U S Judo
JUDO: Golden State Open Results
Contact: Nicole Jomantas, 719.866.4732
Nicole.Jomantas@usajudo.us
(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – The Golden State Open, held on Sunday at the Fairplex Fairgrounds in Pomona, Calif., featured 126 competitors in the senior elite division, including a number of retired players making a return to competition at this USA Judo Senior E-Level Tournament.
One of the most notable athletes to have fought at the event was James “Brewster” Thompson (Las Vegas, Nev. / San Jose State University), an actor and entertainer who was a member of the 1975 World Championships Team and a six-time Senior National medalist who won his last medal at the 1984 Nationals in the 95kg division.
Thompson finished second in the 12-person +100kg division which, at 54-years-old, makes him the oldest athlete ever to achieve a Senior Elite National Ranking. Thompson’s only loss during the day came against 15-year-old Kevin Duarte (Baldwin Park, Calif. / Mojica) who he lost to in the second round, but beat when they faced each other in the fight for the silver medal.
Thompson wasn’t the only athlete of “advanced age” who fared well over the weekend as D'Anya Bierra (Castle Rock, Colo. / Timberline Judo), a silver medalist at the 1992 Nationals and 1991 World Team member who will turn 40 in 2008, placed third in the 63kg division and 42-year-old William Worthington (Richmond, Calif. / Cahill's Judo) won the 100kg division.
Other divisions also featured weight shakeups as athletes settle into attempts to qualify for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Judo, June 13-14 in Las Vegas, Nev.
In her first domestic event since moving down to 48kg, Natalie Lafon (Harlingen, Texas / USA Judo National Training Site at Harlingen), a two-time Senior Nationals silver medalist at 52kg, won her new division and will earn a national ranking on the 48kg roster as well.
Also fighting in the 48kg division was Taylor J. Ibera (Honolulu, Hawaii / Hawaii Tenri), the reigning National and U.S. Open Champion in the 44kg division who finished third.
A former Collegiate National Champion and Senior National medalist at 63kg, Corinne Geier (San Jose, Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University) moved down to 57kg, placing second after a loss to Pauline Macias (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center) who was making her first appearance at a point event since spring.
And while some moved down, others moved up as Grace Ohashi (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center), a Pan Am Games Team member in the 52kg division, moved up two divisions to fight 63kg where she went 2-2 to place fifth after losses to eventual champion Janine Nakao (San Jose, Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center) and Paula Duarte (Baldwin Park, Calif. / Mojica Judo), the top-ranked junior in the division.
Overall, the USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University Team had the best results in the senior black belt divisions, including six gold medals won by Nakao, Tomoyo Yoshinaga (70kg), Joseph Hashimoto (66kg), Jose Bencosme (81kg), Atsushi Yoshinaga (90kg) and Conor Driscoll (+100kg).
In a tournament that included more than a dozen current or former Senior National medalists, there were several other noteworthy performances.
Anna Palmer (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center), a 2007 Senior Nationals bronze medalist, dominated the 52kg division, winning all three of her matches by ippon (instant win).
Kyle Taketa (Torrance, Calif. / Gardena) won a bronze medal at the Senior Pan Ams in the 55kg division, but the growing 15-year-old moved up to 60kg and won his first senior event in the division, 3-0.
Joseph Hashimoto, younger brother of former #1 Kenny Hashimoto, also won his first Senior domestic event, going 4-0 in the 66kg division. Also fighting in the 66kg division, junior Daniel Chow (Honolulu, Hawaii / Hawaii Tenri) produced an impressive second-place finish after losing in the first round and battling back through six consecutive wins in the loser’s bracket to win the silver medal.
As was expected, Michael Eldred (Fruitland, Idaho / Western Idaho Judo Institute), 2007 British Open silver medalist, had a solid day in the 73kg division, winning the gold medal with three wins.
