Member News

October 26, 2007

More than One Hundred U.S. Athletes Fighting Rendez-Vous Canada This Weekend  

( Colorado Springs , Colo. ) – Unlike geese who migrate south for the winter, nearly all of the top junior and senior judo players in the United States will do the exact opposite this weekend and participate in the annual rush up to Montreal for the Rendez-Vous Canada. 

More than one hundred U.S. players are expected to participate in the Rendez-Vous – a USA Judo Senior B-Level point tournament that will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the rankings as athletes jostle for position to get into the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Judo, June 13-14 in Las Vegas , Nev.  

Nearly all of the U.S. athletes fighting in Canada are coming off a long U.S. Open Championships last weekend in Duluth , Ga. with many also having participated in the international training camp that followed the event. 

Unlike the U.S. Open, the Rendez-Vous isn’t seeded – meaning that two players who might not otherwise come near each other until, and if, both made the finals can easily find themselves fighting it out in the first round.   

Potential match-ups to watch out for include: 

 

  • Brian Olson ( Boulder , Colo. / NYAC / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center ) and Rick Hawn ( Wakefield , Mass. / USA Judo National Team FORCE) in the 90kg division.  Olson, a former World medalist, made his first official return to competition last week with his win at the U.S. Open.  On the same side of the bracket, Olson and Hawn had the potential to fight early in the day, but Hawn lost to Alexandre Emond (CAN) who Olson beat in the final minute of the semifinals.  Hawn finished third and is now the #1-ranked American, but Olson is a quickly closing #3.  Also watch out for any of these players and Garry St. Leger ( Brooklyn , N.Y. / NYAC / Starrett Judo).  Olson beat St. Leger in the finals last week, but St. Leger will be looking at not only another shot at Olson, but also at Hawn who beat St. Leger three times in an evening earlier this year at the Senior Nationals and Pan Am Games Trials.  St. Leger was nursing an injured shoulder then, but has since recovered well and, if both players are healthy, the match would be one to watch.
  • Aaron Cohen ( Buffalo Grove , Ill. / NYAC / Cohen’s Judo) and Travis Stevens ( Glenville , N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center ) in the 81kg division.  The two fought in the finals of the U.S. Open.  Cohen beat Stevens for the first time in their last five matches, though Stevens threw Cohen in the final minute with a sumi gaeshi (sacrifice throw) that had the potential to swing the momentum of the match. 
  • Taraje Williams-Murray ( Bronx , N.Y. / NYAC / Spartak Sports Club) and Josh O’Neil ( Colorado Springs , Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center ) in the 60kg division.  Both players fought in the 66kg division at this tournament last year and both were scheduled to fight in the 60kg division at the U.S. Open with a potential semifinal match-up that never happened.  O’Neil, who has only competed a few times in the 60kg division since moving down from 66kg in August, withdrew prior to the tournament with an injury sustained during practice the previous week.  Williams-Murray fought, but didn’t appear healthy, losing his semifinal match against Sergio Pessoa Jr. (CAN) and withdrawing from his bronze medal match against Pan Am Champion Frazer Will (CAN).  Both Pessoa and Will should be competing this weekend as well and will be aiming for wins on their home turf.
  • Jeanette Rodriguez ( Coral Springs , Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami ) and Isabel Latulippe (CAN) in the 48kg division.  At 17-years-old, Rodriguez is the top-ranked American in the division and had an impressive summer, placing third at the Pan Am Games and going 2-1 at the Worlds.  One of Rodriguez’s losses earlier in the season came to Latulippe in the repechage of the Pan Am Championships which were held in the same venue in Montreal .  Latulippe is a seasoned player who placed second at the Paris Super World Cup last year so she should be a good test for Rodriguez.  Sayaka Matsumoto ( El Cerrito , Calif. / NYAC / East Bay Judo Institute) was pinned by Latulippe last week and fought Rodriguez four times in April during the Senior Nationals and Trials with Matsumoto winning the Nationals and Rodriguez taking the Pan Am and World Team slots.  All four matches were closely contested, though, and the two are currently ranked #1 and #2 in the United States .
  • Kayla Harrison ( Wakefield , Mass. / NYAC / USA Judo National Team FORCE) and Marti Malloy ( San Jose , Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University ) in the 63kg division.  Harrison, who moved down from the 70kg division, won the U.S. Open over the weekend, defeating Canadian Jennie Bonsant in the final.  Malloy, on the other hand, is new to the division after moving up from 57kg earlier in the year and beating Harrison by a penalty to win the National Championships.  Either player could be tested if Marie-Helene Chisholm (CAN) chooses to compete.  Chisholm placed fifth at the 2004 Olympic Games and 2005 Worlds, but was injured earlier this year and sat out for several months after surgery.  She came back for the World Championships in September where Malloy placed ninth, but Chisholm lost in the preliminaries.
  • Ronda Rousey ( Wakefield , Mass. / NYAC / USA Judo National Team FORCE) and Catherine Roberge (CAN) in the 70kg division.  Rousey, the World silver medalist, threw Roberge in the bronze medal match in Montreal at the Pan Am Championships and beat the four-time World Cup medalist again at the Pan American Games.   

