Ronda Rousey won the Bronze Medal in the Pan American Judo Championship; Dan McCormick Placed Fourth in the Tre Torri Judo Tournament in Italy. Pedro’s Judo Center 19 New Salem St. Wakefield, MA 01880 978-973-6238 pedrosjudo@verizon.net

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Ronda Rousey of Wakefield Mass, a member of Team FORCE, training at Pedro's Judo Center, won the bronze medal in the 2007 Pan American Judo Championship held in Montreal, Canada on May 25. Ronda, who is a two-time Pan Am Champion had the day’s most difficult match, facing Onix Cortes (CUB), her former rival in the 63kg division in her first match. Both players moved up to the 70 kg division in early 2007. After a controversy of a scoreboard error the Cuban won the match with three Yuko scores against only two Yuko scores earned by Rousey. Rousey then dropped down to the repechage where she had a walkover after 2005 Champion Diana Chala (ECU) withdrew prior to her match with Cuba. In the next round, Rousey pinned Veronica Mendoza (ESA) to advance to the bronze medal match against Catherine Roberge (CAN), a four-time World Cup medalist. Roberge and Rousey each committed two penalties, but Rousey threw Roberge twice for yuko scores to win the match. In the 2007 Tre Torri Judo Tournament held in Italy on June 1st Dan McCormick of Wakefield, Mass, a member of Team FORCE training at Pedro's Judo Center, place fourth in a Round Robin division, after winning his match against Vito Zocco (ITA) in the over 100 KG division. Dan lost his other matches on that day. Next for Team FORCE members will be the Pan American Games (July 19-22 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). Ronda Rousey (70 KG), Rick Hawn (90 KG) and Asma Sharif (over 78 KG), all of Wakefield, Mass, will represent the US in this event. Ronda Rousey (second from Right), 2007 Pan American Judo Championship Editorial Credit: Nicole Jomantas (USA Judo)