The Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino will be the scene for the USA Judo National Championships from Novice divisions all the way to Veterans classes, on Saturday and Sunday.
In terms of the top senior athletes, here are the defending champions from 2018 and those American judoka in the top 100 of the IJF World Rankings:
Men
-55 km:
● Defending champion: Max Antoniou
● No IJF rankings for this weight class
-60 kg:
● Defending champion: David Agoglia
● IJF ranked: 22. Adonis Diaz ~ 2015-16 National Champion
-66 kg:
● Defending champion: Alaa El Idrissi
● IJF ranked: 73. Ryan Vargas
● IJF ranked: 97. Alaa El Idrissi
-73 kg:
● Defending champion: Bradford Bolen ~ 2012-14-15-16-17 National Champion
● IJF ranked: 37. Nick Delpopolo ~ 2013 National Champion
● IJF ranked: 55. Alexander Turner
-81 kg:
● Defending champion: Jack Hatton ~ 2016 National Champion
● IJF ranked: 25. Jack Hatton
● IJF ranked: 79: Arthur Wright
-90 kg:
● Defending champion: Alfred Brown
● IJF ranked: 32. Colton Brown
-100 kg:
● Defending champion: Nate Keeve
● IJF ranked: 45. L.A. Smith III ~ 2013-14-15-16 National Champion
● IJF ranked: 98. Nathaniel Keeve
+100 kg:
● Defending champion: Akbar Iminov ~ 2016-17 National Champion
● IJF ranked: 71. Ajax Tadehara
Open:
● Defending champion: Tokuzo Takahashi ~ 2012-13-14-15-16 National Champion
● No IJF rankings for this weight class
Women
-44 kg:
● Defending champion: Alexandra Wilson
● No IJF ranking for this weight class
-48 kg:
● Defending champion: Alexa Silao
● IJF ranked: 55. Anne Suzuki
● IJF ranked: 97. Katelyn Jarrell
-52 kg:
● Defending champion: Alaine Abuan
● IJF ranked: 14. Angelica Delgado ~ 2013-14 & 2016 National Champion
● IJF ranked: 98. Alaine Abuan
-57 kg:
● Defending champion: Angelica Delgado (also see 52 kg above)
● IJF ranked: 46. Amelia Fulgentes ~ 2015-16 National Champion
● IJF ranked: 58. Leilani Akiyama
● IJF ranked: 65. Marti Malloy ~ 2013 National Champion
● IJF ranked: 70. Mariah Holguin
● IJF ranked: 99. Shadi Ebrahim
-63 kg:
● Defending champion: Alisha Galles ~ 2016 National Champion
● IJF ranked: 42. Hannah Martin ~ 2012-13 National Champion
● IJF ranked: 48. Alisha Galles
-70 kg:
● Defending champion: Chantal Wright
● IJF ranked: 85. Chantal Wright
-78 kg:
● Defending champion: Nefeli Papadakis
● IJF ranked: 31. Nefeli Papadakis
+78 kg:
● Defending champion: Nina Cutro-Kelly ~ 2013-14-15-16 National Champion
● IJF ranked: 30. Nina Cutro-Kelly
● IJF ranked: 47. Mackenzie Williams
Open:
● Defending champion: Jaqueline Williams
● No IJF rankings for this weight class
Bolen will be going for his sixth U.S. title in a row in the men’s -73 division, while Takahashi (men’s Open) and Cutro-Kelly (women’s +78 kg) will be trying for their sixth national titles within the last eight years.
Look for the results here.
