Tuesday, June 22, 2004
The 2004 Titan Games will be televised on OLN.
American Judo Team Has Golden Day at Titan Games
By Sherrie Phillips // USA Judo// June 20, 2004
ATLANTA, GA. – The final day of the Titan Games, being held at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, proved to be a golden one for the American team with a record of 21 total wins in the event and only three losses allowing them to bring home the Gold. “Professional events with an Olympic style atmosphere in front of large crowds such as the 2004 Olympic Trials and Titan Games will assist in preparing our team to bring home medals in Athens, Greece” said Director of Development, Tommy Dyer.
The day began with the Chinese team meeting the Mexican team in a second devastating day for Mexico. The power and technique of the Chinese team was apparent as they beat Mexico with ease in 12 straight matches duplicating the US Team’s performance in the day prior’s competition.
On Friday, the US Team had accumulated 117 total points in 12 matches by scoring 11 impressive Ippons (10 points each) and one Wazari (7 points) against the Mexican team. On Saturday, the Chinese showed they were serious contenders for the gold medal at the Titan Games when they scored 12 Ippons in a row for a perfect score of 120 in their 12 matches against the same Mexican team. The day came to an exciting conclusion when the United States team returned to the mat to meet China in the exciting final match up of the tournament where the American’s accumulated another 80 points and the Chinese only tallied 30 points. The total points for the two-day event were as follows: USA-197, China-150 and Mexico-0.
“The team has shown significant improvement over their last year’s second place finish at this event. This year they not only won matches against a very experienced Chinese team, the dominated the overall competition with their presence as competitors” stated USJI President Dr.Ron Tripp.
The individual match results for the day’s events were as follows:
CHINA VS. MEXICO
Men’s 60 kg. – Likai Liu (China) defeats Arturo Ceneceros (Mexico) by several scores and finally combined a drop Seoinage for Wazari with several stalling penalties to achieve a score of Ippon.
Women’s 52 kg. – Yu Lui (China) defeats Soiree Garcia (Mexico) by Seoinage for Ippon.
Men’s 66 kg.- Kai Keng (China) defeats Abraham Negrete (Mexico) by two drop Seoinage’s for Wazari to finish with a score of Ippon.
Women’s 57 kg. – Yan Xu (China) defeats Cinthya Barragan (Mexico) by Sukuinage for Ippon.
Men’s 73 kg. – Rongrong Shi (China) defeats Paul Rodriguez (Mexico) by Ouchigari for Ippon.
Women’s 63 kg. – Shumei Dou (China) defeats Karin Acosta (Mexico) by left Uchimata for Ippon.
Men’s 81 kg. – Haifeng Zhang (China) defeats Victor Palafox by Osotogari for Ippon.
Women’s 70 kg. - Dan Liu (China) defeats Nancy Acosta (Mexico) by accumulating several impressive scores before finally throwing for Ippon with left Uchimata.
Men’s 90 kg. – Renmandula Sa (China) defeats Fernando Silveyra (Mexico) by Kata Guruma for Ippon.
Women’s 78 kg. – Xu Yan (China) defeats Martha Tellez (Mexico) by Ippon.
Men’s 100 kg. – Zhongxia Ji (China) defeats Arturo Martinez (Mexico) by Wazari and then Hansukomake for Ippon.
Men’s +100 kg.- Liguo Duan (China) defeats Guillermo Del Rio (Mexico) by applying a effective choke with only 45 seconds elapsed in the mat for a win of Ippon.
USA vs. CHINA
Men’s 60 kg. – Taraje Williams-Murray (New York, USA) vs. Likai Liu (China)
Williams-Murray came out showing he was ready for his new role as an Olympian when he devastated China’s Likai Liu in just nine seconds with a beautiful Kata Guruma (fireman’s carry) for the score of Ippon picking up an immediate 10 points getting the USA off to a winning start.
Women’s 52 kg. – Charlee Minkin (Colorado Springs, USA) vs. Yu Lui (China)
The match started with a furious round of gripping that resulted in a penalty of Shido being awarded to each player. At 2:51 each player had picked up another Shido, the Chinese for stalling and Minkin for placing her fingers inside the judo gi sleeve. However, Minkin followed with a solid attack of drop Seoinage that scored her a Wazari. Finally the Chinese crawled out of bounds when the two players went to the mat and was awarded yet another Shido for the action resulting in a second Ippon win for the American team.
Men’s 66 kg. - Alex Ottiano (Boston, USA) vs. Kai Keng (China)
Ottiano started of strong forcing the Chinese down into an immediate stalling situation where Keng was awarded a penalty of Shido. With just over 2 minutes elapsed in the match, Ottiano came in with a powerful Sumi Gaeshi finishing the match with a score of Ippon.
Women’s 57 kg. – Ellen Wilson (Colorado Springs, USA) vs. Yan Xu (China)
Both players tallied up their share of stalling penalties in this match. Wilson held the lead for the majority of the match with much more effective attacks and was ahead by Wazari to Yuko with just one minute remaining. It looked like it was going to be another American win when the Chinese attacked with a strong left sided Uchimata to take the winning streak away from the American team by scoring Ippon.
