Member News
November 3, 2006
U.S. Athletes to Compete in Sweden this Weekend
Sixteen U.S. athletes will be competing at the Sweden Open in Boras this weekend, a European B-Level tournament that is expected to draw many of the best players in the world.
In addition to fighting for gold in this 300-person tournament, each of these athletes will be vying for a 1,000 euro prize given to the winner of each of the 14 divisions.
A preview of the divisions featuring U.S. athletes is as follows:
Women’s 48kg (Estimated Size: 15)
Six-time National Champion Sayaka Matsumoto (El Cerrito, Calif. / NYAC / East Bay Judo Institute) has yet to win a European B-Level medal, but has the potential to make a solid run this weekend, beginning with a first-round match against Canadian Bianca Ockedahl who finished third here last year. Ockedahl and Matsumoto are familiar opponents and Matsumoto should have the upper hand in this match. The quarterfinals would likely pit Matsumoto against Donna Robertson (GBR). A seasoned veteran, Robertson won a bronze medal at the Belgium Ladies Open earlier this year, but had a tough time with American opponents at the Rendez-Vous Canada and finished fifth in September.
Ann Shiraishi (Elk Grove, Calif. / East Bay Judo Institute) drew likely the toughest competitor in her division in the first round, facing Kinga Kubicka (POL), a three-time World Cup medalist. A win over Kubicka would mean a quarter-final match against Oiana Blanco of Spain.
Michelle Sternick (Mansfield, Pa. / Mansfield University Judo Club) will be competing in her first European event since the 2005 British Open and will open with a first round against Lindsey Tate (GBR)
Women’s 52kg (Estimated Size: 19)
Carrie Chandler (Glenville, N.Y. / NYAC / Jason Morris Judo Center) kicked off the year with key wins on the European Tour, including a bronze medal at the Belgium Ladies Open, but injuries have kept her out of contention at some of the year’s more recent international events. Look for a potential rebound this weekend, though. After a first round bye, a win over Stephannie Inglis (GBR) would put her into the quarter-finals. Chandler’s toughest opponent has the potential to be a semi-final match against Monika Cabaj (POL), a seven-time World Cup medalist.
Women’s 57kg (Estimated Size: 28)
While Stephanie Moyerman (Philadelphia, Pa. / Liberty Bell Judo) is fortunate to begin her day with a draw, 2006 Pan American bronze medalist Valerie Gotay (Harlingen, Texas / Harlingen USA Judo National Training Site) will need to be on the top of her game against Maria Lindberg (SWE) who won medals twice in A-Level European events last spring. Gotay has fought consistently well this fall, winning all of her matches at the Fall Classic Nationals, World Team Championships, Rendez-Vous Canada and the U.S. Open – notably including a win over Lindberg at the Rendez-Vous to go with her last year’s win over the Swede at the World Championships. In a division that will take at least four wins for a medal, Gotay has the podium potential, but watch out for a potential semi-final against Yahaira Aguirre (ESP) who won bronze at the Birmingham World Cup in April. On the top half of the draw, Telma Monteiro (POR), the top-ranked athlete in the world at 52kg will be fighting up this weekend.
Women’s 63kg (Estimated Size: 19)
Ronda Rousey (Santa Monica, Calif. / NYAC / Venice Judo) has only lost one match this year in either and won’t be expecting another this weekend. One of only two athletes without a first round bye, Rousey will fight against Marcon Bezzina (MLT) before meeting Isabelle Pearson (CAN) who she easily defeated at the Rendez-Vous Canada. Rousey’s toughest competitor is expected to be Africa Gutierrez (ESP), a Warsaw World Cup bronze medalist, who sits in the same pool as 2006 Senior Nationals silver medalist Kristen Allan (Springfield, Va. / Sport Judo).
Men’s 60kg (Estimated Size: 18)
Nick Kossor (Glenville, N.Y. / Jason Morris Judo Center) is a relative newcomer to European competition and will be introduced to tough fights early following a first-round bye and moving into a second-round against Valtteri Jokinen (FIN) who took a bronze medal at last year’s Hamburg Super World Cup.
Favored on the bottom half of the draw is James Millar (GBR) who won last year’s U.S. Open and finished third at the 2004 Finland Open.
Men’s 66kg (Estimated Size: 30)
Taylor Takata (Harlingen, Texas / Harlingen USA Judo National Training Site) won his first European medal in this division at last year’s British Open and could be seen in the placings here as well. Takata has a first round match against Darri Kristmundsson (ISL) and a win would mean a second round against either Khalid Gehlan (GBR) or Gregor Brandtner (AUT).
Meanwhile, Josh O’Neil (Colorado Springs, Colo. / Olympic Training Center USA Judo National Training Site) must win his first two matches to guarantee further advancement as his pool includes Pedro Dias (POR), a top-10 World-ranked player with 13 World Cup medals to his credit.
Men’s 73kg (Estimated Size: 37)
Bobby Lee (Lauderhill, Fla. / North Miami USA Judo National Training Site) won his first senior international tournament two weeks ago at the U.S. Open and after a fifth-place at last year’s British Open will have high hopes for a good finish here. Unfortunately Lee is in the tournament’s largest division, but he does have a bye before a second round against Peter Broom (NZL). Advancement could mean a third round against Robert Gess (GER), a 21-year-old who finished fifth at the Budapest World Cup. Also in Lee’s half of the draw is Dustin Moran (Kalamazoo, Mich. / Southside Dojo) who has a first round match against Alireza Parchami (SWE).
International athletes to watch in the top half of the draw include Christoph Strangl (AUT) who finished third here in 2005 and Craig Ewers (GBR) who finished second at the British Open.
Men’s 81kg (Estimated Size: 30)
Aaron Cohen (Buffalo Grove, Ill. / NYAC / Cohen’s Judo Club) will be continuing his quest for his first European medal in Sweden after taking silvers at both the Rendez-Vous and U.S. Open. Cohen opens his day with a first-round match against Thomas Davis (GBR), a silver medalist at the 2005 British Open. A win in the first round could mean a second round match against Micha Egger (SUI), a bronze medalist at this year’s Minsk and Lisbon World Cups. Also in Cohen’s half of the draw is Lukasz Balanda (POL), a bronze medalist at the Moscow Super World Cup.
Joshua Glasser (Saratoga, Calif. / Sacramento Judo) also will be competing, fighting last year’s Sweden Open Champion Bogdan Barbulescu (ROM) in the first round.
Men’s 90kg (Estimated Size: 26)
Chris Snyder (Scotts, Mich. / Southside Dojo) drew a first-round bye before a potential second fight against Alexandre Emond, a two-time Canadian National Champion at 81kg.
Be sure to visit www.usjudo.org throughout the weekend for the latest results and more!
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