Team USA Wins Dual Meet Against Brazil

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) - Team USA defeated Team Brazil in a dual meet on Sunday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Held with five players on each team in conjunction with the World Grappling Championships, the meet included two matches between each pairing with the nation who had the best-of-10 results winning the event. 

Team USA started strong, winning each of the first four matches and tying a fifth. 

Vitaliy Vanyan (North Hollywood, Calif. / Mojica Judo Club) threw Bruno Irapuan (BRA) for a yuko (quarter-point) score to take an early lead in the 60kg division.  After receiving a stalling penalty, Irapual came back to throw Vanyan for a waza-ari (half-point) score to take the lead.  Although Vanyan earned two more yukos, including one from a second penalty committed by Irapuan and another from a seoi nage (shoulder throw), the Brazilian still led the match by the waza-ari score.  Vanyan kept attacking, however, and threw Irapuan for the waza-ari that would win him the match in the final 30 seconds.  

Neither Julio Rodriguez (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center / Boulder Judo Training Center) nor Afonso Baldigen (BRA) scored during their 66kg match which was declared a draw.

In the 73kg division, 2009 Junior World Team member Andrew Porras (Hialeah, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami) threw Leo Alan (BRA) for ippon (instant win) with an o soto gari (outer leg throw). 

The 81kg division was a battle of the former Pan American Champions as Olympian Ryan Reser (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center / Boulder Judo Training Center) led his match against Guilherme Luna (BRA) after Luna was given two penalties.  Reser finished the match when he threw Luna for ippon.  

Two-time Pan Am medalist Garry St. Leger (Brooklyn, N.Y. / NYAC / Legrosports Starrett) won the 90kg division when he threw Wagner Cezare (BRA) for ippon with a kata guruma (fireman's carry). 

Leading the series 4-0-1, Team USA needed two more wins in the second round to win the dual.

Irapuan committed two penalties early in the 60kg match to give Vanyan a yuko lead.  Vanyan ended the match when he threw Irapuan for ippon with a drop seoi nage. 

Team Brazil made a comeback, though, winning the next three matches.

In the 66kg division, Baldigen led by a waza-ari throughout the match.  After taking the match to the ground to run down the clock in the final minute, Baldigen threw Rodriguez again for a yuko score. 

Having fought many times in the past, Brazilian Alan was determined to avenge his first loss to Porras who he threw for ippon in the 73kg division.

After early stalling penalties were awarded to both Reser and Luna in the 81kg division, both players picked up the pace in one of the day's most exciting matches.  Luna threw Reser for a yuko score in the last minute which he held onto for the win.

Finishing the day on a high note, St. Leger controlled his match against Cezare who he threw for ippon in the second minute to finish the dual for Team USA with a 6-3-1 record overall.

Tags: Andrew Porras, Garry St. Leger, Julio Rodriguez Jr., Ryan Reser, Vitaliy Vanyan