| Member News
International Youth Judo Team Championship
St Petersburg, Russia ::: March 21 - 27, 2011
Junior USA Judo team carries flag to Russia
A USA Judo team of junior athletes will head to St. Petersburg later this month for the Vladimir Putin International Youth Judo Team Championship, a tremendous opportunity for up-and-coming elites.
“This is a great opportunity for our outstanding cadet athletes to get a true feel of their international counterparts both in competition and in the training camp,” said Jim Hrbek, who will coach the team at the training camp and international team tournament. “We expect it to be a meaningful step on the road to the Cadet World Championships in August.” Hrbek is head coach of Universal Judo in San Antonio, TX.
“This is a great opportunity for the growth of our younger athletes,” who will receive room and board and partial funding for the airfare, said Eddie Liddie, USA Judo’s Director of Athlete Performance.
Ten junior athletes selected from the United States will participate in the international camp and team tournament hosted by Vladimir Putin, President of Russia.
"USA Judo continues to strive to find the funding to support the future Olympic success of our sport as these athletes will be our medalists of 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games, thus the investment is very much worthwhile." added USA Judo CEO Jose H. Rodriguez.
Roster:
| 50kg |
Tyler Chen |
Hill Judo Club |
UT |
| 55kg |
Ricardo Roig |
Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center |
FL |
| 60kg |
William Inserra |
Sport Judo |
VA |
| 66kg |
John Jayne |
unaffiliated |
England |
| 66kg |
Eric Skiff |
Ruben Martin Training Center |
TX |
| 73kg |
Jonathan Fayzakov |
Spartak Sports Club |
NY |
| 81kg |
Ben Veler |
Becerra Judo & Jujitsu Club |
TX |
| 90kg |
Matthew Koch |
Camal Judo |
NJ |
| 90kg |
Robert Tkach |
Spartak Sports Club |
NY |
| +90kg |
Devin Sobay |
Texoma Judo of Wichita Falls |
TX |
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| coach |
Jim Hrbek |
Universal Judo |
TX |
USA Judo junior team fights hard in Russia
March 26, 2011 - A USA Judo team of junior athletes took their game to an international competition in St. Petersburg, competing earlier today against much more experienced players from Japan and Russia. Pictured above is 16-year-old Willie Inserra of Stafford, VA, Sport Judo, in the white gi attacking a Russian player at the Vladimir Putin International Youth Judo Team Championship. The competition was preceded by a training camp. Russia topped the podium at the tournament. "The very young US Team fought their hearts out against far more experienced opponents," said Jim Hrbek, head coach of Universal Judo in San Antonio, TX. Hrbek led the junior team to Russia. Most of the players had their travel covered. "Our boys did a great job in their fights. They were not intimidated and, really, rose to the challenges in front of them," Hrbek said.
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