Jimmy Pedro qualifies for Athens Olympic Games

The following are the results of the 2004 Olympic Team Trials in Judo held at the San Jose State Events Center, San Jose, Calif. The #1 seeded athlete going into the trials became the Olympian in 9 of 12 qualified divisions. Seven of the divisions finished with the #1 seed undefeated.

Returning Olympians were Jimmy Pedro, Methuen, MA at 73 kg (4th Olympic team), Ellen Wilson, Colo. Springs, at 57 kg (2nd Olympic Team), and Brain Olson, Boulder, CO at 90 kg (3rd Olympic Team). In addition top seeds Taraje Williams-Murray, Bronx, NY, 60 kg, Rick Hawn, Colo. Springs, 81 kg, Charlee Minkin, Colo. Springs, 52 kg, and Ronda Rousey, Santa Monica, Calif., 63 kg, went undefeated and made their first Olympic Team.
In 5 divisions the #1 seed lost a match in the initial session and was forced to play the winner of the initial session in a best two of three elimination set of matches.

In Men’s +100 kg division Martin Boonzaayer, Hoffman Estates, Ill. Prevailed, winning the first and third of the set and made is 2nd consecutive Olympic Team.

In the 66 kg Division, Alex Ottiano, Lawrence, MA, defeated Justin Flores, Encinitas, CA two out of three matches to make his 2nd consecutive Olympic Team.

In the Men 100kg division, Rhadi Ferguson, Colo. Springs, defended his #1 seed position, beating Mike Barnes, San Jose, CA. in two consecutive matches to make his first Olympic Team.

In the Women’s 70kg division Celita Schutz, New York City, won two consecutive matches over Christina Yannetsos, Colorado Springs, to claim her second consecutive Olympic slot.

In the Women’s 78kg divisions, Nicole Kubes of Ft. Worth Texas, won two matches in a row over Molly O’Rouke, Oak Harbor, Washington to make her first Olympic team.

Complete Results:
Men 60 kg,
Olympian: Taraje Williams-Murray, Bronx, NY
Alternate: Kenny Hashimoto, Thornton, CO
Men 66 kg
Olympian: Alex Ottiano, Lawrence, MA
Alternate: Justin Flores, Encinitas, CA
Men 73 kg
Olympian: Jimmy Pedro, Methuen, MA
Alternate: Ryan Reser, Colo. Springs, CO
Men 81 kg
Olympian: Rick Hawn, Colo. Springs, CO
Alternate: Tetsu Okano San Jose, CA
Men 90 kg
Olympian: Brian Olson, Boulder, ‘CO
Alternate: Dariusz Mikolajczak, Brooklyn, NY
100 kg
Olympian: Rhadi Fergusson Colo. Springs, CO
Alternate: Mike Barnes, San Jose, CA
+100 kg
Olympian: Martin Boonzaayer, Hoffman Estates, IL
Alternate: Kirk Hoffman, Colo. Springs, CO
Women 52 kg
Olympian: Charlee Minkin, Colo. Springs, CO
Alternate: Liz Burns, Scotia, NY
Women 57 kg
Olympian: Ellen Wilson, Colo. Springs, CO
Alternate: Valerie Gotay, Vista, CA
Women 63 kg
Olympian: Ronda Rousey, Santa Monica, CA
Alternate: Grace Jividen, Littleton, CO
Women 70 kg
Olympian: Celita Schutz New York, NY
Alternate: Christina Yannetsos Colo. Springs, CO
Women 78 kg
Olympian: Nicole Kubes, Ft. Worth, TX
Alternate: Molly O’Rouke, Oak Harbor, WA

Two Women’s divisions that are not qualified for Athens were contested on a contingency basis in the event that qualified countries elect not to attend the Olympics and the USA receives an invitation to attend. This situation occurred with the Men’s 60kg category 3 weeks ago when Cuba decided to not send an athlete to the Games in that category and the United States, as the next country in line became qualified.