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<strong>at</strong>hletics <strong>at</strong> horace mann school<br />
and David Orbach<br />
’08 (a team captain,<br />
known for his exciting<br />
style of play, and<br />
the chant of “D.O.”<br />
th<strong>at</strong> followed him<br />
everywhere), or<br />
Robbie Erani ’08.”<br />
Each was recruited<br />
to play tennis in<br />
college. “We’ve been<br />
competing against<br />
one another and<br />
playing with each<br />
other for years.<br />
We’ve all become<br />
good friends.”<br />
Regarding being<br />
named an All American, Schneiderman said he probably would<br />
not have even been considered for the award “had Coach Lacopo<br />
not made the opportunity for all of us, so th<strong>at</strong> other coaches see<br />
us play.” Each year the team goes to California during spring break<br />
to begin practices in a warm clim<strong>at</strong>e, and to compete with other<br />
teams from around the country. The alumnus also credits Coach<br />
Lacopo with the respectful way with which he works with each<br />
player’s personal coach. Schneiderman’s coach, Chris Pucci, has<br />
become a gre<strong>at</strong> friend of HM tennis.<br />
“Coach Lacopo is the best tennis coach in the country,” Schneiderman<br />
said. “He has the right feel for all of us. He doesn’t clamp down<br />
on the team. He always knew the right time to approach me during<br />
a m<strong>at</strong>ch, and when not to. He always coached keeping in mind wh<strong>at</strong><br />
was good for the team, and wh<strong>at</strong> was good for each player. Th<strong>at</strong> kind<br />
of understanding on the part of a coach was invaluable.”<br />
Rebecca Hirschfeld ’08 a top U.S. fencer also co-captained HM’s varsity fencing team. Today she fences for Cornell.<br />
Incorpor<strong>at</strong>ing Top Athletes<br />
Into the Program<br />
Throughout its years <strong>Horace</strong> <strong>Mann</strong> has been the academic home<br />
for elite <strong>at</strong>hletes in a variety of sports, from equestrians to archers,<br />
sk<strong>at</strong>ers and more. The Class of 2008 boasted several such students,<br />
and both they and HM had to balance the demands of their training<br />
schedules and individual needs with the opportunity to include<br />
them among HM’s represent<strong>at</strong>ive competitors.<br />
Record-breaking runner Renee MacDougal ’08 contributed<br />
gre<strong>at</strong>ly to HM’s track and field teams, inspiring both younger<br />
students and her grade peers. Rebecca (Reebee) Hirschfeld ’08<br />
and Emily Park ’08 (see Alumni Interactive) were two <strong>at</strong>hletes who<br />
balanced their life as competitors outside of <strong>Horace</strong> <strong>Mann</strong> with<br />
responsibilities to their teams.<br />
Hirschfeld, a <strong>Horace</strong> <strong>Mann</strong> “survivor” began fencing as an<br />
8-year-old because her family thought it was important for her<br />
to have a hobby outside of school. Her f<strong>at</strong>her had fenced, so she<br />
decided to try the sport. “I took a lesson and I thought it was fun,<br />
like in the movies.” Before long teachers and coaches who spotted<br />
her talent suggested she enter a local competition. She placed third<br />
in her first meet. “I got a medal, and it was cool.” Before long she<br />
was entering more serious competitions, and began traveling to<br />
n<strong>at</strong>ional meets <strong>at</strong> the age of 10. By her junior year <strong>at</strong> <strong>Horace</strong> <strong>Mann</strong><br />
she ranked in the top 200 among young women fencers worldwide.<br />
By this time she was also a key member of the <strong>Horace</strong> <strong>Mann</strong> team.<br />
HM’s previous fencing coach, Lower Division science teacher Jim<br />
Gross, spoke with Hirschfeld about trying out for the team “when I<br />
was in seventh or eighth grade” she recalled. “He knew me because<br />
I had him as a teacher in the Lower Division. My parents and I<br />
thought it would be better if I waited for my freshman year. I played<br />
volleyball and lacrosse in the Middle Division. When I got to high<br />
school I wanted to continue doing volleyball, but it was too much.”<br />
Though “Reebee” had amassed a gre<strong>at</strong> deal of experience as a<br />
competitor by the time she joined the team, she said she did not feel<br />
Alumni in Sports<br />
Paul M. Juris ’75<br />
Dr. Paul M. Juris earned his Doctor<strong>at</strong>e<br />
in Motor Learning from Columbia<br />
University in 1993, and then pursued<br />
a variety of positions in higher<br />
educ<strong>at</strong>ion, rehabilit<strong>at</strong>ive medicine,<br />
professional sports, and fitness. He is<br />
a renowned expert in motor skill<br />
development, and former Director of<br />
the Equinox Fitness Training Institute.<br />
Co-author of The Rider’s Fitness<br />
Program, he is also a co-founder of SOLOTHREE, an organiz<strong>at</strong>ion to enhance<br />
human performance through the science of optimal movement. In January<br />
2007 Dr. Juris was named Executive Director of the Cybex Institute, Cybex<br />
Intern<strong>at</strong>ional, Inc. which serves as a resource for research, exercise<br />
methodology, educ<strong>at</strong>ion programs, and a variety of performance-rel<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
protocols. To gain some insight into the field of fitness, and to learn more<br />
about this alumnus please go to www.horacemannalumni.org.<br />
18 <strong>Horace</strong> <strong>Mann</strong> Magazine Fall 2008
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