Complete results are as follows:
Women's 44kg
1. Kiana S. Abellera (Los Angeles, Calif. / Sawtelle)
Women's 48kg
1. Natalie Lafon (Harlingen, Texas / USA Judo National Training Site at Harlingen)
2. Victoria Anthony (Huntington Beach, Calif. / LACC)
3. Taylor J. Ibera (Honolulu, Hawaii / Hawaii Tenri)
Women's 52kg
1. Anna Palmer (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)
2. Chrissy Chow (Honolulu, Hawaii / Hawaii Tenri)
3. Tara Clark (Hercules, Calif. / Amador)
Women's 57kg
1. Pauline Macias (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)
2. Corinne Geier (San Jose, Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University)
3. Larisa Lindstrom (Livermore, Calif. / Amador)
Women's 63kg
1. Janine Nakao (Marina, Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University)
2. Christal Ransom (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)
3. D'Anya Bierra (Castle Rock, Colo. / Timberline Judo)
Women's 70kg
1. Tomoyo Yoshinaga (San Jose, Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University)
2. Kate Tefft (Windsor, Calif. / Sika Ryu Judo)
3. Cheri McKwon (Mesa, Ariz. / Tucson Judo)
Women's 78kg
1. Lisa Uemura (Salinas, Calif. / Salinas Judo)
2. Amber Butts (Fontana, Calif. / LACC)
3. Sasha Liege (Huntington Beach, Calif. / Mojica)
Women's +78kg
1. Joellen Friesner (Albany, Calif. / Cahill's Judo)
Men's 55kg
1. Grayson Lindstrom (Livermore, Calif. / Amador)
2. Joshua Villani (Bellevue, Wash. / Ippon Judo)
3. Jarra Maratea (Livermore, Calif. / Amador)
Men's 60kg
1. Kyle Taketa (Torrance, Calif. / Gardena)
2. Jared Sterling (Puyallup, Wash. / Ippon Judo)
3. Jeff Sato (Pismo Beach, Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)
Men's 66kg
1. Joseph Hashimoto (San Jose, Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University)
2. Daniel Chow (Honolulu, Hawaii / Hawaii Tenri)
3. Kenji Yoshino (Dana Point, Calif. / Orange County)
Men's 73kg
1. Michael Eldred (Fruitland, ID / Western Idaho Judo Institute)
2. David Torres (San Jose, Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University)
3. Shane Simerly (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)
Men's 81kg
1. Jose Bencosme (San Jose, Calif., USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University)
2. Andrew Hung (San Jose, Calif., USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University)
3. Mike Pechina (San Bruno, Calif. / Cahill's Judo)
Men's 90kg
1. Atsushi Yoshinaga (San Jose, Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University)
2. Jasung Koo (Tustin, Calif. / USA Stars)
3. Alex Maratos (Miami, Fla. / Miami Judo)
Men's 100kg
1. William Worthington (Richmond, Calif. / Cahill's Judo)
2. Joseph Aceto (San Jose, Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University)
3. Joey Nawa (Los Alamitos, Calif. / Sawtelle)
Men's +100kg
1. Conor Driscoll (San Jose, Calif., USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University)
2. James B. Thompson (Las Vegas, Nev. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University)
3. Kevin Duarte (Baldwin Park, Calif. / Mojica)
For more information, contact Nicole Jomantas, USA Judo Director of Communications and Media Relations, at 719.866.4732 or Nicole.Jomantas@usajudo.us FONTE: SFCPressPoint (press release) - Tampa, FL, USA
Contact: Nicole Jomantas, 719.866.4732
Nicole.Jomantas@usajudo.us
(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – The Golden State Open, held on Sunday at the Fairplex Fairgrounds in Pomona, Calif., featured 126 competitors in the senior elite division, including a number of retired players making a return to competition at this USA Judo Senior E-Level Tournament.
One of the most notable athletes to have fought at the event was James “Brewster” Thompson (Las Vegas, Nev. / San Jose State University), an actor and entertainer who was a member of the 1975 World Championships Team and a six-time Senior National medalist who won his last medal at the 1984 Nationals in the 95kg division.
Thompson finished second in the 12-person +100kg division which, at 54-years-old, makes him the oldest athlete ever to achieve a Senior Elite National Ranking. Thompson’s only loss during the day came against 15-year-old Kevin Duarte (Baldwin Park, Calif. / Mojica) who he lost to in the second round, but beat when they faced each other in the fight for the silver medal.
Thompson wasn’t the only athlete of “advanced age” who fared well over the weekend as D'Anya Bierra (Castle Rock, Colo. / Timberline Judo), a silver medalist at the 1992 Nationals and 1991 World Team member who will turn 40 in 2008, placed third in the 63kg division and 42-year-old William Worthington (Richmond, Calif. / Cahill's Judo) won the 100kg division.
Other divisions also featured weight shakeups as athletes settle into attempts to qualify for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Judo, June 13-14 in Las Vegas, Nev.
In her first domestic event since moving down to 48kg, Natalie Lafon (Harlingen, Texas / USA Judo National Training Site at Harlingen), a two-time Senior Nationals silver medalist at 52kg, won her new division and will earn a national ranking on the 48kg roster as well.
Also fighting in the 48kg division was Taylor J. Ibera (Honolulu, Hawaii / Hawaii Tenri), the reigning National and U.S. Open Champion in the 44kg division who finished third.
A former Collegiate National Champion and Senior National medalist at 63kg, Corinne Geier (San Jose, Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University) moved down to 57kg, placing second after a loss to Pauline Macias (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center) who was making her first appearance at a point event since spring.
And while some moved down, others moved up as Grace Ohashi (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center), a Pan Am Games Team member in the 52kg division, moved up two divisions to fight 63kg where she went 2-2 to place fifth after losses to eventual champion Janine Nakao (San Jose, Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center) and Paula Duarte (Baldwin Park, Calif. / Mojica Judo), the top-ranked junior in the division.
