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AGGIES TAKE 8 MEDALS AT COLLEGIATE NATIONALS
135 athletes from 30 colleges competed at the 2016 NCJA National Collegiate Championships hosted by San Jose State University. Individuals competed to become national champions and for a spot on the 2017 World University games in Taipei, Taiwan. Team awards were contested in Novice (Green belt and under) and Senior (brown belt and above) for both men and women.
Patricia Randal (Freshman, ANSC) Competing in her first National Championships, Patricia started the day with a silver medal in the 78+kg novice women's division with a 2-0 record. Patricia then competed in the Senior women's division, avenging her previous loss to Iowa state, to win the National Championship and become an All American in her first year of competing.
Justine Carrasco (Sophomore, ANSC) Justine also competed in her first National Championships in the novice women and standard women's 52kg division as a white belt. Justine earned All American and National Runner-up in the standard division losing to a very experienced black belt from San Jose State Univeristy while defeating a cadet from Westpoint. Justine also earned the silver medal in the novice division.
Gabie Wolf-Gonzalez (Senior, WFSC/ ECOR) Leading the Women's team as a senior, Gabie earned a bronze medal in her novice women's 78+kg division. Gabie repeated her performance in the standard women's division as a green belt and earned a bronze medal.
The Texas A&M Judo women's team finished in 3rd place for the overall all team points in the standard division and 4th for the novice team trophy.
Esteban Valencia (Senior, BMEN) Esteban was winner his first match in the men's novice 66kg division when a scoring error by the referees and technical officials cost him the match. Video evidence after the match was not accepted and the ruling stood. His Iowa State opponent would go on to win the Finals for the gold medal. Esteban bounced back earning his spot in the Bronze medal finals where he would win on Penalties. Also competing in the standard division as a green belt, Esteban fought through a very experienced field barely missing the opportunity to fight for another Bronze medal.
Jeremy Payne ('15, ENGL) Jeremy competed in his first national championship having just graduated in December. In his first match, Jeremy threw his opponent in the first ten seconds with ippon (instant win) in the novice men's 100kg division. Jeremy put the pressure on his next two opponents from Westpoint, attacking first but eventually earning the bronze medal. Jeremy fought through his standard division, missing his chance to fight for a medal.
The Texas A&M Judo Men's team finished 4th overall in the team points for the novice division, just missing their chance to take home a trophy.
Texas A&M Judo Team's head coach Bob Perez was also named the Coach of the year!
Overall Texas A&M Judo earned 1 gold, 3 silver, and 4 bronze medals
Patricia Randal
National Champion, All American Standard Women 78+kg
National Runner-up Novice Women 78+kg
Justine Carrasco
National Runner-up, All American Standard Women 52kg
National Runner-up Novice Women 52kg
Gabie Wolf-Gonzalez
Bronze Medal Standard Women 78+kg
Bronze Medal Novice Women 78+kg
Esteban Valencia
Bronze Medal Novice Men 66kg
Jeremy Payne
Bronze Medal Novice Men 100kg
AGGIES TAKE 8 MEDALS AT COLLEGIATE NATIONALS
135 athletes from 30 colleges competed at the 2016 NCJA National Collegiate Championships hosted by San Jose State University. Individuals competed to become national champions and for a spot on the 2017 World University games in Taipei, Taiwan. Team awards were contested in Novice (Green belt and under) and Senior (brown belt and above) for both men and women.
Patricia Randal (Freshman, ANSC) Competing in her first National Championships, Patricia started the day with a silver medal in the 78+kg novice women's division with a 2-0 record. Patricia then competed in the Senior women's division, avenging her previous loss to Iowa state, to win the National Championship and become an All American in her first year of competing.
Justine Carrasco (Sophomore, ANSC) Justine also competed in her first National Championships in the novice women and standard women's 52kg division as a white belt. Justine earned All American and National Runner-up in the standard division losing to a very experienced black belt from San Jose State Univeristy while defeating a cadet from Westpoint. Justine also earned the silver medal in the novice division.
Gabie Wolf-Gonzalez (Senior, WFSC/ ECOR) Leading the Women's team as a senior, Gabie earned a bronze medal in her novice women's 78+kg division. Gabie repeated her performance in the standard women's division as a green belt and earned a bronze medal.
The Texas A&M Judo women's team finished in 3rd place for the overall all team points in the standard division and 4th for the novice team trophy.
Esteban Valencia (Senior, BMEN) Esteban was winner his first match in the men's novice 66kg division when a scoring error by the referees and technical officials cost him the match. Video evidence after the match was not accepted and the ruling stood. His Iowa State opponent would go on to win the Finals for the gold medal. Esteban bounced back earning his spot in the Bronze medal finals where he would win on Penalties. Also competing in the standard division as a green belt, Esteban fought through a very experienced field barely missing the opportunity to fight for another Bronze medal.
Jeremy Payne ('15, ENGL) Jeremy competed in his first national championship having just graduated in December. In his first match, Jeremy threw his opponent in the first ten seconds with ippon (instant win) in the novice men's 100kg division. Jeremy put the pressure on his next two opponents from Westpoint, attacking first but eventually earning the bronze medal. Jeremy fought through his standard division, missing his chance to fight for a medal.
The Texas A&M Judo Men's team finished 4th overall in the team points for the novice division, just missing their chance to take home a trophy.
Texas A&M Judo Team's head coach Bob Perez was also named the Coach of the year!
Overall Texas A&M Judo earned 1 gold, 3 silver, and 4 bronze medals
Patricia Randal
National Champion, All American Standard Women 78+kg
National Runner-up Novice Women 78+kg
Justine Carrasco
National Runner-up, All American Standard Women 52kg
National Runner-up Novice Women 52kg
Gabie Wolf-Gonzalez
Bronze Medal Standard Women 78+kg
Bronze Medal Novice Women 78+kg
Esteban Valencia
Bronze Medal Novice Men 66kg
Jeremy Payne
Bronze Medal Novice Men 100kg