JMJC Win 32 Medals at Morris Judo Cup

         Burnt Hills, NY - The Glenville based Jason Morris Judo Center (JMJC) won 32 total medals including 17 Gold at 13th annual Morris Cup Judo Championships to win the overall team title for the sixth consecutive time and eighth overall. This was the first year for the event to be held over two days with the elite going on saturday october 11 and the juniors competing on sunday the 12th. The JMJC has also won titles in 2002, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 & 2013. The Morris Cup is an "E" level event for USA Judo as athletes can earn valuable points on the USA Judo rankings. The JMJC athletes won 7 titles in the Elite divisions starting with Alex Turner (21) who impressively won the 73kg title and the $300 first prize award for winning. Also among the JMJC Elite gold medal performances where BHBL graduate, Nick Kossor (28) who easily won 60kg, Brad Bolen (25) cruised to the 66kg title, Ashley Hejlik (28) picked up the title at 48kg, Maria Dhami (19) preformed well winning 52kg and this served as a great warm up for her before the Jr. Worlds in 2 weeks, Leah Fisher (31) captured the 70kg weight class and Tony Sangimino (23) dominated the 81kg division to claim his third Morris Cup title. Burnt Hills graduate, Eric Skylar (17) turned heads with his showing winning a staggering 6 gold medals going 20-6 over the 2 day event earning him the Rene Capo Trophy for "Most Inspirational" athlete. Skylar competed in 7 total divisions in which the only one he didn't win a medal was the 81kg Elite which JMJC teammate, Sangimino won. Burnt Hills graduate, Paul Martin snagged a gold in the 73kg novice division and former NFL player, Chad Dukes added two more golds winning the +100kg novice and +100 masters (over 30) divisions to add to the total gold medal count for the JMJC.

The Morris Cup, which was founded by 4x Olympian & 2008 Olympic Coach, Jason Morris and named after his father (Bernie) is hosted by Glenville's own Jason Morris Judo Center and is held at the Burnt Hills High School in Burnt Hills, NY. There were 546 total competitors from 15 states, CA, CT, GA, IL, IN, MA, MD, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VA, VT, WI along with Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec & Georgia. "This was overall the most successful Morris Cup in it's history" Olympic Silver Medalist, Jason Morris said. "We are grateful for all our athletes, parents & volunteers as well as everyone who came this year to make it such a terrific event" Morris added. 

SAVE THE DATE: Morris Cup XIV Judo Championships -October 10-11, 2015
Full results will be posted on www.realjudo.net

Special Awards:

Nicolas Gill Award (Most Outstanding Sr. Male)
Alex Turner (JMJC)

Irwin Cohen Award (Most Outstanding Sr. Female)
Carly Patton (West Point)

Jason Morris Award (Most Outstanding Jr. Male)
Ben Yankilevich (Combat Judo)

Teri Takemori Award (Most Outstanding Jr. Female)
Maria Besson (Albatros)

Dave Grimes Award (Potential & Sportsmanship)
Anatoly Fidelman (Samir Judo)

Rene Capo Trophy (Most Inspirational)
Eric Skylar (JMJC)