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Beginning with an international Judo Federation Junior Division victory at the Us Nationals in Chicago July 2-4, the It-year-old established herself as the top rankedjunior female judolst in the US. This is the second time Besslich has earned this Cramahe Township native Heidi Besslich has continued to move up the ladder of internauonaljudo success this summer. capturing gold medals in all three prestigious tournaments that she entered. Fighting girls aged 13-19. Bessllch won all four bouts with full points. defeating an American to Win the tine. ”Hum... FFP w... m, The fact that she is usually matched against much older athletes seems to have little effect on Besslich. Seeing the positive side. she commented to the Chronicle that "it's better experience for me" and it “takes inore effort." 13me Heidi Besslich tournament gold winner Bessllch and her brother Mark were the only Canadians entered in the tournament which Included ilghters from Brazil, Argentina, England. Sweden. and several other nations. Her Ajax sensi. Bill Doherty, quotes Miami officials as saying this was the toughest field of competitors ever to compete in the tournment. This year the 10 competing nations sent their best to the event. At the Fourth Annual U.S. Juvenile. Junior, and Youth International Invitational Judo Championships in Miami on Aug. 14-16 where 10 nations competed. again Besslich won gold in the under 60 kg class. This time she defeated an American by a decision and a Puerto Rican by a throw. High in his praise of both Besslichs. the experienced Ajax instructor feels Heidi has the potential to be a world and Olympic contender. Because of that, the Ajax Budokan is providing her with extra Major competition for Heidi Inside Canada comes from B.C. and Quebec. where Doherty says. the programs are very strong. tuition and training, The club is just beginning to develop travel plans for the young athlete to Increase her exposure in irhrernattortalpsrio, Heidi concurs wth those goals. and has set her sights on the next two Olympic games. w~ -~-J W, 0 Along with Heidi. who is the third ranked Junior judoist at the under 52 kg level in Canada. the club boasts the top ranked Canadian in the same class. 17-year-old Carlene Wallace. Three members of the 1992 Canadian Olyumpic team athletes were also Doherty- trained, At present, Heidi is adjusting her technique to compensate for physical changes caused by maturation. According to Heidi these involve "bending more for throws, to get under her opponents", and using her arm power more. Of all the skills she has acquired and developed. Bessllch lists her aggressiveness as her main asset. along with her technique. She admits that she has to Increase her speed on the mat. At the Canadian National Exhibition Judo Tournament on Aug. 2113, both members of the Eesslich family placed. On Aug. 21, Heidi easily captured the Juvenile Girls (12-14) title with two hold clowns. T The 23rd proved to be less successful. In the Junior ciassil1cation, Heidi lost two of three Sunday matches by arm bars to a girl from Saskatchewan. Mark also finished the day unsuccessfully, losing to ftghters from Quebec and Nova Sauna. With the major summer tournmaents now behind her, Besslich will use her four practices a week to prepare for the Ontario and Quebec Opens later in the fall. If she quallfles, as she did last year, she will go on to the Canadian Junior Open held in Calgary next January. It was Mark's turn on the 22nd. The 16-year-old had a busy day lighting in the Senior Men's division. Battling older. heavier and more experienced fighters, he won three and lost two to place fifth in a ileld of about 20 men. The senior Bessllch ended his ilrst match early. defeating an American with a choke. His only two defeats came at the hands of the same Quebec iW1ters. Doherty felt both fighters should have done better. but lacked the necessary concentration In the Sunday bouts. Olympic hopeful - Cramahe native Heidi Bessllch captures gold medals in three summer tourneys on her way to the Olympics.