Stevens Wins Third Straight Title as Seven U.S. Athletes Win Gold at Rendez-Vous Canada

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) - U.S. athletes won gold medals in seven of the 10 divisions held on Saturday at the Rendez-Vous Canada in Montreal. 

Beijing Olympian Travis Stevens (Wakefield, Mass. / NYAC / USA Judo National Team FORCE) won his third consecutive gold medal at the event after winning titles in 2007 and 2008 when he threw Canadian World Team member Kalem Kachur for ippon (instant win) in the final of the 81kg division. 

 In the 57kg division, Hana Carmichael (Wakefield, Mass. / USA Judo National Team FORCE) threw 2008 U.S. Open Champion Hannah Martin (Glenville, N.Y. / NYAC / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center) for two yuko scores (quarter-point each) in the semifinals to advance to her first final match at the Rendez-Vous.  In the final, Carmichael threw her Mia Hermansson (SWE) for ippon with a sode (sleeve throw) during the first exchange.  Martin went on to win the bronze medal in the division.

Kyle Vashkulat (Glenville, N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center) upset four-time World Cup medalist Scott Edward (CAN) in the final of the 100kg division when he threw him for ippon with a leg pick.  

Paralympian Myles Porter (Colorado Springs, Colo. / NYAC / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center) also competed in the 100kg division where he won the bronze medal and became just the second visually impaired athlete ever to earn a B-Level ranking on the USA Judo Senior Elite National Roster where he will be ranked third among sighted athletes.

After winning silver medals as a 48kg player in 2007 and 2008, Natalie Lafon (Glenville, N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center) defeated 2007 U.S. Open Champion Laurie Wiltshire (CAN) in the final of the 52kg division to win her first Rendez-Vous title.  Lafon threw Wiltshire with an o soto gari (outter leg throw) for a waza-ari (half-point) score and ended the match when she ankle picked Wiltshire for ippon.

Toni Geiger (Dumont, N.J. / Tech Judo) and Olympian Daniel McCormick (Wakefield, Mass. / NYAC / USA Judo National Team FORCE) each went 3-0 to win gold medals in the +78kg and +100kg divisions, respectively.  

Alexa Liddie (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center / Boulder Judo Training Center) won a gold medal in the 44kg division. 

Complete results are as follows:

Completed Draws

Women's 44kg
1. Alexa Liddie (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center / Boulder Judo Training Center)

Women's 52kg
1. Natalie Lafon (Glenville, N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center)
2. Laurie Wiltshire (CAN)
3. Eve Renaud-Roy (CAN)
3. Ecaterina Guica (CAN)
5. Maryem Bouleoud (CAN)
5. Jessica Irons (Yorkville, Ill. / Yorkville Judo / USA Judo National Team FORCE)

Women's 57kg
1. Hana Carmichael (Wakefield, Mass. / USA Judo National Team FORCE)
2. Mia Hermansson (SWE)
3. Hannah Martin (Glenville, N.Y. / NYAC / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center)
3. France Blais-Shiokawa (CAN)
5. Jolianne Melancon (CAN)
5. Jennifer Landry (CAN)

Also Competed: Anna Feygina (St. Ann, Mo. / Kirkwood Webster Judo), 1-1

Women's 78kg
1. Amy Cotton (CAN)
2. Catherine Roberge (CAN)
3. Yacintha Nguyen-Huu (CAN)

Women's +78kg
1. Toni Geiger (Dumont, N.J. / Tech Judo)
2. Lenuta Berinde (CAN)
3. Dania Belino-Stitt (CAN)

Men's 55kg
1. Youssef Youssef (CAN)
2. Shujon Mazumder (CAN)
3. Matthew Ausman (CAN)

Men's 81kg
1. Travis Stevens (Wakefield, Mass. / NYAC / USA Judo National Team FORCE)
2. Kalem Kachur (CAN)
3. Nicolas Bernard (FRA)
3. Klemen Ferjan (SLO)
5. Justin Imagawa (CAN)
5. Guillaume Perrault (CAN)

Men's 90kg
1. Marvin De La Croes (NED)
2. Robert Edward (CAN)
3. Dilyaver Sheykhislyamov (CAN)
3. Michael Horley (GBR)
5. Hasni Khalfi (CAN)
5. Lukasz Mozdzen (CAN)

Also Competed: Harry Chandler (Pittsfield, Mass. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center), 0-2
Tony Sangimino (Glenville, N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center), 0-1

Men's 100kg
1. Kyle Vashkulat (Glenville, N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center)
2. Scott Edward (CAN)
3. Myles Porter (Colorado Springs, Colo. / NYAC / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)
3. Danny Meeuwsen (NED)
5. Cole Hunt (CAN)
5. Matthias Truffy (FRA)

Also Competed: William Worthington (Richmond, Calif. / Cahill's Judo Academy), 0-2

Men's +100kg
1. Daniel McCormick (Wakefield, Mass. / NYAC / USA Judo National Team FORCE)
2. James McManus (CAN)

Tags: Alexa Liddie, Anna Feygina, Daniel McCormick, Hana Carmichael, Hannah Martin, Harry Chandler, Jessica Irons, Kyle Vashkulat, Myles Porter, Natalie Lafon, Toni Geiger, Tony Sangimino, Travis Stevens, William Worthington