The 2014 WPJJC East Coast Trials were held Sunday, October 20, at the Queens College in New York City.
It was the final opportunity for USA athletes to win the right of competing next year at the 2014 WPJJC, in the UAE, with all expenses paid.
A total of 23 travel packages were at stake for the weight divisions of the black belt (black/brown belt in the female division) and also for the winners of both heavy and light absolute divisions for the brown, purple and blue belts.
With Keenan Cornelius dominating the West Coast action, the East Coast saw a more evenly matched field of competitors.
Magid Hage overcame his absolute loss to Kennan and secured his spot in the 2014 WPJJC in the black belt under 180 lb division.
Watch the fight:
The Gracie Barra athlete will be joined in Abu Dhabi by two other teammates Bruno Amorim and Fabiana Borges with Gracie Barra dominating the black belt division.
In the black belt absolute, with $1,000 at stake, Luiz Panza edged out Rodrigo Faria to take the cash prize with him to Abu Dhabi as he also won his way to compete in the 2014 WPJJC as the Under 220 lb Black Belt champion.
The ladies did not disappoint as Rachael Demara, who was lost her spot to compete in Abu Dhabi by losing to Fabiana Borges in the under 145 lb category was consoled with $1,000 by beating Fabiana in the black belt absolutes.
The winners of the travel packages in the black belt division were:
Female Brown/Black
-119 – Gezary Bandeira (American Top Team)
-132 – Jena Bishop (Gracie Humaita)
-145 – Fabiana Borges (Gracie Barra)
+158 – Hannette Staack (Brazil-021)
Male Black belt
-141 – John Cho (Alliance)
-154 – Bruno Amorim (Gracie Barra)
-167 – Francisco Iturralde (Alliance)
-180 – Magid Hage (Gracie Barra)
-194 – Vitor Oliveira (GFTeam)
-220 – Luiz Panza (Barbosa)
+220 – Ricardo Bastos (Nova Uniao)
For full results, go to http://apjj.homestead.com/East-News.html
Here is a photo gallery by D. Kline
