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November 24, 2007
Dallas Invitational Results
Dallas Invitational Results
(Grapevine, Texas) – Nearly 100 athletes competed in the senior elite divisions of the Dallas Invitational at the Hilton DFW Lakes on Saturday at the final USA Judo Senior E-Level Point Tournament of the year.
The senior elite players were among more than 500 participants in the 42nd annual event in which veteran players prepared for the 2008 Olympic Games while young player earned their first senior wins.
Athens Olympian Nikki Kubes (Fort Worth, Texas / Fort Worth Judo) ended her day with not only a gold medal, but the knowledge that she had completed the first step of her planned journey to Beijing in the 78kg division.
After beating Colleen Mocco (Stillwater, Okla. / USA Stars), Kubes advanced to the finals against Colleen's older sister Katie Mocco (Glenville, N.Y. / NYAC / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center).
The two were expected to fight at the Senior National Championships in April, but both players lost to Nina Cutro-Kelly (San Antonio, Texas / Universal Judo) and each finished the tournament with a bronze medal.
''I know he was coming back from an injury and my body just wasn't ready,'' said Kubes of her first return to competition since tearing her Anterior Cruciate Ligament at the Pan Am Championships in 2006. ''[My coach] Tommy [Dyer] tried to tell me I wasn’t ready, but I’m stubborn and I wanted to fight Nationals even though I shouldn’t have, but after that I took a couple months to really get ready again.”
Kubes showed few signs of her injury during her final match, throwing Mocco first for a koka (smallest points) with a drop seoi nage (dropping shoulder throw) and then for a waza-ari (half-point). Both players started the match at a frenetic pace, but, although Mocco attacked consistently, she couldn’t produce a score.
“I would’ve liked to have fought like that at Nationals, but you’re only as good as you’re last tournament and this was a good one, so I’m happy with it.” Kubes said. “I haven’t fought Katie in four years and any time you’re going against the #1, you’re always going to be nervous, but you just have to remember you’re fighting the person, not the title and I wanted to get her now, so it’ll be easier in the future at Nationals.”
After Kubes walked off the match, Coach Dyer jumped into the air and yelled: “Step one!”
“This is my first step to the Olympics. Next I’m going to train in Japan for two and a half months to get ready for the Senior Nationals and, hopefully, the Pan Am Championships and then the Trials,” Kubes said. “This is the first step for me and I don’t want to think I didn’t to everything I could [to qualify for the Games.]”
One of the largest cheers of the evening came when 13-year-old Samantha Martin (Burleson, Texas / Ruben Martin Judo Training Center) won her first Senior title in the 52kg division. A Senior Nationals medalist earlier this year as a 44kg player, Martin flew through the 48kg division earlier this year and Saturday found herself facing Jessica Sternick (San Antonio, Texas / Universal Judo) in a final that went into Golden Score (overtime). Martin threw Sternick and then pumped her fists into the air in happiness as a crowd filled with her teammates cheered in celebration.
Ron Hawthorne (Kansas City, Kans. / Cahill’s Judo), a member of the Blind World Championship Team, moved down from 60kg to 55kg and won his first able-bodied event, defeating both of his opponents in less than 30 seconds total, throwing Bruce Calli (Dallas, Texas / Ruben Martin Judo) for ippon (instant win) off the first exchange.
The USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center had the most gold medal success of any club in the senior divisions, winning four titles.
Fighting in the 66kg division for the first time since moving down to 60kg over the summer, Josh O’Neil (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center) threw Advent Monyatsiwa (BOT) for waza-ari and ippon scores to win gold.
Anna Palmer (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center), the #1 player in the 52kg division, fought up to 57kg and defeated all three of her opponents by ippon, throwing Jackie Perez (College Station, Texas / Texas A&M Judo) for koka and yuko (quarter-point) scores before ending the match an ippon.
A former Senior Nationals medalist in the 57kg division, Crystal Ransom (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Center) armbarred OTC teammate Danica Kamakana (Colorado Springs, Colo.) in the semifinals before pinning another OTC teammate, Paola Genao-Butler (Colorado Springs, Colo.) in the final.
Iavor Kostadinov (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center) fought in the final of the 81kg division for the second year in a row, but, after placing second last year, Kostadinov threw former 73kg player CJ Cody (San Jose, Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University) for yuko and ippon scores in the final.
