| Member News
April 21, 2007
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Alexa Liddie (white) def. Samantha Martin (blue) to finish third in the 44kg division. |
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Hiram Cruz (blue) armbarred Kyle Taketa (white) in the 55kg final. |
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Jeanette Rodriguez (white) takes Sayaka Matsumoto (blue) to the ground in the 48kg final. |
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Matsumoto wins the 48kg division in overtime. |
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Taraje Williams-Murray picks up Nick Kossor in the 60kg final. |
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Carrie Chandler works for an ambar against Grace Ohashi in the 52kg final. |
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Justin Flores (white) defeated Taylor Takata (blue) in the 66kg final. |
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Valerie Gotay (white) works her newaza against Hannah Martin in the 57kg final. |
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Ryan Reser and Nick Delpopolo work on their acrobatic skills in the 73kg final. |
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Durand goes to throw Chandler during the first match of the Pan Am and World Team Trials. |
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Djamaldin Aliev wins the Open weight division. |
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Heidi Moore (white) locks in on Emily Lilly during Open weight final. |
Senior Nationals Day 2 Results
(Miami, Fla.) – Saturday was a day where many veterans defended their status in the judo scene while up-and-comers also staked their claim as the future of the sport at the USA Judo Senior National Championships at Florida International University.
Also at stake were trips to the Pan American Games (July 19-22) and World Championships (September 16-19), both in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Athletes who entered the event as top seeds and won the Senior Nationals automatically earned berths to the Team while top-seeded athletes who lost during the day competed in a best-of-three fight-off with the division winner.
The 48kg rivalry between Sayaka Matsumoto (El Cerrito, Calif. / NYAC / East Bay Judo Institute) and top-ranked 16-year-old Jeanette Rodriguez (Coral Springs, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami) continued into the finals of the Senior Nationals – a rematch of last year’s final where Rodriguez won her first title over six-time National Champion Matsumoto.
This time both athletes started the attacks quickly and continued at a frenetic pace for the duration of the five minute match, but neither athlete produced a score which sent the match into Golden Score (overtime). Matsumoto threw Rodriguez 12 seconds into the overtime period for a yuko (quarter-point) to win the National Title and force a best-of-three fight-off for the Pan Am Games and World Team slots.
“Losing the first match brought my hopes down a little bit, but it was just a medal round and our goal was to make sure we won the Trials, so I talked to my coach after the match and I felt better and ready to get back out there,” Rodriguez said.
True to form, their first Pan Am Trials went into Golden Score as well, but Rodriguez took the win, throwing Matsumoto for a yuko 90 seconds into the match. The second round revolved not around scores, but more so penalties as Matsumoto threw Rodriguez for a waza-ari and Rodriguez was handed three penalties, equaling a second waza-ari for Matsumoto and ending the match.
After a brief break, Rodriguez and Matsumoto were at it again for their fourth match in a two-hour span. This time Matsumoto was given the first penalty which meant a lead for Rodriguez who later threw Matsumoto for a waza-ari (half-point) with just over a minute remaining. Matsumoto pulled Rodriguez immediately into an armbar, however, hoping to clinch the match, but deftly escaped the hold. Matsumoto attacked again, instantly throwing Rodriguez for a yuko (quarter-point) 10 seconds later, but couldn’t earn a large enough score in the last minute to come back.
“It was exciting to win because there was so much nervousness, so much going on, so much pressure that when it was all done I was really happy,” Rodriguez said. “This summer’s the start of a new future and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Rodriguez’s North Miami teammate Franchesca Durand (Coral Springs, Fla. / 52kg) also found herself in the position of fighting in the Trials. Durand, the #1 as a 15-year-old, was upset earlier in the day in the semifinals by Grace Ohashi (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center). Ohashi threw Durand for a yuko early in the match to advance to the finals where she was beaten on points by four-time National Champion Carrie Chandler (Glenville, N.Y. / NYAC / USA Judo National Training Site).
