The Creston Judo Club hosted the 10th annual Creston Challenge Cup on Nov. 14, with participants travelling from Fernie, Cranbrook, Invermere, Castlegar and Spokane, Wash.
The Creston team was the largest, with 19 local competitors, and had a strong showing by capturing the majority of the medals along with winning the Joe Meers Team Challenge Cup in the final against the Fernie team.
Congratulations go out to Cheyann Albert who, with a stunning display of endurance and judo skills, won the deciding match in the Team Challenge Cup against her Fernie opponent.
Congratulations also go out to 15-year-old Kaeden Rendek, who fought a 45-year-old third-degree black belt from Spokane in an under-55-kilogram black and blue match, and beat the much more experienced fighter in the last minute of the five-minute match.
Creston medal winners were: Division 10-3: Axson Balawakula (silver), Porter Santano (bronze); Division 10/20: Jesse Andruchiw (gold); Division 20-1: Levi Huber (gold); Division 20-2: Daniel Fabbro (silver); Division 20-3: Lawson Banbury (gold); Division 20/30 -2: Emily Fabbro (gold); Division 20/30 -3: Cheyann Albert (gold); U-16 – Lightweight: Declan Androshak (bronze); U-16 (-66 and -73 kg): Joseph Albert (gold), Kyle Qualtieri (silver); U-16/U-18: Brae Booth (gold); U-16 (+73 kg): Gage Androshak (silver); U-18 (-66 kg) Kyle Qualtieri (gold); U-18 (-63 kg): Brae Booth (silver); U-21: Shianne Gronen (gold); Black and Blue Match: Kaeden Rendek (gold); Senior Men – Div. 1: Dillon Hack (gold); Senior Men – Div. 2: Greg “the Hammer” Banbury (gold).
The club would like to take this opportunity to invite everyone to the second annual Valentine’s Day dinner and dance fundraiser on Feb. 13 in the Creston Room at the Creston and District Community Complex. Tickets are available by calling Carolyn at 250 428-9445 or Mike at 250 254-6515.
—CRESTON JUDO CLUB