Natalie Lafon (Harlingen, Texas / USA Judo National Training Site at Harlingen) also fought in the final of this tournament in 2006, but lost in her previous division of 52kg. This year, Lafon has moved down to 48kg and is now the #4-ranked player after only three months at the new weight. Lafon threw Veronica Prado (Coral Springs, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami) less than 30 seconds into the match to advance to the final against Victoria Anthony (Huntington Beach, Calif. / Mojica Judo). Anthony had previously beat former Senior Nationals medalist Diana Yoshida (Dallas, Texas / Dallas Judo) in the semifinals, but was thrown by Lafon for a waza-ari on the first exchange and then thrown again for a yuko score. In the bronze medal match, Prado avenged her 2006 final round loss at this tournament to Yoshida by beating her to win bronze.
Lafon’s Harlingen teammate Katie Sell (Harlingen, Texas) threw Jessica Wooldridge (College Station, Texas / Texas A&M Judo) for a waza-ari and then pinned her to earn the 70kg gold medal.
A silver medalist in the 73kg division in 2006, Bobby Lee (Coral Springs, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami) won gold this year, throwing AJ Silverman (Glenville, N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center) three times during their final match to earn a waza-ari and two koka scores (one coming from a penalty) before throwing Silverman for ippon with an o soto gari (major outer leg throw).
A Senior Nationals silver medalist, Nick Kossor (Glenville, N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center) had difficulties scoring in his final 60kg match against Jeff Sato (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center), but still managed to produce a win on penalties.
Gyula Kalman, a Hungarian citizen living in Lewisville, Texas, earned Outstanding Competitor honors as he breezed through the 90kg division, defeating Erik Duus (Saratoga, Calif. / Stanford University Judo) in the final.
Former Junior U.S. Open 100kg winner Paul Gomez (Dallas, Texas / Becerra Judo) won her first senior title, throwing Sasha Molinovskiy (RUS) off the grip for ippon in the final.
Anthony Turner (Miami, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami) won the +100kg title after Brian Picklo (Mustang, Okla. / USA Stars) withdrew from the division final. Picklo, a 2006 Senior Nationals medalist in the 90kg division, produced an impressive win against top-ranked heavyweight Daniel McCormick (Wakefield, Mass. / USA Judo National Team FORCE) in the semifinals, but withdrew with an injury from the last match.
Complete results are as follows:
Women’s 48kg
1. Natalie Lafon (Harlingen, Texas / USA Judo National Training Site at Harlingen)
2. Victoria Anthony (Huntington Beach, Calif. / Mojica Judo)
3. Veronica Prado (Coral Springs, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami)
Women’s 52kg
1. Samantha Martin (Burleson, Texas / Ruben Martin Judo)
2. Jessica Sternick (San Antonio, Texas / Universal Judo)
3. Kayla Chappell (Oklahoma City, Okla. / USA Stars)
Women’s 57kg
1. Anna Palmer (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)
2. Jackie Perez (College Station, Texas / Texas A&M Judo)
3. Veronica Graves (Edwardsville, Ill. / USA Stars)
Women’s 63kg
