Judo Team News and Notes
Josh Resnick, 2002-2003 SJSU Judo Player

Three SJSU Athletes #1:

Fall of 2002 had some great success for our team with three men ranked #1 in the country and going to compete, and medal, in the Pan-Am Championships.

The dilligent work of our coaching staff and athletes has continued to improve and build on the results of lat year's US Nationals. The team is working hard for a strong showing at the US Nationals and NY Open and various international events.

With three of our players ranked #1, Chuck Jefferson (-73kg), Mike Barnes (-100kg), John Serbin (+100kg), competition results over the next few months will determine which of our athletes will make the U.S. team for the World Championships.

2002 Pan-Am Success:

Led by Bobby Berland, SJSU alumn and silver medalist at the 1984 Olympics and member of the 2002 National Team coaching staff, three SJSU Players attended the Pan-American Championships this season and came away with two bronze and one gold medal. John Serbin and Mike Barnes each won bronze in their respective class and Chuck Jefferson came home with gold with his wins over tough competition in the -73kg from Cuba and Brazil.

US Open and Canadian Rendezvous:

The North American Tour was a success led by the performances of Chuck Jefferson and Mike Barnes who both won US Open gold and Canadian bronze medals. Jefferson was named player of the tournament at the US Open after a spirited match in the gold medal final.

With the pressure to qualify for the 2004 Olympic Trials placed on international competition, events like these are vital to the future success of our athletes. SJSU's U.S. Open and Canadian Rendezvous performances were rounded out by Joshua Resnick (5th, Open & Rendezvous -73kg), Jose Bencosme (5th, Open -66kg), and John Serbin (5th, Rendezvous +100kg).

Fall Classic-- A First Time:

Formerly the National Ladder Tournament, USA Judo hosted the Fall Classic, now a national event worth half the total value of the US Nationals. The Fall Classic is sure to continure attracting the nation's top players to both prepare them for the North American Tour and give them an opportunity to compete head to head.

SJSU team results from this year's competition: Rosi Bartkowski (bronze, -52 kg), Shana Sugiura (bronze, -57 kg), Cynthia Kono (bronze, -70 kg), Matthew Dias (gold, -55 kg), Chuck Jefferson (silver, -73 kg), Joshua Resnick (bronze, -73 kg), Lee Heitzman (4th, -81 kg), Joshua Peterson (silver, -90 kg), Mike Barnes (silver, -100 kg), ohn Serbin (silver, +100 kg), and John Leonhardt (bronze, +100kg).

SJSU at KRA and Kano Cup:

Three SJSU athletes traveled to Korea in December 2002 for the KRA Korea Cup International Tournament. Led by Chuck Jefferson, with a 5th place finish at -73kg, Mike Barnes placed 7th at -100kg, and Joshua Resnick, who moved down to -66kg, did not contend for a medal.

The January 2003 Kano Cup International Championships in Japan was attended by athletes Chuck Jefferson, John Serbin, and Mike Barnes, with coaches Mike Swain and Yosh Uchida. As expected, competition was fierce and Japan dominated. SJSU athletes nearly contended for medals in several categories, with John Serbin and Chuck Jefferson suffering hard fought losses in overtime against stiff competition.

San Jose Buddhist Memorial:

This year's event was a successful one for SJSU athletes. Winners of the black belt divisions earned one national point and second place earned a half point.

We would like to thank San Jose Buddhist for once again hosting a well- organized and well attended event.

Titan Games Comes to San Jose, Two From SJSU Compete:

The brain child of the USOC, the Titan Games features the nation's best athletes in eight events: Shot-put, Weightlifting, Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Greco Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Boxing, and Judo.

The top nations in each sport were brought in to compete for the title of the "Ultimate Titan." The event was aired on ESPN 2 at the end of March.

Two SJSU athletes took part in the event, Chuck Jefferson at -73kg, and Shozo Fukuda at -66kg, who replaced Jose Bencosme who was unable to compete due to illness.

Jefferson met expectations and won his matches against both Mexico and China.

Shozo Fukuda managed to go 1-1, throwing the Mexican athlete for ippon, and then losing a hard-fought bout to the Chinese player.

SJSU Wins 39th NCJA Collegiate National Championships

The 2003 NCJA Collegiate National Judo Championships were held at Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington. SJSU came away with 26 total team points, earning both the Men's and Women's Team Award. Coach Yosh Uchida was name Coach of the Year.

