Member News

March 1, 2006

USA vs. Japan Goodwill Match to be Held at High School Nationals

Nine U.S. athletes will have the opportunity not only to fight for the title of National Champion at the USA Judo High School National Championships, but also to compete against the Japanese High School All-Star Team in a goodwill match at approximately 2:00 p.m., March 26. The match will be held at the Holiday Inn Select Hotel & Convention Center, 18501 South Harlem Ave. in Tinley Park, Ill.

This team competition will allow some of the top U.S. juniors to match up against Japan’s future Olympians with the exhibition taking place immediately following the Collegiate National Championships. On March 25, all nine of these athletes will compete in the High School Nationals which is being held in conjunction with Collegiate and Middle School Nationals.

Team Japan will be represented by seven male athletes in each of the Olympic weight divisions as well as female athletes in the 52kg and 70kg divisions. Names and bios of these athletes will be available at a later date.

The U.S. contingent is highlighted by four returning High School National Champions: Bobby Lee (Lauderhill, Fla./North Miami USA Judo National Training Site/73kg), Steve Fayzakov (Fresh Meadows, N.Y./Spartak/81kg), Jacob Larson (Santa Rosa, Calif./Rosewood Judo Club/90kg) and Katie Sell (Oshkosh, Wis./Welcome Mat Judo/70kg).

In addition to being top-ranked juniors, Lee and Sell each have had success at the senior level. At only 17-years-old, Lee has claimed several domestic titles as well as a fifth place finish at the 2005 British Open while 18-year-old Sell claimed her first Senior National medal last year as a junior in high school with a bronze medal win.

At 14-years-old, Franchesca Durand (Coral Springs, Fla./North Miami USA Judo National Training Site/52kg) is the youngest American, but already holds not only almost every junior title around, including gold at last year’s Pan Am Infantile Championships, but she’s also the second-ranked senior in her division.

Jeremy Liggett (Scotia, N.Y./NYAC/Jason Morris Judo Center/60kg) and AJ Silverman (Scotia, N.Y./Jason Morris Judo Center/66kg) are each competing at their first High School Nationals, but as Liggett is a #2-ranked senior and Silverman was a top-finisher in last year’s junior events, both are expected to do well in Tinley Park.

Fifteen-year-old Tony Sangimino (Burlingame, Calif./Cahill’s Judo/100kg) is the youngest U.S. male athlete in this competition, but won two junior titles last year and placed second in the senior division at the San Jose Buddhist Sensei Memorial two weeks ago.

Finally, heavyweight Dan Yuabov (Flushing, N.Y./Spartak Judo/+100kg) rounds out the American crew. Yuabov was a 2005 Junior National Champion who is looking for his first High School title.

Complete roster is as follows:
Male
60kg: Jeremy Liggett (Scotia, N.Y./NYAC/Jason Morris Judo Center)
66kg: AJ Silverman (Scotia, N.Y./Jason Morris Judo Center)
73kg: Bobby Lee (Lauderhill, Fla./North Miami USA Judo National Training Site)
81kg: Steve Fayzakov (Fresh Meadows, N.Y./Spartak)
90kg: Jacob Larson (Santa Rosa, Calif./Rosewood Judo Club)
100kg: Tony Sangimino (Burlingame, Calif./Cahill’s Judo Academy)
+100kg:Daniel Yuabov (Flushing, N.Y./Spartak Judo)

Female
52kg: Franchesca Durand (Coral Springs, Fla./USA Judo North Miami National Training Site)
70kg: Katie Sell (Oshkosh, Wis./Welcome Mat Judo)