OC Jewish Sports Hall of Fame

Merage JCC Hall of Famer Jonathan Bornstein
Selected to U.S Men’s National Team
Preliminary Roster

Irvine (May 12, 2010) — Merage JCC Jewish Sports Hall of Fame recipient Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA) is one of 30 players selected for the U.S. Men’s National Team, led by coach Bob Bradley for the 2010 FIFA World Cup competition. Bornstein and his team mates will be reporting to Princeton, N.J., on May 15 for the start of training camp, with field sessions beginning two days later.  A squad of 23 players must be chosen by June 1 for the final roster that will travel to South Africa.

Bornstein commented to Goal.com, “It’s good to be a part of that 30-man group, but we still have some preparation to do as a team and that’s what we’re all looking forward to. I think I need to be solid, play solid defense. Be consistent and sharp and most of all contribute to the group in the best way that I can.”

Bornstein, who was inducted into the Merage JCC Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2009, has been a consistent part of Chivas USA’s plans, having made 110 appearances for the MLS club since being taken in the fourth round of the 2006 MLS Superdraft.

The Orange County Jewish Sports Hall of Fame honors local athletes who have demonstrated exceptional accomplishments and share an Orange County bond.  The Hall of Fame is located in the Merage Jewish Community Center at 1 Federation Way in Irvine, CA.

OC Jewish Sports Hall of Fame New Class of 2010
Inducted at Dinner of Champions on Dec. 6, 2009

Mitch Gaylord, U.S. gymnast and Olympic gold medalist

While attending UCLA, Mitch Gaylord won the All-Around 1983 and 1984 U.S. National Championships and the 1984 NCAA Men’s Gymnastics Championship. He participated in the 1984 Summer Olympic Games, where he led the gold-medal-winning U.S. men’s gymnastics team, becoming the first American gymnast to score a perfect 10.00. He also won medals in vault, parallel bars and the rings. His techniques for the horizontal bar: the “Gaylord Flip” and the “Gaylord II” are still performed by gymnasts today. He appeared as a stunt double for Chris O’Donnell’s Robin in Batman Forever and with Janet Jones in American Anthem. Mitch and his wife Valentina are Merage JCC members and Mitch has inspired JCC members and staff with his Melt it Off fitness and weight loss program.

Rachel Wacholder,  Champion Volleyball player

Rachel was born and raised in Laguna Beach where she played volleyball in high school and was a state Player of the Year. She received a degree from the University of Colorado where she was a Big 12 All-Conference twice. From 2005 to 2008, Rachel Wacholder made 21 championship appearances on the AVP Tour and finished two seasons as the #3 player. During the 2005 season, Wacholder partnered with Elaine Youngs to win three tournaments including the Cincinnati Open where they ended the 50-match win streak by Olympians Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh. She resides in Redondo Beach with her husband Sean Scott and their son, Koa, born on April 3. Recently Rachel Wacholder has teamed with both Misty May Treanor and Kerri Walsh as the new moms worked together to get back in shape.

Jonathan Bornstein, U.S. & World Cup Soccer player

Jonathan Bornstein plays for Chivas USA in Major League Soccer and for the U.S. national team. He attended Los Alamitos HS where he played soccer all 4 years and excelled in academics. He attended Cal Poly Pomona and UCLA, receiving a degree in sociology. Chosen by Chivas in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft he earned the 2006 MLS Rookie of the Year Award. In 2007 Bornstein played for the US national team against Denmark and in the Copa América. His first World Cup Qualifying appearance came in 2009 in a start against Guatemala and he scored the winning goal in U.S. team’s final World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica ensuring that the team qualified for the 2010 World Cup. Bornstein comes from a mixed Jewish and Mexican heritage and played in the 2005 Maccabiah Games, representing the U.S. in soccer.

Donna Turnbow,  World Class gymnast

In 1974, at the age of 14, Donna Turnbow was Junior State, Regional and National Gymnastics Champion. In 1977, she beat Nadia Comaneci on the uneven parallel bars in the USA vs. Romania competition where she placed 3rd All Around. She was the #1 U.S. gymnast in 1977 and, in 1978, was named USA Female Gymnast of the Year. In 1978, she placed 1st All Around in the ‘Champions All’ competition in London, was a member of US National Team at the World Championships in Strasbourg, France and participated in the Chunichi Cup held in Japan. In 1979, she was the leading American gymnast and appeared destined to go to the Moscow Olympics; however, the U.S. Olympic Boycott in 1980 deprived Donna of her Olympic moment. She attended USC on a full athletic scholarship, obtaining a degree in communications and business. At present, she is a Systems Analyst for Boeing.

Teen Scholar Athletes Honored

In addition, the event will honor two high school students, one male and one female as Scholar Athletes of the Year. Any Jewish scholar-athlete who lives in Orange County and is a junior or senior in high school is eligible. Nominees will be judged on academic and athletic achievements as well as their commitment to community service. Six boys and six girls will be selected as finalists and the winners of the award will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at the “Dinner of Champions.”  Click here to view our Teen Scholar Athlete finalists: poster_SHOF inductees teen athletes new-low res

Sponsorship and ad book information: sports hall of fame sponsorship form_2009

For additional information about the OC Jewish Sports Hall of Fame 2010, please contact Dan Berzansky at (949) 434-3400, ext 313 or mailto:danielb@jccoc.org.