Liggett Wins Double Gold

Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Members from the Glenville based Jason Morris Judo Club (JMJC) won 9 total medals including 3 gold at the Jr. US Open August 6-7, 2005. Burnt Hills High School Junior, Jeremy Liggett (16) led the way going 4-0 to claim the 15-16yrs. 60kg title. For an encore, Liggett went 4-0 the next day to win the 17-19yrs. 60kg division which earned him the #1 ranking in the US and positioned himself as the man to beat to claim a spot on the 2006 US Jr. World team that will compete in the Dominican Republic, October 12-15. Burnt Hills High Sophomore, Kyle Vashkulat (15) joined Liggett as a double medalist. Vashkulat won a gold in the 15-16yrs. 90kg weight class posting a 4-0 record then followed that up winning a silver medal in the 17-19yrs. 90kg division, with a 3-1 mark on the day. Burnt Hills High Senior, AJ Silverman (17) captured a hard fought silver medal in the 17-19yrs. 66kg category. Silverman took the early lead in his exciting final with a top Mexican player but made a weak attack, which allowed his opponent slip his hand in for a choke making AJ submit.. This result puts Silverman in great position to challenge for the 66kg spot on the 2006 Jr. World team. Burnt Hills graduate, Yuko Sin (18) went 3-1 to take a silver medal in the 17-19yrs. 81kg weight class to secure his #1 slot and a possible place on the Jr. World team. Sin was also just promoted to Shodan (1st Degree Black Belt) just before the JMJC headed down to FL. 2004 Jr. World champ, Ronda Rousey (18) won her first two matches easily to make the final but could not fight due to a slight concussion she sustained during the event which forced her to settle for a silver medal in the 17-19yrs. 63kg weight class. Schalmont High Freshman, Ronni Aragona (14) turned in a good performance to win a silver in the 13-14yrs. 52kg division losing only to her nemesis, Francesca Durand in an exciting final. Jeremy Galib (11) closed out the JMJC medal count winning a silver in the 11-12yrs. +53kg division. JMJC newcomer Jess Elizalde (18) fought well but did not place her Jr. US Open. She competed in the 17-19yrs. 52kg weight class.

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