SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Travis Stevens of the Glenville-based Jason Morris Judo Center (JMJC), also a Pan-Am Games Team member, won his second senior international event, taking the Dominican Open title last Saturday at 81kg in his last major competition before the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on July 19.

Stevens had the toughest first round for the Americans, drawing 2007 Pan Am silver medalist Emanuel Lucenti (ARG).

“The competition was a lot stronger than I thought it be actually,” Stevens said. “I won three of my four matches, but I did horribly compared to how I thought I would do. I was holding back a lot, just trying to win my matches rather than going for the big scores or big wins likes I normally do.”

His match with Lucenti went into Golden Score (overtime) before Stevens threw Lucenti with an ouchi gari (inner leg throw).  Stevens’ next three wins came against players from the Dominican Republic to take the gold.

“[Lucenti] was really quick with the sode [sleeve throw] to kouchi [minor inner leg throw], and I should be able to fight well against him at Pan Ams.

During one of Stevens’ four matches he and his opponent both came down on his left wrist and he consquently pulled a few ligaments and tendons. The injury won’t keep Stevens from competing in Brazil this July, but it has slowed him down some this week.

“Right now it’s time for rest and rehab on Friday,” Stevens said earlier in the week. “No judo, no gym, no nothing for one week. It’s hard to just sit and do nothing.”

Mocco returns to her winning ways at 70kg

In her second international event since undergoing shoulder surgery in November, 2006 Pan Am bronze medalist Katie Mocco (Jason Morris Judo Center) finished second in the 70kg division posting a 3-1 record on the day. Mocco’s only defeat was in the final to 2007 Pan Am champ, Yuri Alvear (COL).

“Right now I’m trying to do some new stuff like working on my level, because I [compete] very upright and I don’t bend a lot. I need to get lower, so I can throw more people and get more dangerous,” Mocco said. “I don’t have very many good attacks, what I have is very effective, but I need to change it up a little.”

Notes: While Mocco was moving down in size, her buddy Yuko Sin, also of the JMJC, fought very well in his debut at 90kg. Sin went 3-2 in Santo Domingo to finish in fifth place after just having moved up from 81kg.