The San Jose Men lead the way with Jonathan Leonhard (+100kg) and Casey Gambrel (73kg) each taking first place in their division. Janusz Labedz (66kg) placed second, Jose Bencosme (73kg) took third, Anthony Dell (66kg) placed fourth, and Remi Fatoke (81kg) and Robert Clarke (90kg) each took fifth in their respective divisions.

Heidi Bartkowski (63kg) and Jessica Moser (57kg) led the SJSU Women by placing second in their division and Kim Kauffold (57kg) took fourth place.

Cogratulations Team for continuing the SJSU Judo "Winning Tradition."

The Bottom Line:
Dick Norona, Executive Director SJSU Judo

Annual Accounting Report Quasi Endowment:

Summary:

The San Jose State University Foundation welcome the opportunity to convert the Uchida Hall Rennovation Project Fund to a long term endowment for the purpose of financially assisting the Judo Team program with its earnings. Accordingly, your Executive Committee entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the University and the Foundation.

A total of $260,118.00 was raised for the Uchida Hall Rennovation Project. Those funds were held in a State Trust interest bearing account that had accumulated $55,825.00 in interest as of June 30, 2001. The total contributions plus interest was $315,943.00. This money was transferred to the Foundation.

Additional interest was earned from June 20, 2001 to January of 2002. Some $13,000.00 was transferred to the operating account.

In the event that the Uchida Hall Rennovation Project again becomes a part of the SJSU capital budget, the original contributions will be returned to that project. We are behind in fundraising, but the level of contributions clearly expresses the level of confidence the alumni have in the program.

Annual Operations-- Accounting Report

As of January 26, 2003, the operations budget balance is a positive $18,934.00 with no outstanding revenues or expenses. One might mistakenly consider that the budget is in good shape. This is not the case.

Last year, your SJSU Judo Executive Committee, working in concert with the SJSU Foundation, moved the previously donated Uchida Hall Rennovation monies from an interest bearing trust account to the Foundation. At that time the Judo Team operating account received a one-time windfall contribution of interest earned by the Dojo account over the period of time since the original contributions were made, some $13,000.00.

Had that transer of funds to operations not taken place, the team would today have $5,934.00 in the operating account. As previously reported, it takes approcimately $10,000.00 to take a team to a major competition. Obviously, we are still short on cash.

Maintenance of the "Winning Tradition" is an expensive proposition.

Donations To The Operations Account in 2002:

$1,000 contributors:
D. Norona, M. Kusumoto, and R. Parr

$500-$999 contributors:
B. Uyemura, Pacific Judo, G. Martin, D. Shigemoto, S. Hoyt, S. Hunt, G. Abad, G. Kiyohara, D. Owen, and G. Padilla.

$300-$499 contributors:
J. Matsuoka

$200-$299 contributors:
B. Horbaly, L. Stuefloten, V. Imada, I. Ronin, E. Kushnir, F. Kameda, G. Taketa, and I. Kawano.

$100-$199 contributors:
V. Johnson, M. Augustine, D. Graham, I. Ozawa, M. Kusumoto, M. Chinen, J. Sepulveda, E. Baker, M. Yonemoto, L. Dobashi, A. Okamoto, and Y. Koga.

$1-$99 contributors:
K. Pickard, K. Machida, M. Masuda, L. Ogasawara, and J. Fontana.

Annual Accounting Report Yoshihiro Uchida Judo Endowment:

Total contributions for the period were $108,403.00. The target for this period of time was $200,000.00. This would have kept us on the 5 year plan to $500,000.00.

Many Thanks to Our Valued Endowment Contributors:

Alums & Friends Fundraiser Offer

Jerry Guay, 1988 SJSU graduate and Judo Team member, has offered to donate a percentage of the real estate comissions earned on any sales with SJSU Judo Alumni or Referrals by Judo Alumni to the SJSU Judo Foundation.

Jerry has 10 years experience in residential and commercial real estate with Refferal Realty in Cupertino.

This is a great referral for our friends and at no extra cost SJSU Judo receives a donation.

You can contact Jerry at: Phone: (408) 253-4144, ex 129, Toll Free: (888) 250-7653 (sold), E-mail: jerry@jerryguay.com or via his website: www.jerryguay.com.

Jerry has had successful transactions with other alums including: Sam Piearcy, Marius Popescu, John Salomon, and Lance Clark.

Thank You for Your Continued Support!

The SJSU Judo Program survives because of the continued support of our alumni and friends. Without you, none of this would be possible!

We ask that you continue your support of our program and enjoy knowing that we are helping to make the dreams of young men and women become a reality.

Again, thank you for all your support in the past and your continued support in the years ahead.

Yours Truly,

The San Jose State University Judo Team