LA JOLLA, Calif. – Former Triton softball standout Maddy Lewis '19 will be back on the diamond this month to play for Team Israel at the Maccabiah Games starting July 13. Later in July, Team Israel will participate in the Women's European Championships from July 23-30 in Saint Boi, Spain – not far from Barcelona.
"Just to be surrounded by the game every day has been nice," said Lewis, a three-time all-conference selection from her UC San Diego playing days. "I've definitely gotten in a lot better shape, moving in ways I hadn't been in two years."
Lewis tried out for the Israeli team in December and made the roster shortly thereafter. When she takes the field next week, she'll be surrounded by some familiar faces, including former Triton teammate Robyn Wampler. "She said how awesome it was. Although it is a different vibe, everyone truly wants to be there," Lewis said of Wampler's prior experience with the team. "There are high expectations to perform, but everyone is coming together a couple times a year to play the game they're so passionate about. There is something about being able to represent a country that makes you appreciate it a little more."
Team Israel is coached by Nikki Palmer, the head coach at UC Riverside. Palmer is a 2007 UC San Diego graduate as well, playing under longtime UC San Diego head coach Patti Gerckens. Last year, Palmer led Israel to a fourth-place finish at the 2021 Women's European Championship in Italy.
Like most of her new teammates, Lewis has learned to juggle responsibilities of her full-time job while training for National Team play. After working as a social media & community manager for San Marcos-based sports technology company Blast Motion by day, Lewis can often be seen on the UC San Diego campus in the evening. "I'm getting in as many swings as I can to make sure I get reps without being in a team setting," she explained. "Coach G often hit me grounders after UCSD's practice."
"As a student-athlete, everything revolves around softball from practice to games. But now having to find time after a full workday is hard," Lewis added. "Time management is kind of engrained and it is a priority to make sure my body is healthy."
In her time at UC San Diego, Lewis was a four-year starter for the Tritons, immediately making an impact her freshman year. She was a finalist for National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA)/Schutt Sports National Freshman of the Year. She was also named California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Freshman of the Year. In addition, Lewis received Division II Conference Commissioner's Association (CAA) All-West Region First Team honors and NFCA All-West Region Second Team honors all in her rookie season.
Lewis went on to earn three CCAA First Team awards and four CCAA All-Academic selections. A two-time Google Cloud CoSIDA Academic All-District 8 First Team, National Student-Athlete Day selection and UC San Diego Chancellor's Scholar-Athlete Award winner, Lewis succeeded both on the field and in the classroom.
In her senior season, Lewis led the Tritons to a West Region title and the program's first trip to the Division II Softball Championship since 2012.
Lewis graduated in 2019 with a Bachelor's in Communication and minor in psychology. As a member of Triton Athletes' Council, she assisted in the university's passing of the Division I referendum. She also wrote for the UCSD Guardian newspaper covering a wide range of intercollegiate teams. After graduating, she spent the next two-plus years working for Athletics Communications, covering Triton teams ranging from softball to track & field.
The opening ceremonies for the 21st Maccabiah Games will take place on July 14 at Jerusalem's Teddy Stadium. Softball pool play begins the day prior in nearby Gezer.
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.
