2006 Pan American Championships Day 2 Results
May 26, 2006
Liggett Wins Silver; Matsumoto and Gotay Claim Bronze
(Buenos Aires, Argentina) – Seventeen-year-old Jeremy Liggett (West Glenville, N.Y./NYAC/Jason Morris Judo Center/60kg) claimed the top finish for the Americans in the lightweight divisions Friday at the Pan American Championships, pulling one of the biggest upsets of the event in the process.
After a first-round bye, Liggett fought Juan Postigos (PER), this year’s Pan Am Junior Champion, in the quarter-finals, throwing him with an uchimata (inner thigh throw) with for a win by ippon (instant win, similar to a knockout in boxing).
It was Liggett’s semi-final match, though, that grabbed the attention of the crowd. Seemingly the underdog against Miguel Albarracin (ARG), two-time medalist on this year’s European Tour, Liggett was down by a penalty early in the match, but tied it up in the last minute as Albarracin committed a penalty of his own.
With the clock winding down, Liggett increased his attacks, throwing Albarracin for waza-ari (half-point) to take the lead. And while others might have simply have crossed their fingers and hoped to keep the lead, Liggett picked up the pace and threw the defending champion for ippon with less than 10 seconds to go.
“I could feel him starting to fade toward the end and then I got him for the waza-ari,” Liggett said after the match. “I always keep attacking. I’m not good at backing off and stalling so I thought I just had to protect my lead and keep attacking.”
In the final, Liggett fought well against veteran Canadian Frazer Will, but caught for a pair of yukos (quarter-points) and was unable to pull out the win. As in his last match, Liggett looked to be making a comeback in the end, but Will continued to hold off the youngster.
This was Liggett’s first appearance at the Pan Ams in an Olympic weight division following a fifth-place finish at 55kg in 2004.
“It’s definitely different this time around. Sixties is a lot deeper of a division and the guys are a lot tougher. But also since the last Pan Ams my judo has gotten a lot better so I was ready for it,” he said.
The win also means Liggett will move up to the #1 U.S. ranking in the 60kg division, ahead of Athens Olympian Taraje Williams-Murray who recently won a bronze medal in the 66kg division at the Senior Nationals.
“This is a great confidence builder, but I just want to keep training hard and working on my judo,” Liggett said.
Valerie Gotay (Temecula, Calif./Judo America/57kg) also reached the medal stand, throwing Yuri Alvear (COL) with an osoto gari (circling leg throw) in the first round. In her second round, gotay had a rematch of her Paris Super World Cup fight with Yurisleidy Lupetey (CUB).
In February, the match was won by the Cuban on penalties (three for Gotay, two for Lupetey). A 2001 World Champion and Athens bronze medalist, Lupetey forced Gotay into three penalties before throwing her for the win.
“You really have to take the match to her. She’s a tactical, gripping fighter and she plays a very tactical game where she just forces people into penalties and that’s how she wins,” Gotay said. “I wish I could have that match all over again. I was so looking forward to playing her because I fought her at Paris a couple months ago and I think I could’ve beat her, but I just couldn’t get my attacks off.”
In the repechage, Gotay completely choked out Deglimar Aguillon (VEN)
to advance to the bronze medal match where she pinned Ange Jean Baptiste (HAI) to reach the podium for the second year in a row following a gold medal run in 2005.
“The game plan with Haiti was just to secure the medal. I have to try not to get impatient, so I basically wanted to come away with the win without worrying about trying to make it pretty or getting the full point,” Gotay said.
Sayaka Matsumoto (El Cerrito, Calif./NYAC/East Bay Judo Institute/48kg) had two of the day’s quickest wins of the day, first throwing Lisseth Orozco (COL) with a sumi gaeshi (corner throw) in the first 10 seconds of the quarter-finals and then, following a semi-final loss to Janet Bermoi (CUB), tossing Paula Pareto (ARG) on her first attack immediately after her bronze medal match began.
“I was just trying to stand up straight, get my grip and make good attacks, but I didn’t think I’d end it that quickly. I was shocked, but really happy and relieved that it was over,” Matsumoto said. “I feel like I’ve improved on my judo so much. I was able to stand up straight and execute all of my techniques and that’s what we’ve been working on.”
Taylor Takata (Honolulu, Hawaii/Harlingen USA Judo National Training Site/66kg) also fought for bronze losing in a nine-minute overtime marathon to Sasha Mehmedovic (CAN), placing fifth in the division. Prior to the bronze medal match, Takata had an excellent day, throwing his former Olympic Training Center teammate Felipe Novoa (CHI/Colorado Springs, Colo.) and then pinning John Ordonis (COL) before losing to Yordanis Arencibia (CUB), a two-time 2006 World Cup Champion on penalties.
Jonathan Leonhardt (San Jose, Calif./San Jose State University/Open) looked to be a medal favorite, solidly throwing Andres Loforte (ARG) and Carlos Zeggara (PER) to advance to the semis where he was thrown by Cuban Oscar Brayson. Unfortunately, Leonhardt was injured on during a throw in the bronze medal match by Pablo Figueroa (PUR) and placed fifth in his first Pan Am appearance.