Men’s 73 kg. – Jimmy Pedro (Boston, USA) vs. Rongrong Shi (China)
Pedro started strong with a near score off of a Seoinage attack. Displaying the patience of a seasoned player, Jimmy took his time and waited for the right moment to take Shi to the mat where he arm locked the Chinese player with Juji Gatame for the fourth Ippon win of the night.
Women’s 63 kg. – Ronda Rousey (Boston, USA) vs. Shumei Dou (China)
This was definitely the most competitive match of the night. Two minutes into this match the Chinese was awarded a Shido for stalling. Rousey held the lead until there was just a minute left, at that point a Shido was awarded to her for both hands gripping on one side of the judo gi. The match then went into Golden Score and finished at 2:30 when Rousey threw the Chinese for Yuko with drop Seoinage.
Men’s 81 kg. – Rick Hawn (Colorado Springs, USA) vs. Haifeng Zhang (China)
Hawn kept the pressure on relentlessly in this match and wore the Chinese down. Zhang was eventually awarded two consecutive Shido’s for stalling giving Hawn the lead. With only 29 seconds remaining Hawn was called for a false attack. The American ended up taking the match by a lead of Yuko to Koka.
Women’s 70 kg. - Celita Schutz (New York, USA) vs. Dan Liu (China)
Schutz looked tough in this match, throwing the Chinese within the first minute with Ouchigari for Wazari. Schutz continued to keep the pressure on and foot swept Lui with De Ashi Harai for a Koka in the second minute. By minute three the match was all over when Lui attempted Uchimata and Schutz came back with Uranage (switch) for Ippon.
Men’s 90 kg. – Brian Olson (Boulder, USA) vs. Renmandula Sa (China)
With 3:59 still on the clock Olson got on the score -board with his signature move Sumi Gaeshi. Olson picked up two Shido’s in a row during the next two minutes for gripping on the same side of the judo gi. In the final two minutes Olson picked up another Yuko and Wazari with Sumi Gaeshi and Sa was awarded another stalling penalty of Shido. With just 30 seconds left Olson took Sa to the mat where he joint locked him with Juji Gatame for Ippon.
Women’s 78 kg. – Nicole Kubes (Forth Worth, USA) vs. Xu Yan (China)
With two minutes elapsed on the clock, the Chinese was awarded a Shido for stalling putting Kubes ahead in the match. Yan came back strong and scored a Yuko when she threw with Kosotogari off a failed attack of Uchimata by Kubes. With less than a minute on the clock the Chinese team picked up another 10 points in the competition when Yan pinned Kubes with Kata Gatame.
Men’s 100 kg. – Mark Fletcher (San Diego, USA) vs. Zhongxia Ji (China)
Fletcher brought home another powerful win for the US Team when he started by scoring a Koka in the second minute in the match with Sukuinage. He followed that with a Sasae Tsurikomi Ashi for an Ippon that pleased the Atlanta crowd, Fletcher’s hometown.
Men’s +100 kg. - Martin Boonzaayer (Chicago, USA) vs. Liguo Duan (China)
Boonzaayer came out with a strong set off grips but followed the Chinese after the first Matte right into a powerful drop seoinage where Duan was awarded Ippon.
For questions, please contact Sherrie Phillips with USA Judo at (719) 491-9682.
US Olympic Judo Team Reigns Victorious Over Mexico at the Titan Games
US Olympic Judo Team Reigns Victorious Over Mexico at the Titan Games
By Sherrie Phillips // USA Judo// June 19, 2004
ATLANTA, GA. – The US Olympic Judo Team dominated over Mexico with 12 straight victories in tonight’s Titan Games. Of the 12 matches, the American’s won 11 of them by Ippon getting off to an impressive start in the second year of the annual event.
In match one, the men’s 60 kg. category, Arturo Ceniceros met Taraje Williams-Murray. The match began with a failed drop seoinage attack by Cencineros. At the three-minute mark, Williams-Murray executed a beautiful Sukuinage that resulted in the first Ippon win of the night for the American team.
During match two, women’s 52 kg., Charlee Minkin faced Soiree Garcia in a rematch of last years Titan Games. Early in the match each of the players were awarded a shido for stalling, however, with 2:39 on the clock Minkin followed Garcia to the mat where she pinned her for a decisive Ippon win.
In the men’s 66 kg. category, Abraham Negrete met Alex Ottiano. Ottiano fought a solid match with Negrete. Negrete executed a foot sweep early in the match that briefly lifted Ottiano. The American came back fiercly with a solid Wazari that he followed with a fireman’s for Yuko winning the match over the Mexican competitor.
Ellen Wilson met Cinthya Barragan in the women’s 57 kg.category. Just 20 seconds into the match Wilson attacked with Osotogari and scored Yuko. Dissatisfied with the yuko, Wilson followed with an even stronger Osotogari that resulted in another Ippon win for the American team.