U.S. players scheduled to compete include:  

Men’s 55kg

Alex Shustorovich (Marlboro, N.J. / Camal Judo) 

Men’s 60kg

Miguel Ballesteros ( Miami , Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami )

Brad Bolen ( River Forest , Ill. / Cohen's Judo Club)

Nick Kossor ( Scotia , N.Y.  / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center )

Josh O’Neil ( Colorado Springs , Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center )

Rafael Ramos ( North Bergen , N.J. / Camal Judo)

Jeff Sato ( Pismo Beach , Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center )

Taraje Williams-Murray ( Bronx , N.Y. / NYAC / Spartak Sports Club)

Josh Woosley ( Gloversville , N.Y.  / Jason Morris Judo Center )

 

Men’s 66kg

Justin Flores ( Glenville , N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center / San-Shi Judo Club)

Kenneth Hashimoto ( Thornton , Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University )

Jeremy Liggett ( Scotia , N.Y. / NYAC / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center )

Tosyiya Nishimura ( Spring Valley , Ohio / Renshuden)

Shane Simerly ( Colorado Springs , Colo. / OTC Judo Club)

Taylor Takata ( Colorado Springs , Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center )

Nate Torra ( El Cerrito , Calif. / NYAC / East Bay Judo Institute)

 

Men’s 73kg

Radu Brestyan ( Medway , Mass.  / USA Judo National Team FORCE)

RJ Cohen ( Buffalo Grove , Ill. / Cohen's Judo Club)

Nick Delpopolo ( Glenville , N.Y. / NYAC / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center )

Michael M. Eldred ( Fruitland , Idaho / Western Idaho Judo Institute)

Chuck Jefferson ( Campbell , Calif.  / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University )

Bobby Lee ( Lauderhill , Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami )

Bill Shanahan ( Rexford , N.Y. / Jason Morris Judo Center )

AJ Silverman ( Scotia , N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center )

Aaron Villarreal ( El Paso , Texas / Fort Bliss Judo & Jujitsu Club)

 

Men’s 81kg

Jose Bencosme ( San Jose , Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University )

Aaron Cohen ( Buffalo Grove , Ill. / NYAC / Cohen's Judo Club)

Andrew Hung ( San Jose , Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University )

Tony Sangimino ( Burlingame , Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center )

Harry St. Leger ( Brooklyn , N.Y. / NYAC / Starrett Judo)

Travis Stevens ( Glenville , N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center )

Robert Turnquest ( Honolulu , Hawaii / Kamehameha Judo Club)

 

Men’s 90kg

Landry Ambouroue ( Dallas , Texas / Ruben Martin Judo)

Steve Fayzakov (Fresh Meadows, N.Y. / Spartak Sports Club)

Rick Hawn ( Wakefield , Mass. / USA Judo National Team FORCE)

Jacob Larsen ( Santa Rosa , Calif. / Redwood Coast Judo Club)

Alex Maratos ( Palmetto Bay , Fla. / Miami Judo Academy )

Roger Mazzela ( Natick , Mass. / Tohoku Judo Club)

Carlos Moran ( Clifton , N.J. / Camal Judo)

Brian Olson ( Longmont , Colo. / NYAC / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center )

Yuko Sin ( Scotia , N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center )

Garry St. Leger ( Brooklyn , N.Y. / NYAC / Starrett Judo)

Atsushi Yoshinaga ( San Jose , Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University )

Joe Yungwirth ( Potomac Falls , Va. / Cohen's Judo Club)

 

Men’s 100kg

Djamaldin Aliev ( Greenwood Village , Colo. / Denver Judo)

Rene Capo ( Naperville , Ill. / Cohen’s Judo)

Barry Friedberg ( Brooklyn , N.Y. / NYAC Judo Club)

Aaron Handy ( Fairfield , Ohio  / USA Judo National Team FORCE)

Shintaro Higashi ( Scarsdale , NY  / New York Athletic Club)

