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November 10, 2006
Draw Sheets
U.S. Athletes Compete in Finland This Weekend
Eighteen athletes will compete in the B-Level Finnish Open in Vantaa on Saturday and Sunday.
Among the competitors, Valerie Gotay (Harlingen, Texas / Harlingen USA Judo National Training Site / 57kg) will be looking for a medal to go with her fifth-place finish at last week’s Sweden Open in Boras.
Four athletes who placed seventh in Sweden will be in Finland as well with hopes for a trip to the medal rounds: Taylor Takata (Harlingen, Texas / Harlingen USA Judo National Training Site / 66kg), Bobby Lee (Lauderhill, Fla. / North Miami USA Judo National Training Site / 73kg), Sayaka Matsumoto (El Cerrito, Calif. / NYAC / East Bay Judo Institute / 48kg) and Carrie Chandler (Glenville, N.Y. / NYAC / Jason Morris Judo Center / 52kg).
A preview of the divisions in which Americans will compete is as follows:
Women’s 48kg (Estimated Division Size: 10)
Sayaka Matsumoto (El Cerrito, Calif. / NYAC / East Bay Judo Institute) has beaten four of her nine competitors in the division during recent tournaments. Last week, Matsumoto defeated Bianca Ockedahl (CAN) and Donna Robertson (GBR) in Sweden. Two weeks prior, Matsumoto beat Canadian Kimi Suda (CAN) at the U.S. Open and she holds an undefeated record against teammate Ann Shiraishi (Elk Grove, Calif. / East Bay Judo Institute). If she fights well, Matsumoto stands a good chance at a trip to the podium.
Women’s 52kg (Estimated Division Size: 15)
Iwona Machalek (POL) is the only one of last week’s medalists to compete in this division in Finland. Machalek beat Carrie Chandler (Glenville, N.Y. / NYAC / Jason Morris Judo Center) in the preliminary rounds en route to winning a bronze medal. While Chandler is a contender for her second European medal this year, Camilla Magnolfi (ITA) also is an athlete to watch. A former top junior player at 48kg, Magnolfi moved up to 52kg this year and won the Tre Torri International in June.
Women’s 57kg (Estimated Division Size: 17)
Valerie Gotay (Harlingen, Texas / Harlingen USA Judo National Training Site) may get a chance for a rematch against nine-time World Cup medalist Georgina Singleton (GBR) who pinned Gotay in the bronze medal final last week. World Cup medalists Laura Maddaloni (ITA) and Monika Wozniak (POL) also should be factors in this division. Stephanie Moyerman (Philadelphia, Pa. / Liberty Bell Judo) will be looking to pick up a win this week after a first-round loss in Sweden.
Women’s 63kg (Estimated Division Size: 16)
Ronda Rousey (Santa Monica, Calif. / NYAC) won her third European tournament last week in Sweden. Look for the 19-year-old Olympian to continue her year-long undefeated international streak in Finland.
Kristen Allan (Springfield, Va. / Sport Judo) lost her first match last week to Jennie Bonsant (CAN) who also will be competing this weekend along with three other Canadians. Johanna Ylinen (FIN) is one of the favorites in this division, having fought in the finals of her home event during the last three years.
Women’s 78kg (Estimated Division Size: 7)
Nina Cutro-Kelly (Albany, N.Y. / Judo America) moved to France earlier this year – a move that made her unable to travel back to the United States for the U.S. Open, but she finished fifth with key wins at the Rendez-Vous and could break through to win her first B-Level European medal this weekend. One of Cutro-Kelly’s toughest competitors will be Marylise Levesque (CAN) who may be Canada’s #2 at 78kg, but she earned medals at both the U.S. and Swedish Opens.
Men’s 60kg (Estimated Division Size: 18)
Valtteri Jokinen (FIN) not only is a hometown favorite, but a frequent finals fixture who finished second at the last two Finnish Opens. Jokinen beat Nick Kossor (Glenville, N.Y. / Jason Morris Judo Center) in the first round of the Swedish Open en route to winning gold. Last week’s bronze medalists, Nuno Carvalho (POR) and James Millar (GBR), also are expected to do well in Finland. Gerard Cadet (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Starrett Judo) joined the U.S. crew earlier this week and should be an interesting factor in Finland.
Men’s 66kg (Estimated Division Size: 21)
Taylor Takata (Harlingen, Texas / Harlingen USA Judo National Training Site) finished seventh in Sweden and and could break into the top five in Finland with a good draw, but although the division is smaller this week, there is still plenty of depth to with which to contend.
