Sayaka to compete in World Championships!

COLORADO SPRINGS (May, 10, 2001) – USA Judo has selected the team that will represent the USA in the 2001 World Judo Championships to be held in Munich, Germany in July. The team consists of the number one ranked player in each weight category at the close of the National Championships last week in Orlando, Florida. The official announcement of the team was delayed because of a tie in one of the categories that has since been resolved by official tie-breaking protocol. The team is composed of eight members of the 2000 Olympic team, one member from the 1996 Olympic team, one member from the 1992 Olympic team, and two members from the 2000 Junior World team.
Among the team members is East Bay Judo Institute’s Sayaka Matsumoto. Matsumoto, 18, is a senior at St. Mary’s College High School in Berkeley, is the only high school student on the team, and is the youngest member of the squad. Her top performances include a silver medal at the 2000 International Judo Federation Jr. World Championships, and gold medals at the 2000 and 2001 U.S. Senior National Championships.
This very experienced team will be preparing for the World Championships by attending training camps in Europe and competing in the Pacific Rim Judo Championships on June 22-23, in Los Angeles. For additional information about the world team, contact John Miller at 303-236-5752; email: jonmira@aol.com. For more information about the East Bay Judo Institute, contact the EBJI at 510-237-0607 or visit their website at www.ebji.org. The East Bay Judo Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to the teaching of Kodokan Judo. Classes are held Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and are taught by Dr. David Matsumoto.

Women:

48 kg: Sayaka Matsumoto, Richmond, California (2000 Jr. World Team – silver medal)

52 kg: Charlee Minkin, Colorado Springs, Colorado

57 kg: Ellen Wilson, Colorado Springs, Colorado (2000 Olympic Team)

63 kg: Grace Jividen-Chapman, Lakewood, Colorado (1992 Olympic Team)

70 kg: Sandra Bacher, San Jose, California (1992, 1996, 2000 Olympic Team)

78 kg: Amy Tong, San Jose, California (2000 Olympic Team)

+78 kg: Nanoushka St-Pre, Colorado Springs, Colorado (2000 Jr. World Team)

Open: Mona Wheeler, Okinawa, Japan

Men:

60 kg: Taylor Takata, San Jose, California (2000 Jr. World Team)

66 kg: Alex Ottiano, Lawrence, Massachusetts (2000 Olympic Team)

73 kg: Orlando Fuentes, Colorado Springs, Colorado (1996 Olympic Team)

81 kg: Reno Reser, Colorado Springs, Colorado

90 kg: Brian Olson, Boulder, Colorado (1996, 2000 Olympic Team – 7th place in 2000)

100 kg: Ato Hand, Colorado Springs, Colorado (2000 Olympic Team – 9th place)

+100 kg: Martin Boonzaayer, Palatine, Illinois (2000 Olympic Team)

Open: Neil Takamoto, Honolulu, Hawaii

Women’s Coach: Edward Liddie, Colorado Springs, Colorado (1984 Olympic bronze medallist)
Men’s Coach: Evelio Garcia, Miami, Florida
Manager: Doug Fortune, Williamsburg, Kentucky
Physician: Dr. Alan Stockard, Ft. Worth, Texas