1. Christal Ransom (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)
2. Paola Genao-Butler (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)
3. Terrie Norman (Fort Worth, Texas / Fort Worth Judo)
Women’s 70kg
1. Katie Sell (Harlingen, Texas / USA Judo National Training Site at Harlingen)
2. Jessica Wooldridge (College Station, Texas / Texas A&M Judo)
3. Kristin Newman (College Station, Texas / Texas A&M Judo)
Women’s 78kg
1. Nikki Kubes (Fort Worth, Texas / Fort Worth Judo)
2. Katie Mocco (Glenville, N.Y. / NYAC / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center)
3. Colleen Mocco (Stillwater, Okla. / USA Stars)
Women’s +78kg
1. Joellen Friesner (Albany, Calif. / Cahill’s Judo)
Men’s 55kg
1. Ron Hawthorne (Kansas City, Kans. / Cahill’s Judo)
2. Bruce Calli (Ruben Martin Judo)
3. AJ Jamaya (Amma)
Men’s 60kg
1. Nick Kossor (Glenville, N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center)
2. Jeff Sato (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)
3. Santiago Martinez (COL)
Men’s 66kg
1. Josh O’Neil (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)
2. Advent Monyatsiwa (BOT)
3. Toshiya Nishimura (Spring Valley, Ohio / Renshuden)
Men’s 73kg
1. Bobby Lee (Coral Springs, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami)
2. AJ Silverman (Glenville, N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center)
3. Bobby Yamashita (Northglenn, Colo. / Northglenn Judo)
Men’s 81kg
1. Iavor Kostadinov (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)
2. Chris Cody (San Jose, Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University)
3. Davor Vasiljevic (San Jose, Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University)
Men’s 90kg
1. Gyula Kalman (HUN)
2. Erik Duus (Saratoga, Calif. / Stanford University Judo)
3. Thomas Szarka (Denver, Colo. / Northglenn Judo)
Men’s 100kg
1. Paul Gomez (Dallas, Texas / Becerra Judo)
2. Sasha Molinovskiy (RUS)
3. Kyle Vashkulat (Glenville, N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center)
Men’s +100kg
1. Anthony Turner (Miami, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami)
2. Brian Picklo (Mustang, Okla. / USA Stars)
3. Daniel McCormick (Wakefield, Mass. / USA Judo National Team FORCE)
Boys’ 4-years-old
1. Caleb Fambro (Ruben Martin Judo)
2. Kenji Reasor (Harlingen Foundation for Valley Sports)
Boys’ 5-6-years-old Extra Lightweight
1. Ethan Dillsehaw (Ruben Martin Judo)
2. Nikolas Gutierrez (Fort Worth Judo)
Boys’ 5-6-years-old Lightweight
1. Heath Roth (Denton Junior Optimist Club)
2. Axel Perea (Becerra Judo)
3. Xavion Rousseau (Becerra Judo)
Boys’ 5-6-years-old Middleweight
1. Brendan Duclos (USA Stars)
2. Esteban Zapata (Becerra Judo)
3. Zacharty Mastin (Okuri Judo)
Boys’ 5-6-years-old Light Heavyweight
1. Luis Flores (Becerra Judo)
2. Dimitri Robles (Dallas Judo)
Boys’ 5-6-years-old Heavyweight
1. Joshua Veler (Becerra Judo)
2. Jase Argo (USA Stars)
Girls’ 5-6-years-old Lightweight
1. Aliyan Martin (Melton’s Judo)
2. Jasia Gasca (Harlingen Foundation for Valley Sports)
Girls’ 5-6-years-old Middleweight
1. Kirsten Ruby (Ruben Martin Judo)
2. Nia Goodman (Barksdale)
Girls’ 5-6-years-old Heavyweight
1. Jasmine Zapata (Becerra Judo)
2. Lydia Corinas (Becerra Judo)
Boys’ 7-8-years-old Extra Lightweight
1. Jake Mitchell (Ruben Martin)
2. Bryce Miller (Dallas Judo)
