Photo by Whitehorse Star
LEAVING HER MARK 鈥� Amy Roberts pins an opponent during a bout in Whitehorse earlier this year. Roberts finished seventh in her weight class at nationals last weekend.
Yukoners impress at judo nationals
Four Yukon judokas helped the territory make a proud return to the national judo championships last weekend.
Amy Roberts, Jerry Miller, and Jacob and Shayne Melanson were all in Saguenay, Que., under the direction of Bianca Ockedahl, a former national team member who is currently serving as Judo Yukon's high performance coach.
While Roberts was the only Yukoner to win a bout at the event 鈥� she beat P.E.I.'s Samantha Paugh 鈥� Ockedahl said she was very happy and proud of her students' performances on the country's biggest stage.
"Coming from zero athletes at nationals to having four athletes represent the Yukon this year is a grand accomplishment,鈥� the coach said. "They learned a lot and have come out winners with all the experience they will bring home.
"This is a stepping stone in the right direction for Judo Yukon.鈥�
Roberts finished with a 1-2 record, good for seventh in the U18, -48kg category. She lost her first bout to Laurence Thiffault of Quebec, which dropped her down to repechage, where she beat Paugh.
She then lost to Ontario's Carolina Rincon after a full four-minute bout.
Meanwhile, the Yukon's three male judokas each returned home with 0-2 records. Competing in U18, -60kg, Jacob Melanson lost to Dimitri Doughaud from Quebec and Saskatchewan's Mike Clark.
Younger brother Shayne competed in the U16, -66kg category, losing to Ontario's Benjamin Kendrick and Alberta's Isa Dzhabrailov.
Miller dropped an aggressive bout to Quebec's Francois Gauthier-Drapeau, before losing his second straight when pinned by Newfoundlander Curtis Simpson. Miller was also competing in the U18, -60kg weight class.
"It was all about experience and taking in anything and everything you can,鈥� Ockedahl said of the 2014 event. "I just wanted them to get the idea and see what a big tournament feels like.鈥�
The coach has high hopes for each of the athletes, and hopes to see the Yukon make an even better impression at next year's championships.
Beginning this summer, she will lead conditioning and training clinics to give the competitive athletes an early leg up on the competition.
"They all have potential to win a fight, or even medal if they want to,鈥� Ockedahl said of the four judokas.
"They understand that and they want more training, which is great.鈥�
This weekend, a small group of Yukon judokas will travel to Anchorage to compete in the Alaska State Championships.
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