The team, fresh off the USA Judo Senior National Championships in Miami, departed for Cuba from Miami on Wednesday and will compete in the Jose Ramon Rodriguez (Men) and Golden Judoguis (Women) Championships.

Competition begins Thursday with the women’s 48kg, 52kg, 57kg and 63kg and men’s 60kg, 66kg and 73kg divisions. Heavyweight divisions will be fought on Friday, including women’s 70kg, 78kg and +78kg and men’s 81kg, 90kg, 100kg and +100kg.

“Cuba has one of the best judo teams in the world and it’s an excellent chance for our athletes to train and compete with World and Olympic medalists,” said Eddie Liddie (Colorado Springs, Colo.), USA Judo Director of Athlete Performance. “Opportunities like this don’t come around very often and I’m looking forward to our team learning a great deal both during the event and during the training camp.”

Following the competition, Team USA will be housed at Cuba’s Olympic training facility and participate in workouts with the Cuban Team through May 4.

One of the world’s judo powerhouses, Cuba fielded three medalists at the 2005 World Championships and currently has seven athletes ranked in the top five in the world in their respective divisions.

Athletes participating in the event include:

Men
66kg: Josh O’Neil (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)
66kg: Taylor Takata (Harlingen, Texas / USA Judo National Training Site at Harlingen)
73kg: Ryan Reser (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)
73kg: Bobby Lee (Coral Springs, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami)
81kg: Phillip Spano (Coral Springs, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami)
81kg: Antonio Rodriguez (Miami, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami)
90kg: Landry Ambouroue (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)
100kg: Adler Volmar (Coral Springs, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami)
+100kg: Kirk Hoffmann (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)
+100kg: Anthony Turner (Miami, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami)

Women
48kg: Jeanette Rodriguez (Coral Springs, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami)
48kg: Veronica Prado (Coral Springs, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami)
48kg: Jessica Sternick (San Antonio, Texas / Universal Judo)
52kg: Anna Palmer (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)
57kg: Angelica Delgado (Miami, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami)
57kg: Valerie Gotay (Harlingen, Texas / USA Judo National Training Site at Harlingen)
57kg: Danica Kamakana (Honolulu, Hawaii / Kamehameha)
57kg: Danielle Greenstein (Wellington, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami)
78kg: Nina Cutro-Kelly (San Antonio, Texas / Universal Judo)
+78kg: Brittni Bradford (Live Oak, Texas / Universal Judo)

The team is being coached by Jhonny Prado (Coral Springs, Fla.), German Velazco (Coral Springs, Fla.) and Jim Hrbek (San Antonio, Texas).

Antonio Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) is the team manager. Dr. Ann Cappellari (Fond du Lac, Wis.) is the team doctor.

For more information, contact Nicole Jomantas, USA Judo Director of Communications and Media Relations, 719.866.4732, or mailto:Nicole.Jomantas@usajudo.us