Tami Goto and Grace Northrop found perfect souvenirs to bring home from Calgary - medals from the national judo championships.
At last weekend's Canadian finals in the southern Alberta city, Goto won a silver medal and Northrop fought to bronze. Goto, who trains at the Prince George Judo Club, earned her medal in the U16 girls under-44-kilogram division while Northrop, of the Hart Judo Academy, landed on the podium in the U21 women's under-57 kg class.
Several other locals proved highly-competitive at nationals. Results were as follows: Matthias Schenk (HJA, U16 boys under-46 kg), 1-2 record; Maxwell Young (North Capital Judo Club, U16 boys under-55 kg), 2-2 record; Lochlan Young (NCJC, U16 boys under-55 kg), 1-2 record; Ryan Russell (PGJC, U18 men under-60 kg), 1-2 record; and Kurtis Cormack (HJA, U18 men under-66 kg), 1-2 record.
Other locals who qualified for nationals but came away winless were Ioan Frizzell, Josh Price, Koen Heitman, Chris Nelson, Chris Cormack, Taylor Schaus, Branden Edwards, Levi Price and Lisa Russell.
Prince George's Bruce Kamstra was head coach of Team B.C. and fellow local Aline Strasdin was an assistant.
