The Jewish Sports Heritage Association honored standout student-athletes and national figures at its eighth annual Induction and Awards Ceremony last Sunday, continuing a mission that began with a simple goal — to celebrate Jewish excellence in sports.
Among this year’s honorees was Samantha Friedman, 19, an Oceanside native and 2025 graduate of Oceanside High School.
Founded in 2015 by Alan Freedman, director of the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame & Museum at the Suffolk Y in Commack, the organization highlights Jewish athletes at all levels of competition, countering stereotypes about them that have long plagued the world of sports.
“By highlighting Jewish athletes from across the sports world, it hopefully offers a starting point for discussions of stereotypes and prejudice,” Freedman said.
The ceremony was held at Temple Israel of Lawrence. It has become a centerpiece of the association’s work on the South Shore, recognizing both nationally known athletes and those from local high schools who excel not only in competition, but also in the classroom and community.
“Our goal is to educate the public about the role that Jewish men and women have played and continue to play in the world of sports,” Freedman said. “We’re looking for not only a very good athlete but somebody who is academically up there and involved in the community.”
Friedman, now a freshman at Binghamton University majoring in biology on a pre-physician assistant track, was a two-sport athlete in high school, competing in soccer and track and field. She started playing soccer at age 4 and later joined competitive club teams, eventually playing on the high school varsity team for three years.
Track came later, in middle school, and she recommitted to the sport in high school at the encouragement of a friend, competing in the sprint events, ranging from 100 to 400 meters. What began as a secondary sport soon became a passion.
“I love track so much,” Friedman said. “It taught me so many lessons. It made me more confident. It taught me about putting in effort and working hard to get where you want to be.”
Balancing two sports along with academics was a constant challenge, she recalled. Friedman often went directly from track practice to spring club soccer, finishing her homework in the car.
“Academics came first,” she said. “But I wanted to do both, so I held myself accountable to making it work.”
While she found success in both sports, Friedman said track presented the greater challenge, in part because of its individual nature.
“It’s really on you,” she said. “If you want to run a certain time, you have to put in the work. It’s such a mental sport — if you’re not in the right mindset, you’re not going to perform the way you want.”
Her track coach, Michael Howley, said Friedman stood out not only for her talent, but for her attitude and leadership.
“It couldn’t happen to a better person,” Howley said of her recognition. “She’s everything you want an athlete to be.”
Howley described Friedman as a humble competitor who avoided the spotlight despite consistent praise from teammates and coaches.
“She didn’t seek attention,” he said. “She was just focused on getting better and helping the team. That’s what made her so easy to root for.”
He recalled that Friedman’s growth accelerated as she began to recognize her own ability. “As a sophomore, she started to realize how good she was,” he said. “With that confidence, she just kept improving. She was willing to do the little things — working in the weight room, practicing [relay] handoffs — things that make a difference.
Friedman credited both her soccer and track teammates with shaping her experience, describing strong bonds and a shared commitment to improvement.
“We were always there for each other,” she said. “We pushed each other to be better, and that built a really strong work ethic.”
Her recognition by the JSHA came as a surprise, she said, but it was deeply appreciated.
“It means a lot to be honored for both academics and athletics,” Friedman said. “I didn’t even know something like this existed.”
At Binghamton, Friedman continues to run on her own when her schedule allows, while her focus is on her long-term goal of becoming an orthopedic physician assistant. Her interest in the field was influenced by both her academics and her experience as an athlete — including exposure to sports injuries.
“I’ve always been interested in science and health care,” she said. “Seeing injuries in sports definitely played a role in pushing me toward orthopedics.”
Looking back on her time in Oceanside, Friedman said she hopes to be remembered as a well-rounded student athlete.
“If it’s something you want to do, you have to work for it,” she said. “You have to put in the effort.”
Through athletes like Friedman, Freedman said, the association’s mission continues to resonate — highlighting not only academic and athletic achievement, but the values that make it possible.
