The Portage Judo Club had quite a successful trip to Edmonton last weekend. Four members of the club attended the 2023 Edmonton International Championships, with three of them collecting medals.
Tennyson Verwey brought home the gold medal for the -81kg Senior Novice Male category. Jacob Dudgeson-Sykes won bronze in the -73kg Senior Novice Male category. In the U16 Male category, David Bevan collected a bronze medal in -66kg competition. Olivia Krynski was unfortunately injured during U21 competition and was not able to continue.
Brian Case, head coach of the Portage Judo Club, attended the competition to support the athletes and also act as a referee for some of the matches. He says this tournament attracts judo clubs from all over Canada, with some coming in from Los Angeles.
"For two of the members, this was the first trip they've been able to do with the provincial team," explains Case. "So, it was a big thing for them, and this is the largest tournament by far in the nation."
The event was held at the West Edmonton Mall, and Case explains that there were two levels for the spectator area, with viewers sitting shoulder to shoulder throughout all three days.
"It was a big event for them, and some of them were a little shellshocked, but they managed to come back and do very well to medal at the competition," says Case.
The Portage Judo Club will host a tournament here on April 22nd.
Fri, Apr 19, 7:00 PM
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