Benny Wanger '15 Helps Team Israel Qualify for Olympics

Belmont Hill and Yale alumnus Benny Wanger '15 played an important role in securing the Israeli baseball team a historic trip to the Olympics in Tokyo in 2020.

Wanger, playing DH, had two hits and an RBI as Israel beat South Africa 11-1 in Italy on Sunday to win the qualifying tournament.  

He obtained dual Israeli-American citizenship to play for Team Israel. Wanger also played first base in three games of the five-game tournament and had three hits (two doubles) in 13 at-bats. Wanger also took the mound, pitching 4.1 innings, allowing only one hit and striking out five. This is the first time Israel will field a team in any team sport at the Olympic Games since 1976, truly a monumental event.

"Benny has made a huge impact on whatever program he has been a part of, be it here, Yale and now on the Israeli national team," says Belmont Hill baseball coach Michael Grant. "ISL championships, Ivy championships, and now pitching in the Olympics."