Jimmy Pedro wasted no time in the men’s 73 kg. category when he met Mexican team member Paul Rodriguez. With only 3:39 elapsed in the match, Pedro entered with Uchimata and threw for Ippon taking another match away from the Mexican team.
In the women’s 63 kg. weight class, Karin Acosta faced. Ronda Rousey. Rousey didn’t look like a newcomer on the senior circuit when she handled Acosta in match 6. Rousey started intensely with a series of strong gripping tactics and then followed Acosta to the mat on her first missed technique to pin her for a score of Ippon..
Rick Hawn executed probably the strongest and the most explosive Ippon of the night in match seven. With over four minutes still remaining in the match, Rick executed a devastating left drop Seoinage throwing Victor Palafox for Ippon with a throw that drew attention from the entire stadium.
Celita Schutz, the women’s 70 kg. category participant, diplayed her talent as a seasoned judo player when she met Nancy Acosta. On Schutz’s first attack of the night, she threw Acosta with Taitoshi for Wazari and then immediately followed her to the mat where she pinned her for Ippon.
In match nine, the men’s 90 kg., Fernando Silveyra faced Brian Olson. Silveyra proved to be no match for Olson. The Mexican judoka was awarded three Shido’s for stalling within the first two minutes of the match. During the third minute, Olson executed a strong Seoitoshi ending the match with the score of Ippon.
Nicole Kubes looked impressive in her match against Martha Telez. Off of the first grip Kubes entered with a devastating Osotogari, ending the match with an Ippon score after only 3 seconds had elapsed on the clock.
In match 11, men’s 100 kg., Arturo Martinez met Mark Fletcher. Fletcher, a hometown favorite in Atlanta, was a crowd pleaser when he executed right Uchimata that resulted in Ippon.
The final match of the night was in the men’s +100kg.category where Guillermo Del Rio faced Martin Boonzaayer. The American began by scoring with a foot sweep for Koka. Later in the match he drove Del Rio to the mat and pinned him for Ippon.
In tomorrow night’s competition, the American team will face the Chinese team. This should prove to be a highly competitive nights with former Olympic and world medal winners on both teams. The Chinese will meet the Mexican’s early in the day, however, will return to the Philip’s Arena to face the American’s at 7:00 in the evening for the wrap up of the 2004 Titan Games.
For questions, please contact Sherrie Phillips with USA Judo at (719) 491-9682.
Tuesday, June 08, 2004
2004 US Olympic Judo Team Selected
SAN JOSE, Calif. (June 5, 2004) – The following are the results of the 2004 Olympic Team Trials in Judo held at the San Jose State Events Center, San Jose, Calif. The #1 seeded athlete going into the trials became the Olympian in 9 of 12 qualified divisions. Seven of the divisions finished with the #1 seed undefeated. Returning Olympians were Jimmy Pedro, Methuen, MA at 73 kg (4th Olympic team), Ellen Wilson, Colo. Springs, at 57 kg (2nd Olympic Team), and Brain Olson, Boulder, CO at 90 kg (3rd Olympic Team). In addition top seeds Taraje Williams-Murray, Bronx, NY, 60 kg, Rick Hawn, Colo. Springs, 81 kg, Charlee Minkin, Colo. Springs, 52 kg, and Ronda Rousey, Santa Monica, Calif., 63 kg, went undefeated and made their first Olympic Team.
In 5 divisions the #1 seed lost a match in the initial session and was forced to play the winner of the initial session in a best two of three elimination set of matches.
In Men’s +100 kg division Martin Boonzaayer, Hoffman Estates, Ill. Prevailed, winning the first and third of the set and made is 2nd consecutive Olympic Team.
In the 66 kg Division, Alex Ottiano, Lawrence, MA, defeated Justin Flores, Encinitas, CA two out of three matches to make his 2nd consecutive Olympic Team.
In the Men 100kg division, Rhadi Ferguson, Colo. Springs, defended his #1 seed position, beating Mike Barnes, San Jose, CA. in two consecutive matches to make his first Olympic Team.
In the Women’s 70kg division Celita Schutz, New York City, won two consecutive matches over Christina Yannetsos, Colorado Springs, to claim her second consecutive Olympic slot.
In the Women’s 78kg divisions, Nicole Kubes of Ft. Worth Texas, won two matches in a row over Molly O’Rouke, Oak Harbor, Washington to make her first Olympic team.
Complete Results:
Two Women’s divisions that are not qualified for Athens were contested on a contingency basis in the event that qualified countries elect not to attend the Olympics and the USA receives an invitation to attend. This situation occurred with the Men’s 60kg category 3 weeks ago when Cuba decided to not send an athlete to the Games in that category and the United States, as the next country in line became qualified.
These divisions were:
Women 48kg:
Winner: Sayaka Matsumoto, Richmond, CA
Runner-up: Stephanie Hata, El Cerrito, CA
Women +78kg:
Winner: Heidi Moore, Denver, CO
Runner up: Garlyne Celestin, Brooklyn, NY
-end-
received from John Miller, Director of Operations, USA Judo
