Member News

July 27, 2006

Junior World Trials to be Held Saturday July 29 in Fort Lauderdale

USA Judo will be playing host to the first-ever Junior World Trials at 3 p.m., July 29 at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Fifty-six athletes are expected to compete in the Junior World Trials in which the top four athletes in each of 14 weight divisions will fight to represent Team USA at the Junior World Championships, Oct. 15-19 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Athletes are invited to the Junior World Trials based upon their status on the IJF-Junior (athletes born 1987 or later) rosters.  Athletes are ranked throughout the year and receive points for placings in domestic and international events.  Should any of the top four athletes decline participation, the subsequent ranked athlete on the roster will be invited to compete.

At the Trials, the #1 and #4 seeds will compete, followed by the #2 and #3 seeds.  The winners of these matches will then fight.  If the #1 seed wins, he or she will be named to the team.  If the #1 seed is not the winner of the Trials, he or she will fight the Trials winner in a sudden-death contest.  The winner of that match will then be named to the team.

Expected participants include:

Male 60kg

Jeremy Liggett (West Glenville, N.Y./NYAC/Jason Morris Judo Center)

Rafael Ramos (Union City, N.J./North Miami USA Judo National Training Site)

Jean-Pierre Durand (North Lauderdale, Fla./North Miami USA Judo National Training Site)

Aaron Kunihiro (Covina, Calif./San Gabriel Judo)

Male 66kg

AJ Silverman (Scotia, N.Y./Jason Morris Judo Center)

Jeff Fong (Houston, Texas/Diamondback Judo)

Ross Nakamura (Mission Hills, Calif./Valley Hill Judo Institute)

Francisco Alejandro (North Miami USA Judo National Training Site)

Male 73kg

Bobby Lee (Lauderhill, Fla./North Miami USA Judo National Training Site)

Nick Delpopolo (Glenville, N.Y./Jason Morris Judo Center)

Danny Satinsky (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Cohen’s Judo)

Male 81kg

Yuko Sin (Scotia, N.Y./Jason Morris Judo Center)

Carlos Moran (Clifton, N.J./Camal Judo)

Phillip Spano (Tampa, Fla./El Mambi)

Male 90kg

Kyle Vashkulat (Scotia, N.Y./Jason Morris Judo Center)

Steve Fayzakov (Fresh Meadows, N.Y./Spartak Sports Club)

Male 100kg

Tony Sangimino (Burlingame, Calif./Cahill’s Judo Academy)

Male +100kg

Zachary Bell (Naperville, Ill./Fox Valley Judo)

Aaron Shiosaki (Lomita, Calif./Gardena)

Female 48kg

Jeanette Rodriguez (Margate, Fla./North Miami USA Judo National Training Site)

Brenna Clark (Hercules, Calif./APOA/Okubu Judo Club)

Female 52kg

Franchesca Durand (Coral Springs, Fla./North Miami USA Judo National Training Site)

Nicki Schultheis (Gurnee, Ill./Gurnee Judo)

Heidi Metzler (Manheim, Pa./Mayo Quanchi)

Female 57kg

Angelica Delgado (Hialeah, Fla./North Miami USA Judo National Training Site)

Hannah Martin (Albany, N.Y./Jason Morris Judo Center)

Hana Carmichael (Wellington, Fla./Budokan Judo)

Pauline Macias (Lancaster, Calif./Antelope Valley Judo)

Female 63kg

Ronda Rousey (Buffalo Grove, Ill./NYAC/Cohen’s Judo Club)

Yanik Labrada (Miami, Fla./Miami Judo)

Female 70kg

Katie Sell (Oshkosh, Wis./Welcome Mat Judo)

Kayla Harrison (Middletown, Ohio/Renshuden Judo Academy)

Cleo Grinberg (Tarrytown, N.Y./Jason Morris Judo Center)

Catherine Bridges (Coventry, R.I./Mayo Quanchi Judo)

Female 78kg

Marina Shafir (Latham, N.Y./Jason Morris Judo Center)

Natalie Bridges (Coventry, R.I./Mayo Quanchi Judo)

Female +78

Eva Smith (Fall River, Mass./Taki-Gawa)

Brittni Bradford (Land O’Lakes, Fla./St. Pete Judo)

A complete list of invitees will be made available following the updating of the IJF-Junior rosters that will reflect any points earned during the U.S. Judo Federation Junior National Championships over this past weekend.