After stepping up an age category last weekend at the Elite 8 judo championships in Montreal, Tami Goto is back on the tournament mat again this weekend.
The just-turned 15-year-old Prince George Judo Club member is in Regina today for the Saskatchewan Open.
Goto went 1-2 in her matches to finish fifth in the under-18, minus-48 kilogram category in the Elite 8 event, which featured the top junior and senior judokas in the country.
"It was a little intimidating but she got through it really well, she was prepared for it," said Aline Strasdin, Goto's PGJC coach.
The Saskatchewan Open is a Judo Canada qualifier for next year's Elite 8 event.
The Prince George Judo Club has sent six athletes to Regina, including Goto (U-16), Fallon Jones (U-14), Sydney Edgson (U-16), Branden Edwards (U-18), Ryan Russell (U-18) and Taylor Schaus (U-21).
Representing the Hart Judo Academy coached by Bruce Kamstra are three brothers - Asher Young (U-14), Lochlan Young (U-16) and Maxwell Young (U-18) - and Koen Heitman (U-16).
Strasdin and Kamstra are B.C. provincial team coaches assisting head coach Jeremy Le Bris of Vancouver. Forty-four athletes from B.C. are entered in the tournament, up from 16 last year.
