Judo Junior Nationals: Danvers Resident Takes Gold at National Tournament

By JOE LIPOVICH (Patch Staff)

Danvers, MA—Eight Judo players from the Wakefield-based Pedro's Judo Center cleaned house at the USA Judo Scholastic National Championships this past weekend.

The Judokas, the Japanese word for Judo participants, captured two gold medals, two silver medals and two bronze medals at the tournament. Katrina Blaus of Danvers and Kaelin O'Sullivan of Marblehead both took gold medals in the girls 15-16 year old division.

Jaden Petroules of Windham, New Hampshire captured bronze in the 15-16-year-old 66 kilogram division, and also competed in the 17-20-year-old division. John Silva of Saugus earned a bronze medal in the 17-20 81 kilogram division.

Casey Pedro, a Bentley University Sophomore from Methuen secured silver in the 17-20-year-old 70 kilogram division, and finished the day with a 3-2 record. Both Blaus and O'Sullivan secured spots competing for the United States at the Pan-American Championships in South Africa.

Lynnfield residents Devin and Timothy Leggett and Dylan Greenstein also competed in the event.

The next national event will be in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at the Junior U.S. Open in the summertime.

Photos Courtesy of Pedro's Judo Center: 1. (Back Row) Timothy Legget, Kaelin O'Sullivan, Katrina Blaus, Jaden Petroules & Riley McIlwain (Front) Dylan Greenstein