Sayaka to Participate in Pac Rim Games

COLORADO SPRINGS (June 8, 2001) – USA Judo has announced its team to the 2001 Pacific Rim Judo Championships to be held in Los Angeles, California on June 22-23 at the Gersten Pavillion, Loyola Marymount University. Included among the U.S. athletes is Sayaka Matsumoto, graduate of St. Mary?s College High School, and a member of the East Bay Judo Institute in El Cerrito, CA.

The Pacific Rim Championships, held every two years, will be attended by over 200 top athletes from more than 20 nations surrounding the Pacific Ocean. For the USA, the "Pac Rim" is the most significant event leading up to the world Judo Championships, in Munich, Germany on July 26-29, 2001.

Already committed to attend are delegations from Japan, Australia, Korea, China, Macau, Hong Kong, China, Philippines, Canada, Hong Kong, Somoa, Chinese Taipei, New Zealand, Ecuador and the USA. Tournament Director Kazuo Shinohara, former all Japan Collegiate Champion, U.S. Judo Grand Champion, and holder of a seventh degree black belt, said “More entries are coming in daily. We expect two days of non-stop action and spectacular throws from some of the finest Judo players in the world.”

The USA Judo team is composed of the #1 and #2 ranked players in each weight category. On the team roster on the following page, the first player listed is also the USA World Team member. Exceptions are Sandra Bacher, San Jose, California, 70kg (1992, 1996, 2000 Olympic Team) who is competing in the Women’s Wrestling World Trials that weekend and Brian Olson, Boulder, Colorado, 90kg (1996, 2000 Olympic Team – 7th place in 2000) who is rehabilitating a minor injury in preparation for the Worlds. In these categories, the next ranked player was selected.

For additional information contact John Miller at 303-236-5752; email: jonmira@aol.com.

The complete USA Judo Team roster follows.

Roster of team nembers and staff. (Name, Hometown, Significant Recent Achievements)

48 kg: Sayaka Matsumoto, Richmond, California (Silver, 2000 Jr. Worlds, U.S. National Champion) Christine Carrera, Colorado Springs, Colorado (Silver, U.S. Nationals)

52 kg: Charlee Minkin, Colorado Springs, Colorado (2000 Pan American Champion)Darlene Pinkney, Brooklyn, New York (Bronze, 2000 U.S. Open)

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

Davina Minkin, Colorado Springs, Colorado (Silver, U.S. Nationals)

63 kg: Grace Jividen-Chapman, Littleton, Colorado (1992 Olympic Team – 7th place) Cindy Imai, Rosemead, California (Silver, U.S. Nationals)

70 kg: Natasha Newsom, Colorado Springs, Colorado (Silver, U.S. Nationals) Shelbi Lee, N. Wales, Pennsylvania, (5th Rendez Vous Canada)

78 kg: Amy Tong, San Jose, California (2000 Olympic Team, current National Champion), Jill Collins, Napa, California (Bronze, U.S. Nationals)

+78 kg: Nanoushka St-Pre, Colorado Springs, Colorado (2000 Jr. World Team, Bronze U.S. Open),Barbara Porter, Twin Falls, Idaho (current U.S. National Champion)

Open: Mona Wheeler, Okinawa, Japan (Bronze, 2000 U.S. Open)

60 kg: Taylor Takata, San Jose, California (Bronze, 2000 U.S. Open), Nathan Torra, Clarksburg, Massachusetts (current U.S. National Champion)

66 kg: Alex Ottiano, Lawrence, Massachusetts (2000 Olympic Team, current National Champion), Yosef Aranbayev, Colorado Springs, Colorado (Bronze, U.S. Nationals)

73 kg: Orlando Fuentes, Colorado Springs, Colorado (1996 Olympic Team, U.S. Open Champion), Ryan Reser, Colorado Springs, Colorado (current U.S. National Champion)

81 kg: Reno Reser, Colorado Springs, Colorado (current U.S. National Champion), Aaron Cohen, Buffalo Grove, Illinois (2000 Jr. World Team, Silver,U.S.Nationals)

90 kg: Mark Fletcher, Colorado Springs, Colorado (Silver, U.S. Open),Charles Graves, Colorado Springs, Colorado, (Bronze, U.S. Open and U.S. Nationals)

100 kg: Ato Hand, Colorado Springs, Colorado (2000 Olympic Team – 9th place, U.S. Open Champion)Tony Esposito, Huntley, Illinois (Silver, U.S. Open)

+100 kg: Martin Boonzaayer, Hoffman Estates, Illinois (2000 Olympic Team, U.S. Open Champion),Peter Campbell, Boise, Idaho (current U.S. National Champion)

Open: Neal Takamoto, Honolulu, Hawaii (Silver, U.S. Open)

Edward Liddie, Colorado Springs, Colorado (1984 Olympic Bronze Medallist)

Brett Barron, San Mateo, California (1984 Olympic Team)

Bobby Berland, Lincolnshire, Illinois (1984 Olympic Silver Medallist)

Tommy Dyer, Ft Worth, Texas (Director Of Development, USA Judo)

Francisco Ramirez, Vista, California

Leo White, Norcross, Georgia (1984 and 1992 Olympic Teams, World Military

Games Champion)

U.S. Managers:

E.J. Mayfield, Jacksonville, North Carolina

Chester Evans, Creedmoor, North Carolina