Katharina Menz shines again at German Championships with eighth title

Seven new athletes captured the German title this weekend in Stuttgart. The event was split into two matchdays. All three middleweights were in action on Saturday. In the 60kg category there was a rematch of last year's final between Maximilian Heyder, four-time German champion, and Moritz Plafky. Plafky took the lead with a wazari score and won after a penalty for Heyder. It was the second title for the Hennef native after 2017.

The final of the 66kg class was won by David Ickes , third from last year, against Noel Schmidt.

In the 73kg category, the first fight of the preliminary round was a rematch of the final fight of 2022 between defending champion Alexander Gabler and Yerrick Schriever. Gabler decided the match in his favour and later entered the final again. Here the 24-year-old defeated Jano Rübo, third last year, to win his second German title.

In the 90kg category, Tim Gramkow, German Champion 2020 and 2021, and Timo Cavelius were in the final. In an exciting fight, Cavelius was able to score the decisive result after eight minutes of fighting time and won his first German title after three runner-up titles in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Defending champion Schamil Dzavbatyrov won bronze.

In the 90kg category, Tim Schmidt repeated his success from 2021. In the final, the 25-year-old defeated Fabian Kansy. Defending champion Johann Lenz won bronze.

Falk Petersilka and George Udsilauri contested the final of the 100kg category. The Bonn native won the match in golden score overtime and won his second German title after 2020. Olympic silver medallist Eduard Trippel, German champion in 2017, 2018 and 2019 in the up to 90kg class, was defeated in the semi-finals by Falk Petersilka in a half-grip.

In the over 100kg category, Losseni Kone, runner-up in 2022, beat Jonas Schreiber, third in 2022 and runner-up in 2020, in a thrilling final.

Vice world champion and defending champion Katharina Menz won the 48kg category against Sarah Ischt. It was already the eighth title for the 32-year-old.

Mascha Ballhaus defeated Annika Würfel, German Champion 2020 and 2021, after an open exchange of blows in the 52kg category. For Ballhaus it was the first national title.

The three title holders of the previous year -57, -63 and -70kg were not at the start due to injury or illness. The new German champions are Seija Ballhaus (up to 57 kg), Agatha Schmidt (up to 63 kg) and Giovanna Scoccimarro (up to 70 kg).

In the 57kg category there was an open exchange of blows in the final between Pauline Starke from the Judo Team Hanover and the U23 European champion Seija Ballhaus. In the golden score overtime Ballhaus could achieve the decisive Ippon score and secured her first title.

Vivian Herrmann, German Champion 2015 and 2016, was ahead in the final of the 63kg class against Agatha Schmidt with a wazari score. A few seconds before the end of the fight, last year's bronze medallist from Bottrop was able to turn the tide and also secured her first title.

In the 70kg category, Giovanna Scoccimarro, who last won the title in 2018, celebrated her comeback. Against Friederike Stolze, last year's runner-up, she ensured the decision in the final bout after 4:30 minutes.

Olympic bronze medallist and 2021 world champion Anna-Maria Wagner, German champion in 2017 and 2018, prevailed confidently in the 78kg weight category. In the final bout she defeated defending champion Teresa Zenker, German Champion 2021 and 2022.

In the over 78kg category, Samira Bouizgarne made a successful comeback after a long injury break. She won against Aylin Mill with a strangle technique.