2007 Senior National Championships Results

(Miami, Fla.) – The 2007 USA Judo Senior National Championships began on Friday with National Champions crowned in eight weight divisions at Florida International University. 

In addition to being a National Championships, the event also included the Trials for the Teams that will compete at the 2007 Pan American Games, July 19-22, and the World Championships, Sept. 16-19, both in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Senior National competition continues on Saturday with the lightweight and Open divisions.

Rick Hawn (Wakefield, Mass. / USA Judo National Team FORCE) was successful in his second major tournament since moving up to 90kg in February.  A 2004 Olympian at 81kg, Hawn won the National Championships, throwing 2006 National Champion Garry St. Leger (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Starrett Judo) in the final and forcing St. Leger into a best-of-three fight-off for the Pan American Games and World Teams. 

Hawn then went on to throw St. Leger in two more matches to secure his berth on the Pan Am Games and World Teams.

Hawn was just one of three athletes coached by two-time Olympic medalist Jimmy Pedro (Wakefield, Mass.) to qualify for the team.

Ronda Rousey (Wakefield, Mass. / USA Judo National Team FORCE / NYAC) dominated the 70kg division in her first domestic event since moving up from 63kg to win the Vienna World Cup in February.  Rousey threw 2006 Senior Nationals medalist Katie Sell (Harlingen, Texas / USA Judo National Training Site at Harlingen) for a waza-ari, moving straight into a pin for ippon (instant win) in just over 40 seconds.

The third of Pedro’s athletes to qualify for the Team was Asma Sharif (Wakefield, Mass. / USA Judo National Team FORCE)  A fifth place finisher at this event last year, Sharif moved up to +78kg in March.

“When I moved out to Jimmy’s my goal was to make a team and when they first suggested moving up I was concerned about my health.  I thought they’d want to make me gain weight and I was cautious, but they told me I didn’t have to put on weight so I thought I’d give it a try,” Sharif said. 

“I was a little worried [about being smaller than her opponents] but honestly, I’m used to Rick landing on me and that hurts a whole lot more!” she laughed.

After pinning 2006 National Champion Melinda Swanson (Honolulu, Hawaii / Hawaii Tenri) in the semifinals, Sharif won her final match against 2005 World Team member Heidi Moore (Englewood, Colo. / Denver Judo) by a penalty.

As Sharif was unseeded, she then fought #1 Brittni Bradford (Live Oak, Texas / Universal Judo) in the Trials, throwing her for ippon with a seoi nage (shoulder throw) in the first two minutes and then racking up waza-ari (half-point) and koka (smallest points) in their second Trials match before throwing Bradford for ippon with jus over a minute remaining to win the Trials.

“It’s going to be a lot of work when I get home, a whole lot of training and I’m not sure what to expect, but I know I’m not gonna rest until I go home for Christmas!” Sharif said.

Dan McCormick (Wakefield, Mass. / USA Judo National Team FORCE) added to the Team FORCE medal count by winning the bronze in the Men's +100kg.

On day two of the Senior Nationals, Team FORCE members Radu Brestyan (73kg) and Dan McCormick (+100kg) both won bronze medals, bringing the bronze medal count total to three.

The following is the roster of athletes named to the team that will compete at the Pan American Games, July 19-22, and the World Championships, Sept. 16-19, both in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Women's Team

63kg:     Marti Malloy (San Jose, Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University)

70kg:     Ronda Rousey (Wakefield, Mass. / NYAC / USA Judo National Team FORCE)

78kg:     Marina Lambert (Chesapeake, Va. / Washington Judo)

+78kg:   Asma Sharif (Wakefield, Mass. / USA Judo National Team FORCE)

Men's Team

81kg:     Travis Stevens (Scotia, N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center)

90kg:     Rick Hawn (Wakefield, Mass. / USA Judo National Team FORCE)

100kg:   Adler Volmar (Coral Springs, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami)

+100k:   Kirk Hoffmann (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)

Complete results of the Senior Nationals are as follows:

Women’s 63kg

1. Marti Malloy (San Jose, Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University)

2. Kayla Harrison (Middletown, Ohio / Renshuden Judo)

3. Janine Nakao (Marina, Calif./ Bojuka Ryu Judo)

3. Emily Lilly (Camarillo, Calif. / Sawtelle)

Women’s 70 kg             

1. Ronda Rousey (Wakefield, Mass. / NYAC / USA Judo National Team FORCE)

2. Katie Sell (Harlingen, Texas / USA Judo National Training Site at Harlingen)

3. Jennifer Tutass (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)

3. Tomoyo Yoshinaga (San Jose, Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University)

Women 78 kg             

1. Marina Lambert (Chesapeake, Va. / Washington Judo)

2. Nina Cutro-Kelly (Schertz, Texas / Universal Judo)

3. Nicole Kubes (Fort Worth, Texas / Fort Worth Judo)

3. Katie Mocco (Scotia, N.Y. / NYAC / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center)

Women’s +78 kg            

1. Asma Sharif (Wakefield, Mass. / USA Judo National Team FORCE)

2. Heidi Moore (Englewood, Colo. / Denver Judo)

3. Brittni Bradford (Live Oak, Texas / Universal Judo)

3. Melinda Swanson (Honolulu, Hawaii / Hawaii Tenri)

Men’s 81 kg               

1. Travis Stevens (Scotia, N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center)

2. Aaron Cohen (Buffalo Grove, Ill. / NYAC / Cohen’s Judo)

3. Harry St. Leger (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Starrett Judo)

3. Andrew Hung (San Jose, Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University)

Men’s 90 kg               

1. Rick Hawn (Wakefield, Mass. / USA Judo National Team Force)

2. Garry St. Leger (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Starrett Judo)

3. Atsushi Yoshinaga (San Jose, Calif. / San Jose State University)

3. David Ellis (Westfield, N.J. / Cranford Judo)

Men’s 100 kg              

1. Shintaro Higashi (Scarsdale, N.Y. / Kokushi)

2. Adler Volmar (Coral Springs, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site)

3. Dariusz Mikolajczak (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Starrett Judo)

3. Kyle Vashkulat (Scotia, N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site a the Jason Morris Judo Center)

Men +100 kg             

1. Joel Brutus (Matawan, N.J. / NYAC)

2. Anthony Turner (Miami, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami)

3. J Daniel McCormick (Wakefield, Mass / USA Judo National Team FORCE)

3. Jonathan Leonhardt (San Jose, Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University)

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)