Bridgeport, CT-University of Bridgeport gymnast Miranda Der (Palo Alto, CA) earned a silver medal in the team competition as a member the United States squad that  competed at the 2009 Maccabiah Games which took place in Israel from July 12-23.

Der also reached the finals in the individual vault competition at this year's Maccabiah Games.

Miranda, who helped the Purple Knights win a share of the 2009 USA Gymnastics Collegiate Team National Championship as well as the 2009 ECAC Division II Team title, will enter her sophomore year at the University of Bridgeport in 2009-2010.  Last season, she was selected as the ECAC D II Rookie of the Year and earned USAG All-American honors.

In 2005, she was a member of the gold medal winning United States Women's Junior Gymnastics Team at the Maccabiah Games.

Founded in 1948, the Maccabiah Games are a celebration of Jewish unity, culture and heritage through world athletic competition and have been held every four years in Israel. Officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee, the 18th World Maccabiah Games, held from July 12 - 23, 2009, were the world's third largest international athletic competition, behind only the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games. Over 9,000 of the world's best Jewish athletes from six continents and 53 countries competed at the Games. 

-Provided by UB Sports Information Department.