Ronda Morrell-Pruitt (Centerville, Ohio/Renshuden) went 1-1 to advance to the bronze medal match where she lost on an early throw by Melissa Mojica (PUR).
Last year’s Pan American Champion, Ryan Reser (Colorado Springs, Colo./Olympic Training Center USA Judo National Training Site/73kg) losing a tough match to Ronald Girones (CUB) in the first round. In the repechage, Reser was caught on an opening attack by Jairo Vargas (COL) and eliminated from the tournament.
Carrie Chandler (Scotia, N.Y./NYAC/Jason Morris Judo Center/57kg) also came into the event as a defending champion, but finished 1-2 to finish seventh. Chandler dropped her opening match to Flor Velazquez (VEN) by a koka (smallest points) in a Golden Score (overtime) period. Chandler armbarred Neyla Melo (COL) in the repechage, but lost on a penalty to Adriana Negrete (MEX) in the repechage to finish seventh.
Andre Taylor (Plano, Texas/Becerra Judo/55kg) looked to be having a good first trip to the Senior Pan Ams, leading in his first match by a yuko (quarter-point), but got caught with a tai guruma and thrown for ippon, eliminating him from the tournament.
Pan Am Junior Champion Veronica Prado (North Lauderdale, Fla./North Miami USA Judo National Training Site/44kg) also went 0-1 for the day, getting thrown by Maria Mondi (ARG).
During the awards presentation, Ronda Rousey (Buffalo Grove, Ill./NYAC/Cohen’s Judo/63kg) received the Fairplay Award following her silver medal result in Thursday’s competition.
Saturday the competition continues with the kata (forms) and team divisions.
Complete Results are as follows:
Women’s 44kg
1. Milagros Gonzalez (VEN)
2. Diana Cobos (ECU)
3. Dayaris Mestere (CUB)
3. Lorrayne Costa (BRA)
5. Luz Alvarez (COL)
5. Vanessa Sibaja (CRC)
Also Competed: Veronica Prado (North Lauderdale, Fla./North Miami USA Judo National Training Site), 0-1
Women’s 48kg
1. Janet Bermoi (CUB)
2. Daniela Polzin (BRA)
3. Glenda Miranda (ECU)
3. Sayaka Matsumoto (El Cerrito, Calif./NYAC/East Bay Judo Institute)
5. Isabel LaTulippe (CAN)
5. Paula Pareto (ARG)
Women’s 52kg
1. Aminata Sall (CAN)
2. Melissa Rodriguez (ARG)
3. Erika Miranda (BRA)
3. Edilia Amoros (CUB)
5. Flor Uez (VEN)
5. Adriana Negrete (MEX)
7. Carrie Chandler (Scotia, N.Y./NYAC/Jason Morris Judo Center), 1-2
Women’s 57kg
1. Yurisleidy Lupetey (CUB)
2. Danielle Zangrando (BRA)
3. Valerie Gotay (Temecula, Calif./Judo America)
3. Diana Villavicencio (ECU)
5. Ange Jean Baptiste (HAI)
5. Maria Rez (PUR)
Women’s Open
1. Giovana Blanco (VEN)
2. Priscila Marques (BRA)
3. Melissa Mojica (PUR)
3. Ibis Duenas (CUB)
5. Rhonda Morrell-Pruitt (Centerville, Ohio/Renshuden)
5. Mirla Narbeoto (GUA)
Men’s 55kg
1. Modesto Lara (DOM)
2. Angelo Gomez (CUB)
3. Juan Barahona (ECU)
3. Denilson Lourenco (BRA)
5. Luis Galindo (COL)
5. Javier Guedes (VEN)
Also Competed: Andre Taylor (Plano, Texas/Becerra Judo Club), 0-1
Men’s 60kg
1. Frazer Will (CAN)
2. Jeremy Liggett (West Glenville, N.Y./NYAC/Jason Morris Judo Center)
3. Javier Guedes (VEN)
3. Denilson Lourenco (BRA)
5. Modesto Lara (DOM)
5. Miguel Albarracin (ARG)
Men’s 66kg
1. Yordanis Arencibia (CUB)
2. Leandro Cunha (BRA)
3. Sasha Mehmedovic (CAN)
3. Ludwign Ortiz (VEN)
5. Taylor Takata (Honolulu, Hawaii/Harlingen USA Judo National Training Site)
5. Roberto Ibanez (ECU)
Men’s 73kg
1. Moacir Mendes (BRA)
2. Rodrigo Lucenti (ARG)
3. Richard Leon (VEN)
3. Ronald Girones (CUB)
5. Leandro Vaz (URU)
5. Abraham Negrete (MEX)
Also Competed: Ryan Reser (Colorado Springs, Colo./Olympic Training Center USA Judo National Training Site)
Men’s Open
1. Carlos Honorato (BRA)
2. Oscar Brayson (CUB)
3. Claudio Zupo (MEX)
3. Pablo Figueroa (PUR)
5. Sergio Canacho (COL)
5. Jonathan Leonhardt (San Jose, Calif./San Jose State University)
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