Gabriel Bengtsson (SWE), a fifth-place finisher at the 2006 European Championships, and Denis Pavlov (RUS), a fifth-place finisher at the Paris Super World Cup will both be competing this weekend. Meanwhile, Sweden’s silver medalist Tiago Lopes (POR) and Michal Popiel (CAN) who beat Takata in the repechage in Sweden before finishing fifth, also have made the trip to Vantaa.
Josh O’Neil (Colorado Springs, Colo. / Olympic Training Center USA Judo National Training Site) had a difficult draw in Sweden, finishing 0-1 and will be competing in Finland with potential to improve his European record.
Men’s 73kg (Estimated Division Size: 31)
Ryan Reser (Colorado Springs, Colo. / Olympic Training Center USA Judo National Training Site) didn’t compete in Sweden, but is among the favorites having medaled in four A and B-Level international events this year.
Bobby Lee (Lauderhill, Fla. / North Miami USA Judo National Training Site) surprised many by winning the U.S. Open three weeks ago and went 3-2 to finish seventh in Sweden. Although the 18-year-old hasn’t won a European medal, he finished fifth at last year’s British Open.
Sweden’s bronze medalists Diogo Couto (POR) and Craig Ewers (GBR) will be in Finland as well as Christoph Strangl (AUT), a medalist at last year’s Swedish Open.
Dustin Moran (Kalamazoo, Mich. / Southside Dojo) also will be competing in Finland after losing in the first round last week.
Men’s 81kg (Estimated Division Size: 30)
Aaron Cohen (Buffalo Grove, Ill. / NYAC / Cohen’s Judo Club) lost in the first round in Sweden – his first European tournament since undergoing knee surgery after last year’s U.S. Open – but looks to be in better form for this week’s action. Cohen’s loss in Sweden came to Thomas Davies (GBR) who also will be competing in Finland. Newcomer Joshua Glasser (Saratoga, Calif. / Sacramento Judo) also went 0-1 last week and is back again for another chance at a win.
Two of Sweden’s medalists will be in Finland with Lukasz Balanda (POL), a bronze medalist at the Moscow Super World Cup, hoping to pull a double after his win last week and Mika Toroi (FIN) also having the potential to add to his Sweden bronze. Diogo Lima (POR), a two-time World Cup medalist last spring is another athlete expected to do well in Finland.
Men’s 90kg (Estimated Division Size: 31)
Chris Snyder (Scotts, Mich. / Southside Dojo) got his first European event under his belt in Sweden and is back for a second tournament this week, but will face one of the event’s largest divisions, with a cadre of tough competitors, including Jevgenijs Borodavko (FIN) and two medalists from Sweden: Bobby Rich (GBR) and Frederic Jaskiewicz (CAN).
Men’s 100kg (Estimated Division Size: 18)
Top-ranked Adler Volmar (Miami, Fla. / North Miami USA Judo National Training Site) had a difficult fall competition season, failing to place at either the Rendez-Vous Canada or the U.S. Open at 100kg, but hopes to change his luck in Finland. Joao Taveira (POR), a medalist in Sweden, will be among the top competitors while Canada also has fielded a strong three-man crew in this division.
Below is the U.S. roster of athletes slated to compete in Finland:
Men
60kg: Gerard Cadet (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Starrett Judo)
Nick Kossor (Glenville, N.Y. / Jason Morris Judo Center)
66kg: Josh O’Neil (Colorado Springs, Colo. / Olympic Training Center USA Judo National Training Site)
Taylor Takata (Harlingen, Texas / Harlingen USA Judo National Training Site)
73kg: Bobby Lee (Lauderhill, Fla. / North Miami USA Judo National Training Site)
Ryan Reser (Colorado Springs, Colo. / Olympic Training Center USA Judo National Training Site)
Dustin Moran (Kalamazoo, Mich. / Southside Dojo)
81kg: Aaron Cohen (Buffalo Grove, Ill. / NYAC / Cohen’s Judo Club)
Joshua Glasser (Saratoga, Calif. / Sacramento Judo)
90kg: Chris Snyder (Scotts, Mich. / Southside Dojo)
100kg: Adler Volmar (Miami, Fla. / North Miami USA Judo National Training Site)
Women
48kg: Sayaka Matsumoto (El Cerrito, Calif. / NYAC / East Bay Judo Institute)
Ann Shiraishi (Elk Grove, Calif. / East Bay Judo Institute)
52kg: Carrie Chandler (Glenville, N.Y. / NYAC / Jason Morris Judo Center)
57kg: Valerie Gotay (Harlingen, Texas / Harlingen USA Judo National Training Site)
Stephanie Moyerman (Philadelphia, Pa. / Liberty Bell Judo)
63kg: Kristen Allan (Springfield, Va. / Sport Judo)
78kg: Nina Cutro-Kelly (Albany, N.Y. / Judo America)
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