U S JudoJUDO: U-23 Team To Compete at Tre-Torri This Weekend
For Immediate Release
June 1, 2006
Contact: Nicole Jomantas, 719.271.9937
Nicole.Jomantas@usajudo.us
(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – Ten members of the USA Judo Elite U-23 Team will compete in their first event as a team this weekend under coach Jimmy Pedro (Methuen, Mass.), 1999 World Champion and two-time Olympic medalist, at the Tre-Torri International in Porto Sant Elpidio, Italy.
The U-23 Team is a squad of 20 athletes, ranging in age from 14-22 who were selected to be part of a feeder system for the U.S. National Team. The goal of the program is to prepare future U.S. medalists for success at the international level, including World Championship and Olympic competition.
Competition schedule is as follows:
Friday: Women 48kg, 63kg, 78kg and +78kg; Men 60kg, 66kg and +100kg.
Saturday: Women 52kg, 57kg, 70kg; Men 73kg, 81kg, 90kg and 100kg
Sunday: Team Tournament
Following the tournament, the athletes will participate in a camp from June 5-9.
Among the U-23 athletes competing are Garry St. Leger (Brooklyn, N.Y./Starrett Judo/90kg) who just returned from competing at last weekend’s Pan American Championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Although St. Leger did not place at the event, he was instrumental in winning a silver medal in the team competition, being awarded with All-Star honors for his efforts in the team event.
St. Leger’s twin brother Harry, a member of the 2004 Junior World Team, also will be competing in the event in the 81kg division.
The United States will be well represented at 81kg as U-23 athletes Yuko Sin (Scotia, N.Y./Jason Morris Judo Center) and Travis Stevens (San Jose, Calif./San Jose State University).
After placing fifth at the British Open in December, 17-year-old Bobby Lee (Lauderhill, Fla./North Miami USA Judo National Training Site/73kg) will be competing in his third European Senior B-Level event during the past year.
Also representing the North Miami team are 15-year-old Jeanette Rodriguez (Margate, Fla./48kg) who won the Senior Nationals in April with a stunning upset over the six-time reigning Champion and 14-year-old Franchesca Durand (Coral Springs, Fla./52kg), the #2-ranked athlete in her division and a bronze medalist earlier this season at the Junior Belgian Ladies Open.
Joining Rodriguez in the 48kg division is Ann Shiraishi (Elk Grove, Calif./Okubu/APOA Judo Club) who won a bronze medal at Nationals.
Of the U-23 Team members competing in Italy, Marti Malloy (San Jose, Calif./San Jose State University/57kg) comes with the most European success, having placed fifth at the Warsaw World Cup in March.
A recent move from the 63kg division up to 70kg means 15-year-old Kayla Harrison (Middletown, Ohio/Renshuden) is still getting used to heavier competitors, but has fared well so far, producing a surprise win at Senior Nationals and picking up several wins at the Moscow Super World Cup in April.
In addition to the U-23 Team, four other top seniors will be competing in Italy: 60kg National Champion Rafael Ramos (North Lauderdale, Fla./North Miami USA Judo National Training Site); Athens Olympian Rick Hawn (Woburn, Mass./Pedro’s Judo Center/81kg) and Nationals silver medalists Radu Brestyan (Medway, Mass./Pedro’s Judo Center/73kg) and Kristen Allan (Springfield, Va./Sport Judo/63kg).
In addition to Pedro, who in 2003 was the last American to win Tre-Torri, the team is staffed by Manager Devin Cohen (Brooklyn, N.Y.), Assistant Manager Chris Skelley (Upper Saddle River, N.J.) and personal coaches Jhonny Prado and German Velazco, both of Coral Springs, Fla. and the North Miami USA Judo National Training Site.
