Member News

September 20, 2006

Nearly 100 U.S. Athletes to Compete in Rendez-Vous Canada

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – The United States will field one of its largest delegations in recent history to compete at the Rendez-Vous Canada, a Senior B-Level Elite Tournament, Saturday and Sunday in Montreal, Canada.

Nearly 100 U.S. athletes will compete against athletes from at least 10 countries, including Canada, Japan, Sweden, Belgium, Scotland, Chile, Netherland and Mexico.

Among the U.S. contingent, 11 of the top-ranked athletes in the 14 weight divisions are scheduled to compete, including:

Women

48kg:     Sayaka Matsumoto (El Cerrito, Calif. / NYAC / East Bay Judo Institute), 2006 Pan American bronze medalist

57kg:     Valerie Gotay (Harlingen, Texas / Harlingen USA Judo National Training Site), 1992 Olympian and 2006 Pan American bronze medalist

63kg:     Ronda Rousey (Santa Monica, Calif. / NYAC), 2004 Olympian and 2006 Birmingham World Cup Champion

70kg:     Katie Mocco (Scotia, N.Y. / NYAC / Jason Morris Judo Center), 2006 Pan American bronze medalist

78kg:     Molly O’Rourke (El Cerrito, Calif. / East Bay Judo Institute), 2005 World Team member

Men

60kg:     Jeremy Liggett (Scotia, N.Y. / NYAC / Jason Morris Judo Center), 2006 Pan American silver medalist

66kg:     Taylor Takata (Harlingen, Texas / Harlingen USA Judo National Training Site), 2006 Pan American fifth place finisher

73kg:     Ryan Reser (Colorado Springs, Colo. / Olympic Training Center USA Judo National Training Site), two-time 2006 World Cup silver medalist

81kg:     Aaron Cohen (Buffalo Grove, Ill. / NYAC / Cohen’s Judo Club), 2006 Pan American bronze medalist

+100kg: Anthony Turner (Miami, Fla. / IntoCombat), 2005 U.S. Open Champion

Among the delegation are 11 members of the team that will compete at the Junior World Championships, Oct. 12-15 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

In addition to Rousey and Liggett, both past Rendez-Vous Champions, other Junior World Team members competing this weekend include:

Women

48kg:     Jeanette Rodriguez (Margate, Fla. / North Miami USA Judo National Training Site), 2006 Senior National Champion

52kg:     Franchesca Durand (Coral Springs, Fla. / North Miami USA Judo National Training Site), 2006 Senior Nationals bronze medalist

57kg:     Hannah Martin (Albany, N.Y. / Jason Morris Judo Center), 2006 Senior Nationals bronze medalist

70kg:     Kayla Harrison (Middletown, Ohio / Renshuden), 2006 Senior Nationals silver medalist

78kg:     Marina Shafir (Latham, N.Y. / Jason Morris Judo Center), 2005 Senior Nationals bronze medalist

+78kg:  Brittni Bradford (Land O’Lakes, Fla. / St. Pete Judo), 2006 Senior Nationals silver medalist

Men

66kg:     AJ Silverman (Scotia, N.Y. / Jason Morris Judo Center), 2006 Junior U.S. Open bronze medalist

73kg:     Nick Delpopolo (Scotia, N.Y. / NYAC / Jason Morris Judo Center), 2006 New York Open bronze medalist

81kg:     Yuko Sin (Scotia, N.Y. / Jason Morris Judo Center), 2006 Senior Nationals bronze medalist

Complete results will be available throughout the weekend at www.usjudo.org.