Boys’ 7-8-years-old Lightweight
1. Jacob Anthony (USA Stars)
2. Robert Tanaka (Denver Judo)
3. Douglas Newcomer (Denton Junior Optimist Club)
Boys’ 7-8-years-old Middleweight
1. Devario Marzittie (Melton’s Judo)
2. Jonathan Reyes (Dallas Judo)
3. Roger Villa (Becerra Judo)
Boys’ 7-8-years-old Light Heavyweight
1. Randy Corinas (Becerra Judo)
2. Sabir Adem (Becerra Judo)
3. Nicolas Reasor (Harlingen Foundation for Valley Sports)
Boys’ 7-8-years-old Heavyweight
1. Dylon Carnagey (Youn’s Judo)
2. Terick Jackson (All Nations)
3. Fransisco Zapata (Becerra Judo)
Boys’ 7-8-years-old Extra Heavyweight
1. Jose Zapata (Becerra Judo)
2. Don Hinds (Dallas)
Girls’ 7-8-years-old Lightweight
1. Abril Anguiando (Becerra Judo)
2. Audrey Lively (Becerra Judo)
3. Ashley Delafounte (Becerra Judo)
Girls’ 7-8-years-old Heavyweight
1. Lexi Nelson (Ruben Martin)
2. Madison Montgomery (Ruben Martin)
3. Meredith Hill (Denton Junior Optimist Club)
Boys’ 9-10-years-old Extra Lightweight (30.1)
1. Blake Calli (Ruben Martin Judo)
2. Jonathan Stafford (Alamo Judo)
3. Chase Roth (Denton Junior Optimist Club)
Boys’ 9-10-years-old Lightweight (35.4)
1. Nicholas Holland (Barksdale)
2. Aram Amin (Becerra Judo)
Boys’ 9-10-years-old Middleweight (42.7)
1. Victor Ochon (Becerra Judo)
2. Ramon Garza (Universal Judo)
3. Chas Duffleud (Barksdale)
Boys’ 9-10-years-old Heavyweight (47.3)
1. David Murillo (Dallas Judo)
2. Subhanshu Pyne (Tulsa Judo)
Boys’ 9-10-years-old Extra Heavyweight (66.6)
1. Devin Sobay (Texocoma)
Girls’ 9-10-years-old Lightweight
1. Kolbey Duclos (USA Stars)
2. Brandy Martinez (Alamo Judo)
3. Erin Butts (LACC)
Girls’ 9-10-years-old Lightweight
1. Jennifer Rojas (Dallas Judo)
2. Crystal Johnson (Becerra Judo)
3. Sylvia Conquest (Olympic Training Center)
Girls’ 9-10-years-old Middleweight
1. Tiffany Martin (Ruben Martin Judo)
2. Brittany Greer (Ruben Martin Judo)
3. Grace Ruby (Ruben Martin Judo)
Girls’ 9-10-years-old Light Heavyweight
1. Marina Pescador (Becerra Judo)
2. Emily Hill (Denton Junior Optimist Club)
Girls’ 9-10-years-old Heavyweight
1. Jasmine Durham
Girls’ 9-10-years-old Extra Heavyweight
1. Mackenzie Williams
Boys’ 11-12-years-old Extra Lightweight
1. Simon Martinez (Freedom Judo)
2. Daniel Murillo (Dallas Judo)
3. Matthew Kearney (Okuri Judo)
Boys’ 11-12-years-old Lightweight
1. Jonathan Jimenez (Becerra Judo)
2. Arnoldo Cananza (Becerra Judo)
3. Roy Ricon (Becerra Judo)
Boys’ 11-12-years-old Middleweight
1. Gerardo Caldera (Becerra Judo)
2. Wren Odagiri (Cohen’s Judo Club)
3. Eric Skiff (Ruben Martin Judo Club)
Boys’ 11-12-years-old Light Heavyweight
1. Michael Assels (Becerra Judo)
2. Arnadlo Ochoa (Becerra Judo)
3. Ben Veler (Becerra Judo)
Boys’ 11-12-years-old Extra Heavyweight
1. Joel Mays
Girls’ 11-12-years-old Lightweight
1. Tayler Duclos (USA Stars)
2. Ashley Cazier (Barksdale Judo)
Girls’ 11-12-years-old Middleweight
1. Jesenia Rogers (Dallas Judo)
2. Naretzy Baladoa (Becerra Judo)
3. Adrienne Elizondo (Fort Worth Judo)
Girls’ 11-12-years-old Light Heavyweight
1. Lauren Baez (Coral Springs, Fla. / Ki-Itsu-Sai)
2. Beatriz Zapata (Becerra Judo)
3. Debany Ochoa (Becerra Judo)
Girls’ 11-12-years-old Heavyweight
1. Jenette Pescador
Boys’ 13-14-years-old Extra Lightweight
1. Bobby Merriman (Becerra Judo)
2. Nathan Kearney (Okuri Judo)
