About
A team of eight young elites head to Belgium for competition in the prestigious Flanders Cup this weekend. Last year, nearly 600 competitors from 15 countries competed at the event.
Leading the team is head coach Brett Wolf of Menomonee Judo Club, a Paralympic National Training Site, in Chicago, Ill. Working with Wolf will be 1988 Olympic Silver Medalist Lynn Roethke of Club Olympia Judo, Fond du lac, WI.
The tournament takes place on Oct. 27 and 28, followed by a three-day training camp.
Highlighting the team are the dynamic brother and sister duo of George and Annie Truong (U.S. Olympic Training Center, Colorado Springs, CO.). George earned a bronze medal in the 60 kg division earlier this year at the Miami World Cup, the top senior international tournament in the United States.
Last November, Annie took 7th place in the 44 kg division at the Junior World Championships in Cape Town, South Africa, the most prestigious junior Judo tournament in the world.
"I'm very excited to work with this particular group of players. They are great kids both on and off of the mat,” Wolf said.
The roster of athletes includes:
1. George Truong
2. Annie Truong
3. Grant Johnson
4. Lauren De Smidt
5. Cole Freeman
6. Caroline Zieba
7. Gabrielle Proksa
8. Arthur Ghukasyan