For more information, contact Nicole Jomantas, USA Judo Director of Communications and Media Relations, at 719.271.9937 or Nicole.Jomantas@usajudo.us. Fonte: http://www.sportsfeatures.com/
For Immediate Release
June 1, 2006
Contact: Nicole Jomantas, 719.271.9937
Nicole.Jomantas@usajudo.us
(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – Ten members of the USA Judo Elite U-23 Team will compete in their first event as a team this weekend under coach Jimmy Pedro (Methuen, Mass.), 1999 World Champion and two-time Olympic medalist, at the Tre-Torri International in Porto Sant Elpidio, Italy.
The U-23 Team is a squad of 20 athletes, ranging in age from 14-22 who were selected to be part of a feeder system for the U.S. National Team. The goal of the program is to prepare future U.S. medalists for success at the international level, including World Championship and Olympic competition.
Competition schedule is as follows:
Friday: Women 48kg, 63kg, 78kg and +78kg; Men 60kg, 66kg and +100kg.
Saturday: Women 52kg, 57kg, 70kg; Men 73kg, 81kg, 90kg and 100kg
Sunday: Team Tournament
Following the tournament, the athletes will participate in a camp from June 5-9.
Among the U-23 athletes competing are Garry St. Leger (Brooklyn, N.Y./Starrett Judo/90kg) who just returned from competing at last weekend’s Pan American Championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Although St. Leger did not place at the event, he was instrumental in winning a silver medal in the team competition, being awarded with All-Star honors for his efforts in the team event.
St. Leger’s twin brother Harry, a member of the 2004 Junior World Team, also will be competing in the event in the 81kg division.
The United States will be well represented at 81kg as U-23 athletes Yuko Sin (Scotia, N.Y./Jason Morris Judo Center) and Travis Stevens (San Jose, Calif./San Jose State University).
After placing fifth at the British Open in December, 17-year-old Bobby Lee (Lauderhill, Fla./North Miami USA Judo National Training Site/73kg) will be competing in his third European Senior B-Level event during the past year.
Also representing the North Miami team are 15-year-old Jeanette Rodriguez (Margate, Fla./48kg) who won the Senior Nationals in April with a stunning upset over the six-time reigning Champion and 14-year-old Franchesca Durand (Coral Springs, Fla./52kg), the #2-ranked athlete in her division and a bronze medalist earlier this season at the Junior Belgian Ladies Open.
Joining Rodriguez in the 48kg division is Ann Shiraishi (Elk Grove, Calif./Okubu/APOA Judo Club) who won a bronze medal at Nationals.
Of the U-23 Team members competing in Italy, Marti Malloy (San Jose, Calif./San Jose State University/57kg) comes with the most European success, having placed fifth at the Warsaw World Cup in March.
A recent move from the 63kg division up to 70kg means 15-year-old Kayla Harrison (Middletown, Ohio/Renshuden) is still getting used to heavier competitors, but has fared well so far, producing a surprise win at Senior Nationals and picking up several wins at the Moscow Super World Cup in April.
In addition to the U-23 Team, four other top seniors will be competing in Italy: 60kg National Champion Rafael Ramos (North Lauderdale, Fla./North Miami USA Judo National Training Site); Athens Olympian Rick Hawn (Woburn, Mass./Pedro’s Judo Center/81kg) and Nationals silver medalists Radu Brestyan (Medway, Mass./Pedro’s Judo Center/73kg) and Kristen Allan (Springfield, Va./Sport Judo/63kg).
In addition to Pedro, who in 2003 was the last American to win Tre-Torri, the team is staffed by Manager Devin Cohen (Brooklyn, N.Y.), Assistant Manager Chris Skelley (Upper Saddle River, N.J.) and personal coaches Jhonny Prado and German Velazco, both of Coral Springs, Fla. and the North Miami USA Judo National Training Site.
For more information, contact Nicole Jomantas, USA Judo Director of Communications and Media Relations, at 719.271.9937 or Nicole.Jomantas@usajudo.us. Fonte: http://www.sportsfeatures.com/
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