Minooka HS Judo Club Members Earn Medals at State Championships

MINOOKA, IL — The Minooka Community High School Judo Club enjoyed a successful weekend as it hosted the Illinois State Judo Championships on Sept. 17. The club hosted 220 competitors in 56 divisions in the MCHS South Campus gymnasium.

MCHS sent seven competitors to the tournament and all seven placed in the top four of their respective competition divisions, including:

• sophomore Eddie Jayko - gold medal in the Senior Novice Men’s Lightweight Division;
• senior Alec Mitcheff - silver medal in the Senior Novice Men’s Heavyweight Division;
• senior Elena Costa - bronze medal in the Senior Novice Women’s Middleweight Division;
• junior David Brinzo - bronze medal in the Senior Novice Men’s Middleweight Division;
• freshman Dana Morgan - bronze medal in the 14-15 Girls’ Junior Novice Division;
• freshman Rick Undesser IV - bronze medal in the 13-14 Boys’ Advanced Heavyweight Division, and;
• junior Brent Morgan - 4th place in the Senior Novice Men’s Middleweight Division.

"I could not be prouder of this group of young adults,” said MCHS Judo Club sponsor Rick Undesser. “It is truly an act of courage to enter any individual event, but to step up and compete and the State Judo Championships is truly an awesome feat.”

The MCHS Judo Club will next compete in its own annual Halloween Judo Open and High School Team Championships in at MCHS - South Campus on October 22, 2016.

"We hope to build upon our success and have an even larger team compete at the Halloween Open," added Undesser.

The Minooka Community High School Judo Club was started in 2009 by MCHS Spanish teacher and third degree black belt, Sensei Rick Undesser. It currently has a very diverse membership with members that range from freshman to senior and both males and females. The club is open to all MCHS students, meets after school, and is free of charge thanks to the support it receives from the MCHS District 111 Board of Education, administration and school community.

Submitted by Minooka Community High School District 111. Photo via MCHS