA and Wittenberg well in these games."

Tickner is raising money to support her participation in the Pan-American Maccabi Games. Her personal fundraising page can be found here: http://support.maccabiusa.com/site/TR/Games/MaccabiTeamRaiser?px=1075942&pg=personal&fr_id=1040.