April 24, 2007 - Miami, Fla - (Miami, Fla.) – The 2007 USA Judo Senior National Championships was held at the Florida International University on Friday and Saturday. In addition to being a National Championships, the event also included the Trials for the Teams that will compete at the 2007 Pan American Games, July 19-22, and the World Championships, Sept. 16-19, both in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Three members of Team FORCE coached by two-time Olympic medalist Jimmy Pedro (Wakefield, Mass.) qualified for the team.

Rick Hawn (Wakefield, Mass.) of Team FORCE, training at Pedro's Judo Center was successful in his second major tournament since moving up to 90kg in February. A 2004 Olympian at 81kg, Hawn won the National Championships, throwing 2006 National Champion Garry St. Leger (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Starrett Judo) in the final and forcing St. Leger into a best-of-three fight-off for the Pan American Games and World Teams.

Hawn then went on to throw St. Leger in two more matches to secure his berth on the Pan Am Games and World Teams.

Ronda Rousey (Wakefield, Mass), also a member of Team FORCE dominated the 70kg division in her first domestic event since moving up from 63kg to win the Vienna World Cup in February. Rousey threw 2006 Senior Nationals medalist Katie Sell (Harlingen, Texas / USA Judo National Training Site at Harlingen) for a waza-ari, moving straight into a pin for ippon (instant win) in just over 40 seconds. Ronda entered the National Championships as the #1 seed, and by winning the title she secured her spot on the Pan American and World team.

The third member of Team FORCE, training at Pedro’s Judo Center to qualify for the Team was Asma Sharif (Wakefield, Mass.) A fifth place finisher at this event last year, Sharif moved up to +78kg in March.

After pinning 2006 National Champion Melinda Swanson (Honolulu, Hawaii / Hawaii Tenri) in the semifinals, Sharif won her final match against 2005 World Team member Heidi Moore (Englewood, Colo. / Denver Judo) by a penalty.

Asma then fought #1 seeded Brittni Bradford (Live Oak, Texas / Universal Judo) in the Trials, throwing her for ippon with a seoi nage (shoulder throw) in the first two minutes and then racking up waza-ari (half-point) and koka (smallest points) in their second Trials match before throwing Bradford for ippon with just over a minute remaining to win the Trials.

Radu Brestyan went 4-1 for the day to earn the Bronze medal in the 73kg division and Dan McCormick earned two Bronze medals in the over 100kg and the Open divisions, going 3-1 in each division. Radu and Dan are both members of Team FORCE, training at Pedro's Judo Center.


Rick Hawn (white) fighting Garry St. Legger


Dan McCormick (blue) during one of his matches at the Sr. National Championships


Asma Sharif receiving her Gold medal at the Sr. National Championships


Ronda Rousey is getting ready for one of her mathces at the Sr. National Championships


Editorial Credit: Nicole Jomantas (USA Judo)
Photos Credit: The Judo Podcast