Victor Jean-Baptiste ( Brooklyn , N.Y. / NYAC)

Dariusz Mikolajczak ( Brooklyn , N.Y. / NYAC / Starrett Judo)

Damian O’Hara (Little Egg Harbor Township , N.Y. / Cranford Judo)

George Pissimissis ( Hyannis , Mass. / Pedro’s Judo Center )

Kyle Vashkulat ( Scotia , N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center )

Adler Volmar ( Coral Springs , Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami )

 

Men’s +100kg

Derek Alef ( Santa Barbara , Calif. / Santa Ynez Valley Judo)

Conor Driscoll ( San Jose , Calif. )

Anatoliy Kenis ( Holland , Pa. / Liberty Bell Judo/Sambo Academy)

Jon Leonhardt ( San Jose , Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University )

Vincent Mancuso ( Paramus , N.J. / Camal Judo)

Daniel McCormick ( Wakefield , Mass. / USA Judo National Team FORCE)

Dan Pagter ( San Geronimo , Calif. / Cahill's Judo Academy )

Dino Palangic ( Teaneck , N.J. / Cranford Judo Karate)

 

Women’s 44kg

Katelyn Bouyssou ( Hope , R.I. / Mayo Quanchi Judo)  

Taylor Ibera ( Honolulu , Hawaii / Hawaii Tenri Judo)

Alexa Liddie ( Colorado Springs , Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center )

Veronica Prado ( Coral Springs , Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami )

 

Women’s 48kg

Angela  Creutzberger ( Ballston , N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center ) 

Natalie Lafon ( Harlingen , Texas / USA Judo National Training Site at Harlingen )

Sayaka Matsumoto ( El Cerrito , Calif.  / NYAC / East Bay Judo Institute)

Jeanette Rodriguez ( Coral Springs , Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami )

Ann Shiraishi ( San Francisco , Calif. / East Bay Judo Institute)

Sandra Chevalier ( Hope , RI  / Mayo Quanchi Judo)

 

Women’s 52kg

Kim Carpenter (Burnt Hills, N.Y. / Jason Morris Judo Center )

Jess Elizalde ( Scotia , N.Y. / Jason Morris Judo Center )

Anna Palmer ( Colorado Springs , Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center )

Nicki Schultheis ( Gurnee , Ill. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center )

 

Women’s 57kg

Hana Carmichael ( Wellington , Fla. / Budokan Judo Club)

Carrie Chandler ( Scotia , N.Y. / NYAC / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center ) 

Angelica Delgado ( Miami , Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami )

Valerie Gotay ( Harlingen , Texas / USA Judo National Training Site at Harlingen )

Danika Kamakana ( Honolulu , Hawaii / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center )

Larisa Lindstrom ( Livermore , Calif. / Amador Judo Team)

Hannah Martin (Burnt Hills, N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center )

Janine Nakao ( Marina , Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University )

 

Women’s 63kg

Kristen Allan ( Springfield , Va. / Sport Judo)

Nicole Archuleta ( Colorado Springs , Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Cente )

Helen Delpopolo ( Westfield , N.J. / Cranford Judo)

Kayla Harrison ( Wakefield , Mass. / USA Judo National Team FORCE)

Anastasia Krivosta ( Smithtown , N.Y. / Smithtown YMCA Judo Club)

Marti Malloy ( San Jose , Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University )

 

Women’s 70kg

Emily Lilly ( Camarillo , Calif. / Sawtelle)

Ronda Rousey ( Wakefield , Mass. / NYAC / USA Judo National Team FORCE)

Kathleen Sell ( Oshkosh , Wis. / USA Judo National Training Site at Harlingen )

Jennifer Tutass ( El Cerrito , Calif. / Cunningham's Judo Club)

 

Women’s 78kg

Nina Cutro-Kelly ( Schertz , Texas / Universal Judo)

Katie Mocco ( Scotia , N.Y. / NYAC / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center)

Rhonda Morrell-Pruitt ( Centerville , Ohio / Shudokan )

Molly O'Rourke ( El Cerrito , Calif. / East Bay Judo Institute)

Tomoyo Yoshinaga ( San Jose , Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University )

 

Women’s +78kg

Lorey Edwards ( Lorain , Ohio / Chu To Bu West)

Joellen  Friesner ( Albany , Calif. / Cahill's Judo Academy )

Heidi Moore ( Englewood , Colo. / Denver Judo)

Melinda Swanson ( Honolulu , Hawaii  / Hawaii Tenri Judo)

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