Delpopolo, Harrison and Turner Earn Gold, Team USA Wins 12 Overall Medals at Venezuela World Cup

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – Team USA had its most successful World Tour event in United States history over the weekend when U.S. athletes earned 12 medals, including three gold medals. 

After winning the 78kg division at the Sao Paulo World Cup three weeks ago, Kayla Harrison (Wakefield, Mass. / NYAC / USA Judo National Team FORCE) won her second career title on Saturday.  After a first-round bye and a second round win over Susana Melendez (VEN), Harrison defeated 2009 Pan American Champion Kaliema Antormachi (CUB) in the semifinals by ippon (instant win).  

In the final, Harrison defeated 2008 Olympic silver medalist Yalennis Castillo (CUB) for the third time this year to win the gold medal.

Competing in his first-ever World Cup event, 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Alternate Anthony Turner (Miami, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at South Florida) won the +100kg title on Saturday.  Turner pinned Pedro Pineda (VEN) in the quarter-finals and defeated Orlando Baccino (ARG) by referees’ decision in an overtime semifinal match.  

Turner ended his grueling day with a final victory over Ramon Flores (MEX) by one penalty to Flores’ two.

Nick Delpopolo (Wakefield, Mass. / NYAC / USA Judo National Team FORCE) got a boost of confidence going into his first Senior World Championships in September as he reeled off four match wins on Sunday to earn his first Senior World Cup title in the 73kg division.

Delpopolo opened his day by defeating Luis Vega (ARG) by two yukos (quarter-point each) and winning his quarter-final against 2010 Pan Am silver medalist Antonio Rivas (VEN) by ippon.  In the semifinals, Delpopolo led by a waza-ari before defeating Lucas Pascal (URU) by ippon. 

In his most difficult match of the day, Delpopolo earned a yuko lead against 10-time Pan Am medalist Ludwing Ortiz (VEN) midway through the match.  Delpopolo held off the more experienced player throughout the rest of the five-minute match to win his first international title outside of North America.

Delpopolo was one of three U.S. players to fight for medals in the 73kg division.  Andrew Porras (Miami, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at South Florida) advanced to the semifinals as well, but found himself fighting two-time Senior National Champion Michael Eldred (Fruitland, Idaho / Western Idaho Judo Institute) for bronze after a loss to Ortiz.

Eldred ended the match with an ippon in the first minute of the match to earn his second career World Cup medal as Porras placed fifth. 

Three U.S. players also fought in the finals and won silver medals.

After two victories on Sunday that included an opening win over 2008 Pan American Champion Flor Velazquez (VEN) in the 57kg division, Marti Malloy (San Jose, Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University) found herself in a rematch of her Pan Am final in April. 

Malloy and 2001 World Champion Yurisleidis Lupetey (CUB) fought for the first two minutes of the match without a score.  After both athletes were given stalling penalties, Lupetey attacked and won the match by ippon.  The silver medal is the second World Cup podium finish for Malloy who placed third at the Sao Paulo World Cup in May. 

The 57kg division also included two other U.S. players who were fighting for first-time World Cup medals against each other.  Anna Palmer (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center) defeated Hannah Martin (Burnt Hills, N.Y / NYAC / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center) in the repechage to earn her chance to fight for a World Cup bronze medal.  After the win over Martin, Palmer defeated Stephanie Tremblay (CAN) to win her first World Cup bronze. 

The surprise winner of the 2010 Pan Ams in the 66kg division, Brad Bolen (Glenville, N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center) reminded an international audience that he is a player to watch on Sunday when he made his first World Cup medal a silver one.  Bolen won his first two matches to advance to the final where he and 2010 Pan Am bronze medalist Ricardo Valderrama (VEN) fought for two minutes before Valderrama won the match by ippon.

