Bella Bourke and Susannah Bourke, both of Maryland Judo Team, win Gold and Bronze, respectively, in the AM-CAN Girls’ 6-8 Year-old division.
The 41st annual AM-CAN International Judo Challenge was held during the Memorial Day weekend in Grand Island, NY, just minutes from Niagara Falls. More than 500 competitors representing 10 countries traveled to Grand Island High School for the elite event. The junior competition was comprised of 300 boys and girls, and opened with a bagpipe procession and both the US and Canadian national anthems. Six of eight juniors representing Shufu earned medals in their divisions.
In the Girls’ 6-8 division, three teammates from the Maryland Judo Team found themselves competing in the same pool. Bella Bourke, Susannah Bourke and Ella Antonishek each won their first round match, beating competitors from New Hampshire, The Netherlands and Puerto Rico, respectively. Bella became the youngest American to win gold at this year’s event, winning with four exciting ippons. Susannah took the bronze medal after a five minute, overtime win against two-time junior national champion Ella.
Six year-old William Davidson, from the Maryland Judo Team, clowns around on the podium after taking the Bronze medal at this year’s AM-CAN
In the Boys’ 6-8 division, William Davidson went five rounds and earned a bronze medal after throwing boys from Canada, Russia and the US with a series of crowd-pleasing ippon seoinages.
Other proud athletes competing for Shufu included Leo Bourke (Maryland Judo Team) – Bronze, 9-10; Martin Veloso (College Park Judo Club) – Bronze, 9-10; Laura Hobbs (Amra Juku Judo) – Bronze, 11-12; and James Hobbs (Amra Juku Judo) – 9-10.
