This is how this Hewlett resident represented Israel this summer

Incoming Hewlett High School freshman Chase Rivas played everything growing up, including basketball, baseball and football. But no sport made an impact on him like lacrosse, which he has played since first grade.

“From the get-go, he started playing at Turf Island Indoor Sports Clinic when he was 6,” Chase’s father, Dan, said, referring to the facility in Island Park. “It was something that he just naturally fell into.”

Lacrosse is growing in Israel, and Chase, 13, was recruited for a roster spot on Team Israel’s U-13 national team that played in the World Series of Youth Lacrosse in Matthews, North Carolina, June 26-July 1.

Dan noted that when Chase was in first grade, his wife, Blake, jokingly said to him that their son didn’t understand the game. Eventually, the two of them sat him down and asked him a series of questions about lacrosse to see how committed he was to it. After what seemed like an interrogation session, to their surprise, they both saw how much the game meant to their young midfielder.

“I was so proud,” Blake recalled feeling that night. “I was thinking to myself, ‘Does he really listen to all the rules?’ and he responded to all of the things we asked and more, and he was so excited to tell his version of the game and how he feels about it. Like, wow.”

Chase played in the Hewlett Police Activity League from first through sixth grades. His father was his coach.

“I knew nothing about lacrosse,” said Dan, who’s originally from Queens. The family now lives in Hewlett.

“We didn’t have lacrosse in Flushing,” Dan said.

“It was baseball, basketball and football. That was it. So I got suckered into coaching, because there was no other parent to coach, and instantly my whole family fell in love with lacrosse. We became hooked.”

Chase’s game evolved when he played for the lacrosse team at Woodmere Middle School and a travel team, the Long Island Express.

Although he was born in the United States, his family sent an inquiring email to the Israeli lacrosse team. Michael Chanenchuk, director and coach of Long Island Express, connected with the team’s head coach and put in a good word for Chase.

Chase joined other American Jewish “heritage” players from across the country in North Carolina in June. Israel’s U-13 squad was one of the only international teams invited to the World Series, where it went winless, but, Blake said, the players gave it their all.

“They played some really tough teams,” she said. “The younger kids are just getting involved in it, and I feel like lacrosse is just getting started right now. They have a long way to go, but the program is amazing.”

Israel’s men’s team is ranked No. 2 in Europe, and finished seventh at this year’s world championships, in San Diego, which wrapped up on July 1.

The Rivas family credits their local synagogue, Temple Israel of Lawrence, for helping Chase continue to make Judaism an important part of his life, and to want to represent Israel.

“Cantor Galina (Makaveyev) molded him and explained to him his religion,” Blake said. “He did his bar mitzvah there, and she was there the entire time, coaching him and explaining to him about being a man, and the responsibility it’s going to take, and I think lacrosse solidified all of that.”

“I have had the honor of being an integral part of Chase’s Jewish education and learning experiences for many years,” Makaveyev, who has served in the clergy for more than 20 years, wrote in a text message. “His accomplishments serve as a beautiful reflection of the collective efforts put forth by our Temple Israel’s Religious School, Chase and his family. We’re proud that Chase represents Temple Israel, Lawrence, the Jewish community and our Holy Land and is a source of great pride for all of us.”

Chase, who is now at sleepaway camp in upstate Copake, could not be reached for comment. He hopes to join the Hewlett High lacrosse team in the spring, but for now, the family described his representing Team Israel as a proud moment for him.

After he came home from the World Series, he was invited to join Israel’s U-15 national box lacrosse team for the World Box Lacrosse Championships in upstate Utica next August.

Asked if Chase would accept the invitation, his mother said, “Stay tuned.”