[pbg4lyfee]

Flushing, NY The New York Athletic Club men traveled to Flushing, NY on Saturday to compete in the first ever "Spartak Team Cup". There was a cash prize of 3000.00 awarded to the winning team which drew 8 of North America's finest 7 man teams to compete at the event.


Competing for the NYAC team was 20 year old Aaron Kunihiro (60kg), 17 year old Derek Edwards (66kg), 21 year old Nick Delpopolo (73kg), 24 year old Travis Stevens (81kg), 21 year old Bobby Lee (90kg), 25 year old Shintaro Higashi (100kg), 27 year old Aaron Handy (100kg) and 23 year old Dan McCormick (+100kg).

Many of the NYAC men had just returned home the Monday before competition from extensive training and competing all around the world. Travis Stevens came to New York fresh off of winning Silver and Bronze medals in Belgium and France respectively. Nick Delpopolo and Shintaro Higaishi returned to the states after both winning Silver medals at the first ever Pan American Grand Prix in Panama City, Panama.

Team NYAC was coached by the only American Judoka ever to compete for 3 Olympic Medals, Jimmy Pedro. Coach Pedro instilled team camaraderie in the men who were very supportive and vocal during the event. Before each Team match, Pedro and the men would gather their hands in a circle and chant "N-Y-A-C!"

Although a bit travel weary, the NYAC men turned in a solid showing winning the tournament with relative ease losing only 3 of their 21 match ups. First up the men defeated the "International Training Center, NY" team with a 5-2 record. In the Semi-final the NYAC men swept Team Spartak 7-0. In the championship matches the team defeated NYAC hall of fame member Jason Morris's team (Team Jason Morris Judo Center) with a 4-2-1 record.

5 of the 7 NYAC team members reside in Wakefield, MA and are coached by Pedro. 17 year old Derek Edwards (Aurora, IL) will relocate to Wakefield after he graduates high school in May. Edwards was honored to compete with the NYAC team and he did so as a new black belt, he was promoted to Shodan 1 day before traveling to New York.

Along with the 3000.00 cash prize, the Team was awarded a beautiful silver Memorabilia Tray, 7 gold medals and a large transferable Golden Cup which will have the NYAC engraved on it as the winning team and will be brought back next year when the NYAC men defend their title.



I WAS IN THE BRONZE MEDAL TEAM, WE HAD BACK LUCK AGAINST JMJC. IF WE HAD A BETTER 100 KG WE WOULD HAVE WON THE WHOLE TOURNAMENT.
WE LOST TO JMJC 4-3.

PEDRO'S DID A GREAT JOB EVEN THOUGH IN THE FIRST ROUND THEY GOT HELP FROM THE REFS IN 2 MATCHES. KUNIHIRO GOT A LUCKY TIE SCORED AGAINST SOME RUSSIAN KID FROM ITC, AND TRAVIS STEVENS DID A TERRIBLE JOB AGAINST DIS KID FROM COLOMBIA WHO DOMINATED HIM THE WHOLE MATCH AND THE REF GAVE HIM 2 SHIDOS CUZ HE WAS "HOLDING HIS LAPEL" SO TRAVIS WON 3 SHIDOS AGAINST 2.

[Chandler]

Kunihiro didn't tie his first match. He won 2 penalties to 1. The same was for Stevens 3 penalties to 1 most of the match. Blocking the collar (Which is what Edwin was penalized for) is illegal because it avoids the action and doesn't allow your opponent to grab the gi.