Whatever the level of competition might be, the Moose Jaw Koseikan Judo Club still finds a way to bring home a host of medals — to the point they’re close to their record totals from 1998-99.

They picked up another 16 medals at a tournament in Prince Albert, including nine gold. Mark Kerr and Kailey Large both came through as double gold medalists at the competition.

The local club also sent a total of 15 competitors to the Katsuta Cup Challenge tournament in Raymond, Alta. recently, bringing home 11 medals from the high-level youth tournament.

Teams from throughout Western Canada as well as Washington and Montana attended the event, giving most of the judoka a chance to compete against opponents they had never seen before.

“While these competitors were very young, they competed well and were great ambassadors for Saskatchewan,” said Koseikan sensei Cliff Wiens.

Full results for local competitors are as follows:

Prince Albert

Cadet boys (-30 kg) — Jesse Barnes, sixth.
Cadet boys (-34 kg) — Stephen Gerry, silver.
Cadet boys (-38 kg) — Chris Gerry, gold.
Cadet boys (+46 kg) — Chris Kuntz, gold.
Juvenile boys (-40 kg) — Garth Rivers, gold.
Juvenile boys (+74 kg) — Mark Kerr, gold.
Junior men (-90 kg) — Mark Kerr, gold.
Senior men (-90 kg) — Mark Kerr, gold.
Juvenile boys (-64 kg) — John Smith, gold.
Juvenile boys (-74 kg) — John Smith, silver.
Junior men (-60 kg) — John Smith, silver.
Juvenile girls (-57 kg) — Kailey Large, gold; Stephanie Legault, silver.
Junior women (-57 kg) — Kailey Large, gold; Stephanie Legault, bronze.
Senior men open — Mark Pivovar, gold.


Katsuta Cup

Cadet boys (-26 kg) — Connor MacDonald, gold; Justin Filiteau, fifth.
Cadet girls (-30 kg) — Jennifer Herbert, silver.
Cadet boys (-34 kg) — Chris Gerry, silver; Stephan Gerry, fourth.
Cadet boys (-40 kg) — Tyler Filiteau, bronze.
Cadet boys (-42 kg) — Michael Herbert, silver.
Juvenile girls (+46 kg) — Marisa Kerr, silver; Danielle Pakula, bronze.
Juvenile boys (-40 kg) — Garth Rivers, bronze; Tyler O’Rourke, fourth.
Juvenile girls (-57 kg) — Stephanie Legault, silver.
Juvenile boys (-60 kg) — John Smith, bronze.
Juvenile boys (+ 74 kg) — Mark Kerr, silver.

Appeared in the Moose Jaw Times-Herald April 1, 2000