February 21, 2007 - Wakefield, MA - A total of 421 competitors competed at the 4^th annual Pedro’s Judo Challenge held in Wakefield, MA on February 17, 2007. In its first year as an official US Judo Elite point event, the tournament drew national and international competitors from Canada, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and some of the best US judo programs, including Olympic athletes and World team members. In attendance were 2004 Olympian Rick Hawn, 2005 World team members Justin Flores, Darius Mikolajczak and Carrie Chandler, and 2006 Junior World team members Jeremy Liggett, AJ Silverman, Yuko Sin, Harry St. Leger, and Hannah Martin.

Each Black Belt division winner was awarded $250 in prize money thanks to a major sponsorship by the Zebra Mats. Radu Brestyan, Rick Hawn, and Dan McCormick, all of Wakefield, Mass, members of Team FORCE and training at Pedro’s Judo Center in Wakefield won their Senior Black belt divisions and collected $250 in Prize money for their efforts. Radu went 5-0 to win the Men’s elite 73 kg division and Rick, fighting up from his normal division, went 5-1 in the 90 kg division, including an exciting 2 out of 3 win over Canadian Fred Jaskiewicz. Dan went 3-0 in the over 100 kg division, winning all of his matches with little difficulty.

For the second year in a row, Pedro's Judo Center’s competition team captured the team trophy, claiming 18 first places, 14 second places and 6 third places.

The Overall Team standings were as follows:
1^st place - Pedro's Judo Center, Wakefield, MA
2^nd place - Mayo Quanchi Judo, West Warwick, RI
3^rd Place - Jason Morris Judo Center, Scotia, NY

A few members from Pedro’s kids’ competition team continued to challenge themselves, fighting their normal division in addition to also competing in the next division by age or weight. Dante Vinciarelli, 12, of Lynn won the gold in the 11-12 years old boys division as well as a silver medal in a tough 13-14 years old division. The three brothers from the Boyle family of Boxford, Mass showed exceptional fighting spirit winning five medals overall: John Boyle, 8, won two gold medals, Luke Boyle, 9, won gold and silver, and Mark Boyle, 11, won one gold medal. Meghan Arena, 12, of Medford, Mass, won the gold in her regular division. Meghan decided to “test the water” by fighting the older 13-16 years old girls, and surprised herself with a silver medal in this division. Riley McIlwain, 15, of Lynn concluded the list of Pedro’s double-medal winners, earning a bronze medal in his junior 15-16 years old division, in addition to a silver medal in the senior men Novice division.

On Sunday, February 18th approximately 50 athletes attended the 2nd Annual Pedro's Judo Clinic hosted by Pedro's Judo Center and sponsored by USA Judo. The two session clinic was run by 1999 World Champion Jimmy Pedro and combined technical training and randori. Many members of the junior and senior national team attended the training session, in addition to top Canadian athletes and a junior team from Puerto Rico.

Individual Results as well as links to the pool sheets can be found at 2007 Pedro's Challenge Results

About Team FORCE: Team FORCE is a joint program between Pedro’s Judo Center (Wakefield, MA) and the Boulder Judo Training Center (Boulder, CO). Team FORCE is a full-time resident training program for judo athletes looking not only to advance their level of success in the sport, but also to become well-rounded individuals and successful leaders within their community. Team FORCE helps produce athletes and role models made up of young people who care about their community, believe in their ability to make a difference, and assume personal responsibility for themselves and others.

About Pedro’s Judo Center: Pedro's Judo Center was founded in September 1996 and is owned by 1999 World Champion, 4-time Olympian and Olympic medallist, Jimmy Pedro. The mission of Pedro's Judo Center is to produce leaders and champions on and off the mat while providing the highest quality physical and mental martial arts training to every man, woman, and child who has the desire to improve themselves. In its tenth year of operation, Pedro's Judo Center has already become one of the most successful judo centers in the nation by producing many national and international champions.

For more information, please visit http://www.pedrosmartialarts.com or call 800-510-4026