PRESS RELEASE

Mocco Wins Gold, Conte & Franzese Take Silver
Lafayette, LA - Members of the Glenville, NY based Jason Morris Judo Club (JMJC) won three medals at the Swamp Classic Judo tournament April 4, 2004. Katie Mocco (20) led the way posting a 3-0 record to win the 70kg title. Mocco is currently ranked #8 and will carry that seeding into the US Sr. Nationals April 30-May 1, 2004 in San Diego, CA. Although Mocco is currently ranked #8, she is right now in the #5 spot for the Olympic trials in San Jose, CA June 5. The athletes currently ranked #5-#7 will lose their points although they could regain them at Nationals making that very important for Katie to do well there. Gina Franzese (23) finished with a 3-1 record at 57kg including a breakthrough victory over #4 ranked, Christal Ransom. Franzese slammed Ransom with uchimata for ippon. Franzese's only loss was to 1992 Olympian, Valerie Gotay who is attempting a comeback after a long layoff. Gina was winning her bout with Gotay, but with 30 seconds left got caught with an armbar and had to settle for second. Franzese is currently ranked #7 and will carry that seed in the Nationals. Franzese has dealt with a verity of injuries over the past year, but appears to be healthy and ready to make a serious run at the Olympic trials. Jen Conte (25) went 2-1 at 78kg to capture a Silver with her loss coming at the hands of #4 Nikki Kubes in the final. Conte remains ranked #8 at 78kg and has posted a 13-4 record so far at that weight class since admirably losing over 50lbs. Conte's is bidding for an Olympic spot at 78kg instead of +78kg where she is currently #1 because the USA didn't qualify +78kg for Athens. Taylor Middendorf (22) went a promising 2-2 for the JMJC on the day at 63kg. Also today, JMJC members Carrie Chandler (22), Ronni Aragona (12) and Leah Fisher (21) won medals at the New Egland Championships in Norwich, CT. Aragona went 5-0 to claim Gold. Chandler was 4-0 also to capture Gold. Fisher picked up a Silver to close out the medal count at that event for the JMJC.

Next up for the JMJC: Jen Conte, Gina Franzese, Katie Mocco, Jeremy Liggett (15) and JMJC coach, Teri Takemori will head down to Margarita Island, Venezuela. Liggett and Takemori will participate in the Pan Am Championships April 21-22, 2004 as part of the official US team. Liggett will compete at 55kg and Takemori will be among the Referee's at the event. Liggett along with Conte, Franzese and Mocco will then compete in the Simon Bolivar Cup the day after the Pan Ams, April 23 to try earn valuable ranking points towards the Olympic trials. They can get 3 for a Gold, 2 for Silver and 3 for a Bronze.