Coming off a bronze medal at the Pan Ams in April, Bolen’s JMJC teammate Kyle Vashkulat (Glenville, N.Y. / NYAC) won his first World Cup medal on Saturday in the 100kg division.  Vashkulat advanced to the final after a semifinal win over 2009 U.S. Open medalist Anthony Pena (VEN).  In the final, Vashkulat trailed by two penalties against Cristian Schmidt (ARG) when he was caught for a yuko score in the final seconds of the match. 

Schmidt entered the 100kg final off a semifinal win over 2007 Senior National Champion Shintaro Higashi (Scarsdale, N.Y. / NYAC / Kokushi) who came back to defeat Fernando Vanoye (MEX) by ippon to win his first World Cup bronze.

In addition to Palmer, Eldred and Higashi, Team USA also included three other bronze medalists. 

Aaron Cohen (Buffalo Grove, Ill. / NYAC / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center) had earned five Pan Am medals in the 81kg division, but on Saturday the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Alternate won his first World Cup medal as a 90kg player with a victory over three-time Pan Am medalist Jose Camacho (VEN) by two penalties.

The 70kg division included a bronze medal match between two teammates at the USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.  Although neither player had won a World Cup medal going into the match, 2009 Senior National Champion Katie Sell had fought for bronze at the 2009 Belo Horizonte World Cup while Sam Bleier was competing in her first World Cup event.  The two battled for the full five minutes before Sell earned the win off of two penalties by Bleier.

A two-time Senior National Champion in the 60kg division, Nick Kossor (Glenville, N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center) nearly had the chance to fight for gold, but lost by three penalties to two in the semifinals to eight-time Pan Am medalist Javier Guedez (VEN).  In the bronze medal match, Kossor earned a quick win by ippon over Armando Maita (VEN) who he defeated in less than a minute. 

Two members of the Senior World Team also fought for bronze, but each lost close final matches and placed fifth in the 52kg division.  Jeanette Rodriguez (Davie, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at South Florida) fought reigning Pan Am Champion Yulieth Sanchez (COL) into overtime before losing by a yuko.  Angelica Delgado (Miami, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at South Florida) was pinned with just over a minute remaining in her bronze medal match against Raquel Silva (BRA).

Complete results are as follows:

Men’s 60kg
1. Javier Guedez (VEN)
2. Ronny Blanco (VEN)
3. Nick Kossor (Glenville, N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center)
3. Juan Postigos (PER)
5. Santiago Gualco (ARG)
5. Armando Maita (VEN)
7. Freddy Lopez (ESA)
7. Josh Prado (Coral Springs, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at South Florida)

Men’s 66kg
1. Ricardo Valderrama (VEN)
2. Brad Bolen (Glenville, N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center)
3. Sergio Poll (VEN)
3. Luize Revite (BRA)
5. Carlos Figueroa (ESA)
5. Fabian Gonzales (COL)
7. Armando Alvarez (VEN)
7. Cellis Poll (VEN)

Men’s 73kg
1. Nick Delpopolo (Wakefield, Mass. / NYAC / USA Judo National Team FORCE)
2. Ludwig Ortiz (VEN)
3. Michael Eldred (Fruitland, Idaho / Western Idaho Judo Institute)
3. Emmanuel Nartey (GHA)
5. Andrew Porras (Hialeah, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at South Florida)
5. Lucas Pascal (URU)
7. Alejandro Clara (ARG)
7. Antonio Rivas (VEN)

Men’s 81kg
1. Nacif Elias (BRA)
2. Pedro Castro (COL)
3. Antoine Valoi-Fortier (CAN)
3. German Velazco (PER)
5. Justin Imagawa (CAN)
5. Kalem Kachur (CAN)
7. Anibal Espinoza (VEN)
7. Harry St. Leger (Brooklyn, N.Y. / NYAC / Legrosports Starrett)

