In an effort to identify and develop talented young judo players, USA Judo is launching the USA Elite U-23 Program, an ongoing program created that will provide training and competition opportunities for athletes under 23-years-old. The USA Elite U-23 Program is a feeder system for the U.S. National Team that will prepare future U.S. medalists for success on the international level, including World Championship and Olympic competition. Athletes in the U-23 program will receive coaching and funding for participation in selected tournaments and camps as well as recommended development plans and assistance with strength and conditioning programs. U-23 Team members also will be assisted with training opportunities in countries such as Great Britain, Germany, and Japan. U-23 Team staff is in the process of securing additional sponsorship dollars for the team, including both direct funding and team apparel. The U-23 Team is directed by Jimmy Pedro (Methuen, Mass.), a two-time Olympic medalist and 1999 World Champion and overseen by Eddie Liddie (Colorado Springs, Colo.), USA Judo Director of Coaching and Athlete Development. Pedro acts as both a leader of the program as well as a mentor to young athletes as he achieved his first levels of elite success at a young age, winning bronze at the 1990 Junior Worlds as a 19-year-old and following with a bronze at Senior Worlds at the age of 20. "I am very excited about the opportunity to work with this talented group of young athletes," Pedro said. "The most important developmental years for judo athletes in the United States are between the ages of 15 and 22. I believe that in this position I will be able to play an instrumental role in helping create future champions for generations to come." Twenty athletes were selected for participation in the program, based on past domestic and international results as well as their potential to become future international medalists. This team includes judo players ranging in age from 14-22-years-old and is highlighted by many of the best senior players in the country, including World Team members Taraje Williams-Murray (Bronx, N.Y./NYAC/Jamie Towers Judo/60kg), Katie Mocco (Scotia, N.Y./NYAC/Jason Morris Judo Center/70kg), Molly O'Rourke (El Cerrito, Calif./East Bay Judo Institute/78kg) and Kirk Hoffmann (Colorado Springs, Colo./Olympic Training Center/+100kg). Other athletes on the team include #1-ranked Eva Smith (Fall River, Mass./Taki-Gawa/+78kg), U.S. Open silver medalist Marti Malloy (San Jose, Calif./San Jose State University/57kg) and British Open bronze medalist Daniel McCormick (Arlington, Texas/Bedford Kodokan Judo Club/+100kg) amid a cadre of talented senior players as well as up-and-coming talented junior players who also have risen to the top of the senior ranks. "We've noticed over the years that there is a critical time period between the teenage years and the early twenties when athletes are making the transition from juniors to seniors and it's our hope that this program will help bridge this gap and set our athletes up for future success," Liddie said. The first event on the 2006 U-23 schedule kicks off this weekend as five members of the U-23 Team (McCormick, Hoffmann, Smith, Mocco and Kenny Hashimoto (Thornton, Colo./Northglenn Judo Club/66kg)) received funding to compete at the Belgium Open and Belgium Ladies Open in Vise and Arlon, respectively. U-23 athletes Jeanette Rodriguez (North Lauderdale, Fla./North Miami USA Judo National Training Site/48kg) and Franchesca Durand (Coral Springs, Fla./North Miami USA Judo National Training Site/52kg) also received funding to compete in Belgium through the junior development program. The complete U-23 Team roster is as follows;
Taraje Williams-Murray (Bronx, N.Y./NYAC/Jamie Towers Judo Club/60kg)
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