In the Trials, Durand and Chandler’s first match went to Golden Score and after a second five-minute period, the match was left to the referees’ decision who awarded the win to a more aggressive Durand.
The second match for the two started off slowly with both athletes penalized for non-combattivity in the first minute. Durand picked up two yuko scores as well as a penalty committed by Chandler all within the next two minutes.
At the end of the match, Chandler again increased the pace significantly and Durand received a penalty of her own, but both athletes were determined to end the match big and Durand threw Chandler for ippon (instant win) with 10 seconds remaining in the match.
“I was so excited by the end, just like I was at the British [where she beat Chandler for the first time in January,]” Durand said. “I know a lot of people said when I won the British that it was just luck and I wanted to win again to show that I wasn’t just lucky last time.”
Like Rodriguez’s matches, the close-by crowd was raucous throughout Durand’s Trials.
“It’s kind of funny because it gets so loud sometimes that you can’t even hear your coach,” Durand said. It’s awesome, though, especially when you’re winning and you know the crowd really gets you going even more.”
The third Trial of the day was between Taraje Williams-Murray (Bronx, N.Y. / NYAC / Spartak Sports Club), the 2004 Olympian at the weight who fought 66kg in 2006, and top-seeded Jean-Pierre Durand (Coral Springs, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami).
Earlier in the evening, Williams-Murray threw Nick Kossor (Glenville, N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center) for a waza-ari two minutes into their final match. Williams-Murray was given a shido (penalty) for stepping out, but caught Kossor again with a throw for a yuko score at the end of the match.
In the Trials, Williams-Murray threw Durand for ippon in the first minute of the match and then armbarred Durand to win the second a slot on the World and Pan Am Games Teams. This will be the second World Championships for Williams-Murray who placed ninth at the 2005 Worlds.
Four top seeds successfully earned trips to the Pan Am Games and Worlds as #1 seeded players who also won the Senior Nationals. All four also were on the 2005 Team with Williams-Murray.
Justin Flores (Glenville, N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center / San Shi) won the 66kg division in a final against 2006 Pan Am Championships fifth-place finisher Taylor Takata (Harlingen, Texas / USA Judo National Training Site).
Takata advanced to the semifinals after beating #2 Kenny Hashimoto (Thornton, Colo. / Northglenn Judo) off a stepping out penalty in the semifinals.
Penalties would haunt Takata throughout his match with Flores which he lost on a total of three penalties, including two committed in the first minute.
Ryan Reser (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center) won his second consecutive 73kg National title with a win over 2006 Junior World Team member Nick Delpopolo (Glenville, N.Y. / NYAC / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center). Ryan threw Delpopolo first with a drop seoi nage (dropping shoulder throw) for a yuko score. Delpopolo and Reser each earned penalties, but Reser won the match with a waza-ari (half-point) in the last minute.
Valerie Gotay (Harlingen, Texas / USA Judo National Training Site at Harlingen) fought 2006 Junior World Team member Hannah Martin (Burnt Hills, N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center) in the 57kg final. Up by a penalty committed by Martin, Gotay scored a waza-ari with one minute, 30 seconds remaining in the match.
Not one to rest on a lead, Gotay continued to attack, throwing Martin with a tomoe nage (circle sacrifice throw) for a yuko score in the last 15 seconds.
Heidi Moore (Englewood, Colo. / Denver Judo) also will compete on her second World Team, winning the Open weight division in a final where she pinned 16-year-old Emily Lilly (Camarillo, Calif. / Sawtelle).
Djamal Aliev (Greenwood Village, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center), also won the ability to compete at the World Championships in the Open division. Aliev also fought at the 2005 Worlds in the 100kg division. In the final, Aliev beat Sylwester Gawel (POL), coming back from being down by a yuko to instantly throw Gawel for ippon and the match. Although Adler Volmar (Coral Springs, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami) was the #1 seed, Volmar declined the fight-off as he will be participating in the Pan Am Games and Worlds in the 100kg division.
