Local Judoka Wins Fifth National Title
Photo of Nicole Stout (wearing white) by Roy Nanjo and provided by the Jason Morris Judo Center.
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA — Nicole Stout from the Jason Morris Judo Center (JMJC) in Glenville won her fifth-straight US Sr. National title last Saturday, winning all her 78kg matches by Ippon (full point) at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex in Alabama. This ties her with JMJC alumni Carrie Chandler, who also won five nationals.
Korey Rankin also captured a gold in the novice +100kg division, a gold in the brown belt category, and a bronze in the Masters 35-39 yrs. division. Ramon Hernandez Jr. medaled for the first time, taking a bronze in the 81kg division, while Melissa Myers took home a bronze in the 70kg weight class, as well as a gold in the Masters 30-34 yrs. category. Jess Alaynick finished with a bronze in the +78kg category. JR Foster also medaled for the first time, capturing a bronze in the 60kg division.
The JMJC has now won 55 gold and 156 medals overall at the US Nationals in its 25-year history.