JUDO CONTESTED FOR THE FIRST TIME AT NORTH AMERICAN INDIGENOUS GAMES

US Judo
Judo Contested for the First Time at North American Indigenous Games
For Immediate Release
July 6, 2006

Contact: Nicole Jomantas, 719.271.9937 (cell)
Nicole.Jomantas@usajudo.us


(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – Native American athletes had the opportunity to compete in judo at the North American Indigenous Games for the first time Wednesday, July 5, at the National Western Complex in Denver, Colo.

Fifty-two fights were contested in nine divisions for athletes 13-19 and 20 and older.

Judo players from Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri and Colorado were represented at the event. The athletes competed in a multi-sport arena alongside boxers, wrestlers and taekwondo athletes and although judo is a first-time exhibition sport, it quickly became the most popular sport among the spectators.

“We were really excited to participate in the Indigenous Games for the first time and I think we were very well received by the NAIG family,” said Sherrie Phillips, the judo commissioner for the North American Indigenous Games. “We had a great first-time showing for the event and I’m pleased to be part of USA Judo working to create more opportunities for Native American athletes to get involved in judo. We hope to see this event grow in future years.”

Phillips was joined in the management of the event by Grace Jividen, director of the Local Organizing Committee that included Denver Judo and the Colorado Judo League.

The North American Indigenous Games are one of the largest sporting events on the continent, drawing more than 6,000 athletes to compete in 16 sports.

Complete results are as follows:

Male 13-14-years-old
1. Diederick Visser (Colorado)
2. Connor Murtha (Colorado)
3. Justine Hume (Colorado)

Male 15-16-years-old
1. Chris Ruis (Colorado)
2. Tyler Whaley (Missouri)

Male 15-16-years-old +148lbs.
1.JohnBen Seidner (Oklahoma)

Female Teen 120lbs.
1. Sophia Mani (Colorado)
2. Chelsea Whaley (Missouri)

Female Teen +120 lbs.
1. Janelle Burks (Colorado)
2. Sarah Murtha (Colorado)
3. Callie Willis (Colorado)

Male Adult 152lbs.
1. Robert Millbrandt (Colorado)
2. Kevin Cohen (Colorado)

Male Adult 180 lbs.
1. Gary Cherney (Colorado)
2. JohnBen Seidner (Oklahoma)

Female Adult
1. Diba Mani (Colorado)
2. Bianca Hernandez (Colorado)
3. Michelle Hagarty (Colorado)

Male Adult 180+
1. Michael Barrera (Texas)
2. David Seidner (Oklahoma)

For more information, contact Nicole Jomantas, USA Judo Director of Communications and Media Relations, at 719.271.9937 (cell) or Nicole.Jomantas@usajudo.us.