Moore and Aliev will both be eligible to compete in the World Championships, but not the Pan American Games as the Open division is not contested a that event.
Hiram Cruz (Jacksonville, Fla. / RYU Jacksonville Judo) won his second consecutive National title in the 55kg division, throwing 15-year-old Kyle Taketa (Torrance, Calif. / Gardena) with a sumi gaeshi (sacrifice throw) for a koka (smallest points) before armbarring Taketa for ippon (instant win) in the final minute.
Taylor Ibera (Honolulu, Hawaii / Hawaii Tenri) won the women’s 44kg division, going undefeated in a round-robin division that included 2006 Pan Am Team member Veronica Prado (Coral Springs, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami) and top-ranked Alexa Liddie (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center).
The 44kg and 55kg divisions are not contested at either the World Championships or the Pan American Games.
Complete results are as follows:
Women’s 44kg
1. Taylor Ibera (Honolulu, Hawaii / Hawaii Tenri)
2. Veronica Prado (Coral Springs, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami)
3. Alexa Liddie (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)
3. Samantha Martin (Dallas, Texas / Ruben Martin Judo)
Women’s 48kg
1. Sayaka Matsumoto (El Cerrito, Calif. / NYAC / East Bay Judo Institute)
2. Jeanette Rodriguez (Coral Springs, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami)
3. Ingrid Santos (Tampa, Fla. / Florida School of Judo)
3. Ann Shiraishi (Elk Grove, Calif. / East Bay Judo Institute)
Women’s 52kg
1. Carrie Chandler (Glenville, N.Y. / NYAC / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center)
2. Grace Ohashi (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)
3. Franchesca Durand (Coral Springs, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami)
3. Anna Palmer (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site a the Olympic Training Center)
Women’s 57kg
1. Valerie Gotay (Harlingen, Texas / USA Judo National Training Site at Harlingen)
2. Hannah Martin (Burnt Hills, N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center)
3. Marie Scott (East-Rochester, N.Y. / Reshinkan)
3. Angelica Delgado (Miami, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami)
Women’s Open
1. Heidi Moore (Englewood, Colo. / Denver Judo)
2. Emily Lilly (Camarillo, Calif. / Sawtelle Judo)
3. Melinda Swanson (Honolulu, Hawaii / Hawaii Tenri)
3. Natalie Laursen (Livermore, Calif. / Amador Judo)
Men’s 55kg
1. Hiram Cruz (Jacksonville, Fla. / RYU Jacksonville Judo)
2. Kyle Taketa (Torrance Calif. / Gardena Judo)
3. Frank Sanchez (West Covina, Calif. / Guerreros)
3. Michael Santos (Tampa, Fla. / Florida School of Judo)
Men’s 60kg
1. Taraje Williams-Murray (Bronx, N.Y. / NYAC / Spartak Sports Club)
2. Nick Kossor (Glenville, N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site a the Jason Morris Judo Center)
3. Jean-Pierre Durand (Coral Springs, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami)
3. Aaron Kunihiro (Covina, Calif. / San Gabriel Judo)
Men’s 66kg
1. Justin Flores (Glenville, N.Y. / NYAC / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center)
2. Taylor Takata (Harlingen, Texas / USA Judo National Training Site at Harlingen)
3. Nate Torra (El Cerrito, Calif. / NYAC / East Bay Judo Institute)
3. Kenny Hashimoto (Thornton, Colo. / Northglenn Judo)
Men’s 73kg
1. Ryan Reser (Colorado Sprins, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)
2. Nick Delpopolo (Glenville, N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center)
3. Michael Eldred (Fruitland, Idaho / Western Idaho Judo Institute)
3. Radu Brestyan (Wakefield, Mass. / USA Judo National Team FORCE)
Men’s Open
1. Djamaldin Aliev (Greenwood Village Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)
2. Sylwester Gawel (POL)
3. Jose Bencosme (San Jose, Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University)
3. J. Daniel McCormick (Wakefield, Mass. / USA Judo National Team FORCE)
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