By Diane Hasili
YWCA Princeton Judo Students Bring Home the Gold
Ten junior members of the YWCA Princeton Judo club finished 2012 by competing in and earning an impressive number of medals in the annual Tech Judo Invitational in North Bergen. This annual event attracts judo competitors from New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania and is regarded as one of the premier judo tournament venues in the northeast.
All of the ten competitors medaled with three having participated in their first ever event. Playing in her first tournament, seven year old Anna Suryanarayan earned a Gold medal in the girls, novice, 50 pound division. Anna is a participant in the Family Judo class that pairs students age 4 – 7 with their parent while they learn the basics of the Olympic sport of Judo and has begun training in Judo for Juniors for children under age of 14.
Rhett Washleski, 5 years old, made his first competitive debut achieving a Gold medal in the boys, 5 year old, novice class, 40 pound division by defeating his opponents by using a combination of Judo throws followed by grappling techniques designed to hold his opponent down or “pin” his opponent.
Arthur Li was the team’s third first-time competitors to medal. Arthur earned a Bronze medal in the 9 year old, boys, novice, 65 pound division. “Arthur played with great determination and it showed in his achievement,” reports his coach Cory Cuomo.
Other YWCA Princeton Judo players to score medals include Gold medal winner Alex Sonye (10 year old boys, advanced, 85 pound division). Alex is a previous recipient of the Outstanding Technique Award at the Cranford Judo Invitational held in October of 2012 awarded by former United States Olympic coach Yoshisada Yonezuka.
Gold medal winner Dan Mazur (9 year old boys, novice, heavy weight division), Gold medal winner Bailey Cuomo (7 year old boys, novice, 75 pound division), Gold medal winner Colton Washleski (9 year old boys, novice, 60 pound division), Silver medal winner Sanjay Suryanarayan (9 year old boys, novice, 60 pound division), Silver medal winner Niklas Austermann (9 year old boys, novice, 70 pound division) and Mark Mazur (7 year old boys, novice, 50 pound division).
Now in its 18th year, the YWCA Princeton Judo club continues to be one of the premier Judo clubs in New Jersey for children, teens, adults, and families. For information on classes or the upcoming competitive schedule, please visit www.princetonjudo.com or www.ywcaprinceton.org.
“We have been at the forefront in empowering youth and families through martial arts for many years,” shares Diane Hasili, YWCA Princeton spokesperson. “We are very proud of the tremendous program Cory Cuomo has developed. The children love all aspects of the sport – from its history, various techniques, as well as the mental and physical challenges it offers.”
NJ State Championship Coming February 17th, 2013
The coming 2013 year promises to be an exciting year for the YWCA Princeton Judo club with a full slate of competitions including the 2013 New Jersey State Senior and Junior Judo Championship slated for Sunday, February 17th at the YWCA Princeton.
The YWCA Princeton’s Judo Club is just one of eight organizations to have achieved the distinction of a USA Judo certified club in NJ and 220 nationally. USA Judo is a member of the U.S. Olympics Committee, the Pan American Judo Confederation, and the International Judo Federation that governs all aspects of amateur judo in the U.S. and prepares American teams for international competition.

