Gotay Finishes Ninth at Worlds, Reser Advances to the Second Round

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) - Valerie Gotay (Temecula, Calif./57kg) had been here before. Perhaps not this particular arena in Cairo, Egypt, but she's been to the big show. As a 17-year-old she competed in her first senior World Championships. As an 18-year-old she was an Olympian at the Barcelona Games.

And then she walked away from it all, went to college, married and had two kids.

Who would have thought she'd be back for another go-round?

Last year with the National Championships held in her backyard of San Diego, Gotay decided to make just one more run at the Olympic Games. She shocked many by finishing second at the Olympic Trials.

This year the 31-year-old had a remarkable season, winning bronze at the Pacific Rims, gold at the Pan American Championships, placing fifth at the Bulgaria Open and, most importantly, qualifying for her second World Championship Team.

And this week Gotay found herself back at the World Championships - this time in Cairo, Egypt.

On Saturday, Gotay landed in the middle of a difficult draw, but soundly defeated Tania Ferreira (BRA) by ippon (instant win), grabbing hold of the Brazilian within the first eight seconds and pinning her for the win, before losing to eventual gold medalist Sun Hui Kye (PRK) on penalties in the second round: three for Gotay, two for Kye at the end of the five minute match.

Kye's win showed that the 25-year-old continues to defy the odds as she became the youngest Olympic gold medalist in history at 16 in Atlanta and has medaled in every Olympic and World Championship competition since.

"Of all the women Kye fought today, Valerie fought her the best. It was a very tactical match and Val just came up one penalty up," said Head Coach Eddie Liddie (Colorado Springs, Colo.) "All in all, Valerie showed she can compete at this level and fight with the best."

Kye's success win in the quarterfinal meant that Gotay was sent to the repechage in a quest for bronze. Gotay defeated Maria Lindberg (SWE) by Ippon, but lost to eventual bronze medalist Sabrina Filmozer (AUT) in the final minute of their match, finishing ninth overall.

For her wins, Gotay will receive $500 ($250 each) as an athlete incentive from 1987 World Champion Mike Swain / Swain International Sports and Orange County Kodokan Judo Club.

Ryan Reser (Colorado Springs, Colo./73kg) entered his first World Championships as the heir apparent to Jimmy Pedro (Methuen, Mass.) who had an American lock on the division since his first bronze medal at the Atlanta Games and continuing through a 1999 World Championship and second bronze in Athens.

Coming into this week, Reser had picked up several key international wins, including victories at this year's Pan Ams and Pacific Rims as well as a fifth place finish at the Belguim Open.

Reser fought well early, picking up a win in his first match against Nourredine Yagoubi (ALG) by a waza-ari (half-point) in five minutes after being down by two yukos (quarter-points), but lost to Athens bronze medalist and top seed Kiyoshi Uematsu (ESP) who threw him with osoto gari (major outer reaping) for ippon. Reser nearly had a spot in the repechage, but Uematsu was upset in the quarters by Italy 's Francesco Bruyere before going on to win bronze.

Reser will receive $250 as part of an athlete incentive program for his first-round victory from 2004 Olympic Team Leader Buck Wessell and Ingersoll Products in Boulder, Colo.

One could argue that Carrie Chandler (Scotia, N.Y./52kg) had the toughest draw of the American crew, resulting in an opening round loss to Asian Champion and eventual bronze medalist Kum Ae An (PRK) by ippon. An lost her next match to eventual goldl medalist Yuki Yokosawa (JPN), eliminating Chandler from further competition.

Justin Flores (Menlo Park, Calif./66kg) lost his opening round to Muratabe Kipshakbayev (KAZ) by ippon. Kipshakbayev lost to David Margoshvili (GEO) in the third round, eliminating Flores.

"This is a very young group we have competing this time around, but I think they've all showed a lot of potential and we should have a good mix for Worlds in 2007," Liddie said.

Complete results are as follows:

Women's 52kg
1. Ying Li (CHN)
2. Yuki Yokosawa (JPN)
3. Telma Monteiro (POR)
3. Kum Ae An (PRK)
5. Iona Aluas (ROM)
5. Lyudmila Bogdanova (RUS)
7. Zaimaris Calderon (CUB)
7. Munkhbaatar Bundmaa (MGL)

Also Competed: Carrie Chandler (Scotia, N.Y.), 0-1

Women's 57kg
1. Sun Hui Kye (PRK)
2. Yvonne Boenisch (GER)
3. Khashbat Erdenet-Od (MGL)
3. Sabrina Filzmoser (AUT)
5. Yurisleidys Lupetey (CUB)
5. Isabel Fernandez (ESP)
7. Fanny Riaboff (FRA)
7. Inga Golaszewska (POL)

Also Competed: Valerie Gotay (Temecula, Calif.), 2-2

Men's 66kg
1. Joao Derly Junior (BRA)
2. Masato Uchishiba (JPN)
3. Milos Ungvari (HUN)
3. Arash Miresmaili (IRI)
5. Oscar Penas (ESP)
5. David Margoshvili (GEO)
7. Dax Elmont (NED)
7. Amin El Hady (EGY)

Also Competed: Justin Flores (Menlo Park, Calif.), 0-1

Men's 73kg
1. Akos Braun (HUN)
2. Francesco Bruyere (ITA)
3. Gennadij Bilodid (UKR)
3. Kiyoshi Uematsu (ESP)
5. Henri Schoeman (NED)
5. Claudiu Bastea (ROM)
7. Krzyszto Wilkomirski (POL)
7. Leandro Guilheiro (BRA)

Also Competed: Ryan Reser (Colorado Springs, Colo.), 1-1

 

Tags: 2005 Senior World Championships, Carrie Chandler, Eddie Liddie, Justin Flores, Ryan Reser, Valerie Gotay