3. Mason Parker (Ruben Martin Judo)
Boys’ 13-14-years-old Lightweight
1. Sheldon Gatewood (Becerra Judo)
2. Astin Reeder (Denton Junior Optimist Club)
3. Brice Calli (Ruben Martin Judo Club)
Boys’ 13-14-years-old Middleweight
1. Ruben Martin (Ruben Martin Judo Club)
2. Carlos Alonso (Becerra Judo Club)
3. Stephen Sanders (KCDT)
Boys’ 13-14-years-old Light Heavyweight
1. Bobby Pugh (Dallas Judo)
2. Juan Caball (Foundation for Valley Sports)
Boys’ 13-14-years-old Heavyweight
1. Jimmy Barnes (USA Stars)
2. Hunter Caraway (Denton Junior Optimist Club)
3. Mark Oermann (School of Hard Knocks)
Girls’ 13-14-years-old Lightweight
1. Anna Lively (Becerra Judo)
2. Evelyn Martinez (Becerra Judo)
3. Sulynet Rivera (Dallas Judo)
Girls’ 13-14-years-old Middleweight
1. Jessica Rojas (Dallas Judo)
2. Samantha Martin (Ruben Martin Judo)
3. Karen Quesada (Becerra Judo)
Girls’13-14-years-old Light Heavyweight
1. Crystal Butts (LACC)
2. Jessica Beed (USA Stars)
3. Carla Genao (Champions Judo)
Girls’ 13-14-years-old Heavyweight
1. Micaela Enriquez (Ruben Martin Judo)
2. Kristal Greer (Ruben Martin Judo)
Boys’ 15-16-years-old Lightweight
1. Miguel Balboa (Becerra Judo)
2. Keith Beauvais (Northglenn Judo Club)
3. Jacob Riggsby (Universal Judo)
Boys’ 15-16-years-old Middleweight
1. Santiago Martinez (Coral Springs, Fla. / Ki-Itsu-Sai)
2. Trent Parker (Ruben Martin Judo)
Boys’ 15-16-years-old Light Heavyweight
1. Alexander Kovinsky (Clear Lake)
2. Dylan Madron (USA Stars)
3. John Rodriguez (Becerra Judo)
Boys’ 15-16-years-old Heavyweight
1. Tomas Szarka (Northlenn Judo)
2. Luke Lively (Becerra Judo)
3. Parker Anderson (Ruben Martin Judo)
Girls’ 15-16-years-old Lightweight
1. Victoria Anthony (Mojica Judo)
2. Mirielle Graves (USA Stars)
2. Ashley Cameron (Becerra Judo)
Girls’ 15-16-years-old Heavyweight
1. Shandi Nelson (Ruben Martin Judo)
Men’s Novice 60kg
1. Victor Dominguez (USA Stars)
2. Nate Riggby (Universal Judo)
3. Ron Bennett (Barksdale Judo)
Men’s 66kg
1. Daniel Bustos (Dallas Judo)
2. John Ahn (Texas A&M Judo)
3. Kyle Wiedau (Belleville)
Men’s Novice 73kg
1. Ryan Spears (Fort Worth Judo)
2. Kirill Bogatchev (West Lake)
3. Chris Jones (Texas A&M)
Men’s Novice 81kg
1. Alex Kovinskiy (Clear Lake City)
2. Juan Genao-Butler (Champion Judo)
3. Clint Roland (Ruben Martin Judo)
Men’s Novice 90kg
1. Walt Wauson (Becerra Judo)
2. Gerard Roth (Denton Junior Optimist Club)
3. Joseph Campos (Texocoma)
Men’s Novice +100kg
1. Aaron Mahvin (Texoma)
2. Jeff Reason (Harlingen Valley Sports Foundation)
3. Rick Wilson (SMU)
Women’s Novice 70kg
1. Hannah Little (Becerra Judo)
2. Shandi Nelson (Ruben Martin Judo)
3. Rachel First (Sooner)
Women’s Novice 100kg
1. Kerrie Fambro (Ruben Martin Judo)
2. Julie Cline (Sooner)
Women’s Novice +100kg
1. Micaela Enriquez (Ruben Martin Judo)
2. Kristal Greer (Ruben Martin Judo)
Men’s Masters 30-39-years-old Lightweight
1. Russell Hogan (Dallas Judo)
2. Christopher Ruby (Ruben Martin Judo)
Men’s Masters 33-45-years-old Heavyweight
1. Bill Perron (Fort Worth Judo)
2. Matt Hopper (Becerra Judo)
Men’s Masters 35-50-years-old Lightweight
1. Greg Tan (Sendai)
2. Russ Epperson (Okuri Judo)
Men’s Masters 40-49-years-old Heavyweight
1. Michael Wentt (Ruben Martin Judo)
2. William Clayton Fambro (Ruben Martin Judo)
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