Member News

March 21, 2006

Reser Wins Silver at Sweden Open

Ryan Reser (Colorado Springs, Colo./Olympic Training Center USA Judo National Training Site/73kg) won his second World Cup medal in as many weeks Saturday with a silver medal finish at the Sweden Open in Boras.

Reser, who earned his first top-10 World Ranking and A-Level status when he won silver at last week’s Dutch Open, went 4-1 for another trip to the podium in Sweden.

Competing as the only American in the tournament, Reser opened his day with a first round win over Vitaliy Ryzhyy (UKR) on a penalty and a second victory by waza-ari (half-point) against David Papaux (SUI). 

Reser’s quarter-final was a rematch from last week against 2001 World medalist Krzystof Wilkomirski (POL) whom he had previously defeated on a penalty.  This time, Reser defeated Wilkomirski by ippon (instant win) to advance to a semi-final against Claudiu Bastea (ROM), an eight-time World Cup medalist. 

Reser also won this match by ippon to advance to the final against Costel Danculea (ROM) who beat the American by ippon.

Today’s event was Reser’s last stop on the European Tour and his final major competition before the U.S. Nationals and Pan American Trials, April 21-22 in Houston, Texas.

Reser’s back-to-back medals mark the first time an American has medaled twice in a season at an A-Level World Cup event since World Champion Jimmy Pedro (Methuen, Mass.) won silver medals in the same division at the German World Open and the Budapest World Cup in 2004.