Portage la Prairie's Jacob Dudgen-Sykes picked up Bronze after laying the smackdown on some of the country's top Judoka.

Six of the province's best travelled to Edmonton for the 2024 Elite Nationals. Dudgen-Sykes won third place in the U18 -90kg
 category. Brian Case, head coach of the Portage Judo Club, says this type of tournament is known as an "Elite Eight," which brings the top Judoka around the country to duke it out.

"I don't even think he realized how high-level the tournament was until they go there," notes Case. "He's pretty pumped about the whole experience."

Case notes that Dudgen-Sykes has not been involved with Judo nearly as long as most people get to this level of competition. He mentions that, for a small club like Portage's, it's a huge accomplishment to see the waves he's making nationally.

The other Team Manitoba results are:
U18 -50kg - Avery Pampolina - Silver
U18 +90kg - Cai James - 4th
Seniors -63kg - Sarah Ekosky - 5th
Seniors -73kg - Damien Ekosky - Gold
Seniors -100kg - Michael Akbashev - Gold

Sarah Ekosky was also awarded the Sherwood Ford bursary as the top female performer of the year.

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