It was a successful weekend for athletes from Prince George judo clubs as they returned from the British Columbia Winter Games in Vernon, Feb. 23 to 26, with a collection of medals.
The athletes from the Hart Judo Academy, North Capital Judo Club and Prince George Judo Club competed for Zone 8 in Vernon along with two competitors from the Kokoro Judo Club in 100 Mile House and one athlete from the Williams Lake Judo Club.
Prince George athletes brought home seven gold, two silver and one bronze medal in the individual competitions, while obtaining a silver in the team event.
It was the first major competition for many of the 20 athletes in Zone 8.
The 12 competitors from the Hart Judo Academy were: Grace Northrop, gold in the -48 kilogram division with a 2-1 record; Lavanna Laass, gold in the -57 kilogram division with a 3-0 record; Byron Laass, gold in the -46 kilogram division with a 2-0 record; Juliana Bergstrom, silver in the -57 kilogram division with a 2-1 record; and Chelsea Littlechild, bronze in the -57 kilogram division with a 1-2 record.
Other Hart competitors were: Melissa Nelson (-52 kilograms, 1-2); Justin Katrinchuk (-46 kilograms, 0-2); Nathanial Hirvi (-60 kilograms, 2-2); Chris Grilz (-60 kilograms, 2-2); Nick McFadyen (-66 kilograms, 0-2); Jared Hicks (-66 kilograms, 1-2); and Tyler Whalley (-66 kilograms, 0-2).
Lavanna Laass, Hirvi, Grilz and Hicks were all part of Saturday's team that earned the silver medal.
The Prince George Judo Club sent two girls and one boy to the games. Lisa Russell won silver in the -48 kilogram division with a 2-1 record and Sydney Angielski took gold in the -63 kilogram division at 2-0. Owen Capstick finished at 0-2 in the boys' -60 kilogram division.
Brandon Slooyer (4-0) was the lone athlete from the North Capital Judo Club on the team but he earned gold in the -80 kilogram division and was a part of the silver-medal winning team.
Paige Hall from 100 Mile House won gold in the -52 kilogram division with a 3-0 record and was a part of the team that placed second.
Aidan Fentiman, of 100 Mile House, finished with a 1-2 record in the -73 kilogram division, while Rudy Klaue, of Williams Lake, was 0-2 in the -80 kilogram division.
In the team competition the six athletes fought back after losing in the first round in the next four rounds for the silver.
