ANDERSON — In the midst of the Cultural Festival downtown, members of the Anderson YMCA Judo Team will make those attending an offer they can’t — or shouldn’t — refuse.

The team, who won big at this year’s Indiana State Open Championships in Portland, will be holding a fundraising cookout to sponsor trips to other long-distance competitions.

“It’s kind of expensive to send kids to some of the competitions,” said Shannon Miller, secretary of the team and mother of one of its members, Cheyenne, 11.

“It will help the kids with entry fees as well as probably offset some of the travel expenses. And the kids who are doing the fundraising who aren’t necessarily going down to Florida this year, it can help them with tournaments that are closer to home.”

So what does judo, which has been a sport among kids for a long time, do for them?

“What does it NOT do?” asked Kelly Paige, mother of two club members, Hannah, 11, and Evan, 9.

“My kids have been in judo for three years. One thing my husband and I talked about before we enrolled them was (that it was) a way for them to defend themselves. You know, this is a crazy world.”

That’s not the only reason, though, Paige added.

“Not only do they get skills to defend themselves, but they keep active. They’re not sitting. They’re not messing around.”

Paige laughed, then added, “It basically keeps them off the streets.”

One student in the club, Quentin Cook, won the U.S. Junior Olympics in Orlando last year, according to Carey Mountcastle, media consultant for the club.

“We’ve had a lot of kids winning stuff,” Mountcastle said. “It’s a terrific club, with a lot of really good competitors.”

Mountcastle agreed that judo’s benefits for kids are many.

“In judo, you’ve got to take care of your partner when you’re throwing them or they’re throwing you,” he said. “You’ve got to take care of each other.

“For the kids, it’s a lot of discipline, mentally and physically. It is fun, but you learn a lot of respect. You respect people you’re working with, and you respect the people who are teaching you.”

Morgan, a nurse at Community Hospital, said that the club membership varies but is now about 30 kids and 15 adults.

“Judo is a sport that does not have an off-season,” she said. “What you’ll see is some kids drop out for wrestling or baseball, and then pick it back up.”

Paige, who works at Saint-Gobain Containers in Muncie, said the leadership — and the spirit — of the club came from its coaches, John and Dawn Branson.

“They’re phenomenal, wonderful,” she said. “I wouldn’t go to any other club.

“(She and husband Jim) decided on judo because of its principles. It teaches respect, honor, dignity. What it’s done for our children is phenomenal. I wish all kids could have that chance.”

Contact Rodney Richey, 640-4861, rodney.richey@heraldbulletin.com.



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Anderson YMCA Judo Team Cookout Fundraiser

When: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday

Where: Anderson Town Center, 12th and Meridian streets

What: Hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, soda, plus a bake sale

Price: $5 for hot dog or hamburger, chips and soda



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The results for the 2009 Indiana Open State Championships, Portland, Ind., May 3, 2009.



Team Trophy: Anderson YMCA Judo (first place)

Third place, girls 9-10, novice, 78-85 pounds: Allison Poyer, Anderson YMCA Judo

First place, boys 5-6, novice, 41-45 pounds: Kyler Nivens, Anderson YMCA Judo

Third place, boys 5-6, novice, 41-45 pounds: Noah Hudson, Anderson YMCA Judo

First place, boys 7-8, novice, 58-63 pounds: Joel Gardner, Anderson YMCA Judo

First place, boys 9-10, novice, 59-69 pounds: Josiah Hudson, Anderson YMCA Judo

First place, boys 9-10, novice, 69-85 pounds: Ryan Riddle, Lapel, Anderson YMCA Judo

Second place, boys 9-10, novice, 69-85 pounds: Tyler Riddle, Lapel Anderson YMCA Judo

Third place, boys 9-10, novice, 69-85 pounds: Landis Hollingsworth, Anderson YMCA Judo

First place, boys 11-12, novice, 84-95 pounds: Ryan Riddle, Lapel Anderson YMCA Judo

First place, boys 15-16, novice, 150-158 pounds: Brandon Segner, Anderson YMCA Judo

Second place, girls 7-8, advance, 41-53.8 pounds: Nichole Tupling, Anderson YMCA Judo

First place, girls 11-12, advance, 63-78 pounds: Hannah Paige, Middletown, Anderson YMCA Judo

Third place, girls 11-12, advance, 63-78 pounds: Brianna Reed, Anderson YMCA Judo

Second place, girls 11-12, advance, 78-96 pounds: Hannah Paige, Middletown, Anderson YMCA Judo

First place, girls 11-12, advance: Cheyenne Morgan, Anderson YMCA Judo

Fourth place, boys 9-10, advance, 60-70 pounds: Evan Paige, Middletown, Anderson YMCA Judo

First place, boys 9-10, advance, 71-86 pounds: Quentin Cook, Anderson YMCA Judo

Second place, boys 9-10, advance, 71-86 pounds: Tyler Riddle, Lapel Anderson YMCA Judo

Third place, boys 9-10, advance, 71-86 pounds: Ryan Riddle, Lapel, Anderson YMCA Judo

Fifth place, boys 9-10, advance, 71-86 pounds: Evan Paige, Middletown, Anderson YMCA Judo

Second place, boys 9-10, advance, 86-102 pounds: Michael Tupling, Anderson YMCA Judo

First place, boys 11-12, advance, 84-86 pounds: Quentin Cook, Anderson YMCA Judo

Second place, boys 11-12, advance, 84-86 pounds: Tyler Riddle, Lapel, Anderson YMCA Judo

Third place, boys 11-12, advance, 84-86 pounds: Michael Tupling, Anderson YMCA Judo

First place, boys 15-16, advance, 112-139 pounds: Ben Branson, Anderson YMCA Judo

First place, boys 15-16, advance, 185-197 pounds: Zach Burkhardt, Alexandria, Anderson YMCA Judo

Second place, senior women, novice, light: Camilla Oldenkamp, Monticello, Anderson YMCA Judo

Third place, senior men, novice, 161 pounds: Jake Madson, Rensselaer, Anderson YMCA Judo

First place, senior men, novice, 178 pounds: Jon Gardner, Anderson YMCA Judo

Second place, senior men, novice, 198 pounds: Jonathan Tu, Fort Wayne, Anderson YMCA Judo

Fifth place, senior men, novice, 198 pounds: Ben Hudson, Fort Wayne, Anderson YMCA Judo

Seventh place, senior men, novice, 198 pounds: Jim Paige, Middletown, Anderson YMCA Judo

Second place, senior men, novice, 200 pounds and over: Rashaun Sinclair, Muncie, Anderson YMCA Judo

Second place, senior women, advance, 129-137 pounds: Camilla Oldenkamp, Monticello, Anderson YMCA Judo

Second place, senior women, advance, 150-158 pounds: Kelcy Hartley, Selma, Anderson YMCA Judo

Second place, senior men, advance, 132 pounds: Ben Branson, Anderson YMCA Judo

First place, senior men, advance, 198 pounds: Zach Burkhardt, Alexandria, Anderson YMCA Judo

Second place, senior men, advance, 220 pounds and over: Rashaun Sinclair, Muncie, Anderson YMCA Judo

Third place, masters men 30-39, 190-197 pounds: Ben Hudson, Anderson YMCA Judo

First place, masters men, 40 and older, 192-213 pounds: John Branson, Anderson YMCA Judo

Second place, masters men, 40 and older, 192-213 pounds: Mike Kutis, Gaston, Anderson YMCA Judo



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