(JNS) — It was extraordinary to be among the more than 10,000 competitors overall, and one of more than 1,200 members of the U.S. team, at the Maccabiah games that just ended in Israel.

Maccabiah divides competitors into age groups. I made the team for tennis players 55 and older (age groups begin at 35+ and are in five-year increments up to 80 and above).

I was world ranked 736 in 1986 in singles, after playing Division One college tennis, but that was more than 35 years ago. Making the team and marching into the stadium with all the other athletes is an experience that I will always...