Overall, the USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University Team had the best results in the senior black belt divisions, including six gold medals won by Nakao, Tomoyo Yoshinaga (70kg), Joseph Hashimoto (66kg), Jose Bencosme (81kg), Atsushi Yoshinaga (90kg) and Conor Driscoll (+100kg).
In a tournament that included more than a dozen current or former Senior National medalists, there were several other noteworthy performances.
Anna Palmer (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center), a 2007 Senior Nationals bronze medalist, dominated the 52kg division, winning all three of her matches by ippon (instant win).
Kyle Taketa (Torrance, Calif. / Gardena) won a bronze medal at the Senior Pan Ams in the 55kg division, but the growing 15-year-old moved up to 60kg and won his first senior event in the division, 3-0.
Joseph Hashimoto, younger brother of former #1 Kenny Hashimoto, also won his first Senior domestic event, going 4-0 in the 66kg division. Also fighting in the 66kg division, junior Daniel Chow (Honolulu, Hawaii / Hawaii Tenri) produced an impressive second-place finish after losing in the first round and battling back through six consecutive wins in the loser’s bracket to win the silver medal.
As was expected, Michael Eldred (Fruitland, Idaho / Western Idaho Judo Institute), 2007 British Open silver medalist, had a solid day in the 73kg division, winning the gold medal with three wins.
Complete results are as follows:
Women's 44kg
1. Kiana S. Abellera (Los Angeles, Calif. / Sawtelle)
Women's 48kg
1. Natalie Lafon (Harlingen, Texas / USA Judo National Training Site at Harlingen)
2. Victoria Anthony (Huntington Beach, Calif. / LACC)
3. Taylor J. Ibera (Honolulu, Hawaii / Hawaii Tenri)
Women's 52kg
1. Anna Palmer (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)
2. Chrissy Chow (Honolulu, Hawaii / Hawaii Tenri)
3. Tara Clark (Hercules, Calif. / Amador)
Women's 57kg
1. Pauline Macias (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)
2. Corinne Geier (San Jose, Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University)
3. Larisa Lindstrom (Livermore, Calif. / Amador)
Women's 63kg
1. Janine Nakao (Marina, Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University)
2. Christal Ransom (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)
3. D'Anya Bierra (Castle Rock, Colo. / Timberline Judo)
Women's 70kg
1. Tomoyo Yoshinaga (San Jose, Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University)
2. Kate Tefft (Windsor, Calif. / Sika Ryu Judo)
3. Cheri McKwon (Mesa, Ariz. / Tucson Judo)
Women's 78kg
1. Lisa Uemura (Salinas, Calif. / Salinas Judo)
2. Amber Butts (Fontana, Calif. / LACC)
3. Sasha Liege (Huntington Beach, Calif. / Mojica)
Women's +78kg
1. Joellen Friesner (Albany, Calif. / Cahill's Judo)
Men's 55kg
1. Grayson Lindstrom (Livermore, Calif. / Amador)
2. Joshua Villani (Bellevue, Wash. / Ippon Judo)
3. Jarra Maratea (Livermore, Calif. / Amador)
Men's 60kg
1. Kyle Taketa (Torrance, Calif. / Gardena)
2. Jared Sterling (Puyallup, Wash. / Ippon Judo)
3. Jeff Sato (Pismo Beach, Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)
Men's 66kg
1. Joseph Hashimoto (San Jose, Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University)
2. Daniel Chow (Honolulu, Hawaii / Hawaii Tenri)
3. Kenji Yoshino (Dana Point, Calif. / Orange County)
Men's 73kg
1. Michael Eldred (Fruitland, ID / Western Idaho Judo Institute)
2. David Torres (San Jose, Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University)
3. Shane Simerly (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)
Men's 81kg
1. Jose Bencosme (San Jose, Calif., USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University)
2. Andrew Hung (San Jose, Calif., USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University)
3. Mike Pechina (San Bruno, Calif. / Cahill's Judo)
Men's 90kg
1. Atsushi Yoshinaga (San Jose, Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University)
2. Jasung Koo (Tustin, Calif. / USA Stars)
3. Alex Maratos (Miami, Fla. / Miami Judo)
Men's 100kg
1. William Worthington (Richmond, Calif. / Cahill's Judo)
2. Joseph Aceto (San Jose, Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University)
3. Joey Nawa (Los Alamitos, Calif. / Sawtelle)
Men's +100kg
1. Conor Driscoll (San Jose, Calif., USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University)
2. James B. Thompson (Las Vegas, Nev. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University)
3. Kevin Duarte (Baldwin Park, Calif. / Mojica)
For more information, contact Nicole Jomantas, USA Judo Director of Communications and Media Relations, at 719.866.4732 or Nicole.Jomantas@usajudo.us FONTE: SFCPressPoint (press release) - Tampa, FL, USA
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