Men’s 90kg
1. Hector Campos (ARG)
2. Diego Rosati (ARG)
3. Aaron Cohen (Buffalo Grove, Ill. / NYAC / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)
3. Nelson Martineez (VEN)
5. Jose Camacho (VEN)
5. Isao Cardenas (MEX)
7. Humberto Alvarez (VEN)
7. Alexis Chiclana (PUR)

Also Competed: Jake Larsen (Lafayette, Colo. / Team FORCE / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center), 0-1

Men’s 100kg
1. Cristian Schmidt (ARG)
2. Kyle Vashkulat (Glenville, N.Y. / NYAC / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center)
3. Shintaro Higashi (Scarsdale, N.Y. / NYAC / Kokushi)
3. Anthony Pena (VEN)
5. Hector Riera (VEN)
5. Fernando Vanoye (MEX)

Men’s +100kg
1. Anthony Turner (Miami, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at South Florida)
2. Ramon Flores (MEX)
3. Orlando Baccino (ARG)
3. Richard Diaz (VEN)
5. Francisco Ruiz (VEN)
5. Elvis Sibada (VEN)
7. Pedro Pineda (VEN)

Women’s 48kg
1. Paula Pareto (ARG)
2. Dayaris Mestre (CUB)
3. Diana Ortiz (VEN)
3. Daniela Polzin (BRA)
5. Lisa Kearney (IRL)
5. Bianca Ockedahl (CAN)
7. Luz Alvarez (COL)
7. Ann Shiraishi (San Francisco, Calif. / East Bay Judo Institute)

Women’s 52kg
1. Yanet Bermoy (CUB)
2. Andressa Fernandes (BRA)
3. Yulieth Sanchez (COL)
3. Raquel Silva (BRA)
5. Angelica Delgado (Miami, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at South Florida)
5. Jeanette Rodriguez (Davie, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at South Florida)
7. Wisneibi Machado (VEN)
7. Rosmelin Rodriguez (VEN) 

Women’s 57kg
1. Yurisleidis Lupetey (CUB)
2. Marti Malloy (San Jose, Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University)
3. Yadinys Amaris (COL)
3. Anna Palmer (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)
5. Katherine Campos (BRA)
5. Stefanie Tremblay (CAN)
7. Hannah Martin (Burnt Hills, N.Y. / NYAC / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center)
7. Flor Velazquez (VEN)

Women’s 63kg
1. Yaritza Abel (CUB)
2. Diana Velasco (COL)
3. Ysis Barreto (VEN)
3. Camila Minakawa (BRA)
5. Kylie Koenig (AUS)
5. Myriam Lamarche (CAN)
7. Kercy Romero (VEN)
7. Maria Suarez (VEN)

Also Competed: Christal Ransom (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center), 0-1

Women’s 70kg
1. Onix Cortes (CUB)
2. Maria Perez (PUR)
3. Glaucia Lima (BRA)
3. Katie Sell (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)
3. Juliana Tonasse (BRA)
5. Samantha Bleier (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)
5. Juliana Tonasse (BRA)
7. Maria Rojas (VEN)
7. Carolina Torres (VEN)

Women’s 78kg
1. Kayla Harrison (Wakefield, Mass. / NYAC / USA Judo National Team FORCE)
2. Yalennis Castillo (CUB)
3. Kaliema Antormachi (CUB)
3. Marylise Levesque (CAN)
5. Lorena Briceno (ARG)
5. Anny Cortes (COL)
7. Greidys Cardenas (VEN)
7. Susana Melendez (VEN)

Women’s +78kg
1. Idalis Ortiz (CUB)
2. Vanessa Zambotti (MEX)
3. Geovanna Blanco (VEN)
3. Rochele Nunes (BRA)
5. Maria Rivas (VEN)
5. Janelle Shepherd (AUS)
7. Yuliana Bolivar (VEN)
7. Jaibet Pereira (VEN)

Tags: Aaron Cohen, Anna Palmer, Anthony Turner, Kayla Harrison, Marti Malloy, Michael Eldred, Nick Delpopolo, Shintaro Higashi