Going for the Gold

By Patrick Bohn, July 22, 2021
Ithaca College alumni compete in the Tokyo Olympics
Meghan Musnicki holding up a gold medal; Jake Rosenberg at the plate

(Photo of Meghan Musnicki by Adam Baker, photo of Jake Rosenberg submitted)

(Photo of Meghan Musnicki by Adam Baker, photo of Jake Rosenberg submitted)

With the postponed 2020 Olympic Games about to get under way in Tokyo, IC alumni Meghan Musnicki ’05 and Jake Rosenberg ’18 are preparing to compete on the world’s biggest stage.

Musnicki ’05, a rower, is no stranger to the Olympic spotlight. This will be her third appearance as a member of the U.S. women’s eight, following gold-medal finishes in the 2012 and 2016 Games. She’s one of only two members of the boat with prior Olympics experience.

“Being selected to the team for my third Olympics is an incredible feeling,” she said. “It's an honor and a privilege to compete for Team USA again.”

Catch the Bombers in action

The women's eight won its heat with a time of 6:08.69 to advance to the finals on July 29.

Israel's baseball team will play its first game on July 29.

During her time at Ithaca, Musnicki, who spent three years on the varsity 8, helped the Bombers win national championships in 2004 and 2005. In 2005, she was named a first-team all-American by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association.

“Ithaca College was one of the initial building blocks that spurred on my love of the sport,” she said. “The support of my teammates was incredible. Like many rowing teams, at IC we were a family. To this day, I still get messages of support from some of them; that is a special feeling.”

Musnicki was inducted into IC’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013, and two years later, served as the Commencement speaker.

Jake Rosenberg at the plate

Jake Rosenberg ’18, was a member of the Bombers junior varsity baseball team.

(Photo submitted)

Jake Rosenberg ’18, was a member of the Bombers junior varsity baseball team.

(Photo submitted)

Jake Rosenberg ’18, who played for the junior varsity baseball team while at Ithaca College, is a member of Team Israel’s 44-player expanded roster, which competed in several pre-Olympic exhibition games. This is the first time that Israel has qualified for the Olympics in baseball.

An outfielder, Rosenberg did not secure a spot on the 24-man roster currently slated to participate in Tokyo, though substitutions can be made due to injuries right up until July 27.

“It’s an honor to represent Israel on a national stage,” he said. “Being born in the United States, I never thought I’d have this opportunity of a lifetime.”