BY: PAMELA STERN
On Sunday, March 26th, The Starrett Judo Club hosted the 2023 Spring Invitational at the Brooklyn Sports Club (BSC) where nine different dojos competed. Eleven members of the Starrett Judo Club participated and all of them placed. More than 100 people were in attendance from all over the Tri-State area and beyond.
Here is how they placed:
1st place- Dominick Bonserio, Caiden Bernard, Raj Pope-Carter, and Kelsey Billups (uncontested)
2nd place- Jackson Billups, Cayen Altidor, and Diangelo Bonserio
3rd place- Kevin Bailey, Renly Joseph, Renzel Joseph, and Jeremiah
Reddick
“Congratulations are in order for a job well done yesterday at the 2023 Starrett Spring Invitational. A big thank you to parents, athletes, assistant coaches, parent coordinator & friends of the club for making the Starrett Judo tournament a great success,” said Coach Legros.
Five members of the Starrett Judo Club kicked off the month of April with attending Jimmy Pedro’s Challenge Tournament in Danvers, Massachusetts on Saturday, April 1st. This is a high level tournament
where judokas come from all over the United States and Canada to compete. All athletes must complete a weigh in process the night before to be placed into divisions with other competitors who are of the same weight and age. Over 400 athletes took part this year at St. John’s Prep High School’s gymnasium.
Cayen Altidor and Caiden Bernard took 2nd place, Kelsey Billups placed second in the 11-12 year old division and also 3rd place in the 13-14 year old division. Both Dominick Bonserio and Jackson Billups were in very tough divisions which had ten other competitors, they both fought well and hard and they won matches but, unfortunately didn’t place at this tournament. “It was a great experience for all of the students in particular for Caiden Bernard who is in his first year of judo and now has experienced
his first tournament outside of Spring Creek Towers,” said Jeremy Bonserio, Assistant Judo Coach.
The Starrett Judo Club will be rounding off the month of April with attending the Liberty Bell Judo Classic on April 30th in Philadelphia. “All of the Starrett Judo Club members showed respect for the sport,
discipline to implement what they are taught, and the courage to stand alone and fight. The Coaching staff and families are very proud of the children’s performances and encourage them to continue learning and practicing their judo moves,” said Bonserio.
Photos courtesy of: Krystal Pena, Wisel Joseph, Raj Pope-Carter, and Christyanna Upshur
