Member News

August 3, 2006

World Team Members and Paralympians Highlight Athletes Competing at Rocky Mountain State Games

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – Three members of the 2005 World Team will be among the competitors at this weekend’s judo event at the Rocky Mountain State Games.

The judo championships will be held beginning at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the U.S. Air Force Academy Fieldhouse.

Ryan Reser and Kirk Hoffmann, both of the U.S. Olympic Training Center USA Judo National Training Site in Colorado Springs, and Heidi Moore (Englewood, Colo. / Denver Judo) all will be competing against athletes from throughout Colorado.

Reser, a top prospect to reach the podium at the Beijing Olympic Games, is currently ranked #10 at 73kg in the world and won silver medals at two World Cup events this spring in Sweden and the Netherlands.

Hoffmann, a bronze medalist at the 2005 Pan American Championships, also won the National Championships last year and will compete in the heavyweight division.

Moore, who competed in the women’s heavyweight and open divisions at the World Championships, recently won a bronze medal in the 78kg division at the Senior National Championships, held in April in Houston, Texas.

Heidi’s husband Scott Moore (Englewood, Colo. / Denver Dojo) also is scheduled to compete, likely in the same division as Reser.  Moore, who is visually impaired, made history in 2000 when his gold medal performance at the Sydney Paralympic Games made him the first U.S. athlete ever to win either an Olympic or Paralympic title.  In 2004 he won his third Paralympic medal – a bronze at the Athens Games.

Lori Pierce (Arvada, Colo. / Northglenn Judo), a silver medalist at the Athens Paralympic Games, also is scheduled to compete.

Other notables to watch this weekend include:

Chris Cos (Elbert, Colo. / Olympic Training Center USA Judo National Training Site), 2006 Grand Slam Winner (three 2006 Junior National titles and Junior U.S. Open Champion)

Jose Cos (Elbert, Colo. / Olympic Training Center USA Judo National Training Site), 2006 Junior U.S. Open silver medalist

Michael Demarrias (Northglenn, Colo. / Northglenn Judo), 2006 USA Judo Junior Olympic Champion

Alexa Liddie (Colorado Springs, Colo. / Olympic Training Center USA Judo National Training Site), 2006 Senior Nationals bronze medalist

Jane Lock (Colorado Springs, Colo. / Olympic Training Center USA Judo National Training Site), 2006 Collegiate Nationals silver medalist

Meg Maceau (Colorado Springs, Colo. / Olympic Training Center USA Judo National Training Site), 2006 Junior U.S. Open silver medalist

Micayla Maes (Wheatridge, Colo. / Northglenn Judo Club), 2006 Junior U.S. Open Champion

Zachary Maes (Wheatridge, Colo. / Northglenn Judo Club), 2006 High School Champion

George Truong (Colorado Springs, Colo. / Jushinkan Judo Club), 2006 Junior U.S. Open gold medalist

Summer Truong (Colorado Springs, Colo. / Jushinkan Judo Club), 2006 Junior U.S. Open bronze medalist

The Rocky Mountain State Games judo competition is being led by tournament directors Tammie Liddie and Ron Reser, both coaches at the Olympic Training Center USA Judo National Training Site in Colorado Springs.

“Our goal is for judo to be a part of every State Games program and with the number and caliber of athletes involved, this will help us prepare well for next year’s State Games of America,” Liddie said.

Athletes who place in the top three at the Rocky Mountain State Games are eligible to compete in the 2007 State Games of America in Colorado Springs.

“The State Games are truly important for the grassroots development for a sport like judo in the United States.  Thousands of athletes participate in each of the State Games throughout the U.S. each year and we are thrilled to be a part of that,” said Jose H. Rodriguez (Colorado Springs, Colo.), USA Judo CEO.  “It is great to see our top athletes supporting the State Games movement in Colorado and hopefully their participation will help grow future involvement in State Games judo events.”