ISLE FILE
Swanson 7th in world university judo event
Advertiser Staff
Honolulu judoka Melinda Swanson took seventh at her first World University Championships last week in Suwon, South Korea. The event is open only to college students, but included many of the top judo athletes in the world.
Swanson, a University of Hawai'i student, won Senior Nationals in her first attempt in April. She competes in the 78-plus kilogram (172 pounds) division.
She lost her first World University match to Germany's Katrin Beinroth, ranked among the world's top 10, and dropped into the repechage (second-chance) competition. There, she held South Africa's Bronwyn Boebak scoreless to win 1-0.
Swanson lost her final match by ippon (instant win) to 2006 Asian Junior medalist Aya Ishiyama of Japan. Ishiyama ultimately won the bronze medal.
Poland's Malgorzata Gornicka, a five-time World Cup medalist, won gold by defeating China's Xi Qin, this year's World Junior Champion. The second bronze medal was taken by Maryna Prokof'yeva of the Ukraine, a 2004 European Champion and 10-time World Cup medalist.
VOLLEYBALL
YOUTH TO BE SERVED IN 12-WEEK PROGRAM
SERVE — or Skills Enrichment for the Real Volleyball Enthusiast — will conduct a 12-week program for boys and girls ages 7 to 14. The twice-a-week series starts Jan. 6 and costs $600. It will cover passing, setting, digging, hitting, blocking, terminology and other aspects of the game.
The program will be at Halawa Gym Saturday mornings (8:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.) and Palolo Gym Wednesday nights (6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.). Younger kids are trained in the first half and older kids the second half. Personal training is tentatively planned, at an additional cost, for the final hour at Halawa.
Enrollment is limited to the first 80 to register. If there is an overflow, players will be automatically enrolled in the next session starting in April.
Once-a-week enrollment (Saturday or Wednesday) is available for $300.
For information, call Jan Resuello (256-9505) or Shelton Tang (542-1777).
