Yuasa competes at International Judo tournament

Mercer Island High School graduate Taylan Yuasa competed for Team USA at the International Judo Federation’s Junior World Judo Championships in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 23-25.

Yuasa – a Seattle Pacific University freshman and black belt in judo – took second place in the 113 pound division at the WIAA State Mat Classic wrestling tournament as a senior at MIHS last winter, and was a gold-medalist in the 55kg division at USA Judo’s Senior Nationals last April.

He was among the top 35 judo competitors from around the world to participate in the world championships. Taylan is ranked No. 2 in his weight class on the USA senior rankings and No. 3 in junior rankings.

He will compete at the USA Judo Presidents Cup Championships in Irving, Texas on Nov. 21-22.

Boys golf headed to Scotland in July

Six members of the Mercer Island boys golf team will participate in the American High School Golf Championship in St. Andrews, Scotland this summer.

After receiving an invitation to the tournament, boys golf coach Tyson Peters said he contacted the families of the players attending, and all showed their full support.

“It is an incredible opportunity to take this group of kids to play at the historical home of golf at St. Andrews,” he said.

The week-long tournament in July draws teams from around the world, with teams from South America, North America and Europe participating last year. The students going on the trip will take historical tours of Edinburgh and the Old course at St. Andrews, and attend the British Open as part of the week-long experience.

“England and Scotland have such a rich history, I’m sure they’re going to get tired of me talking,” Peters said.