Barstow Sports Blog

Last week we did a Q&A with Chuck Jefferson, shown in the picture on the right with Ronnie Paddack and Ernie Smith,  and here is more of what he had to say during our interview. Click here to see some highlights of Jefferson at the Olympic trails. 

Q: Can you describe what it was like after you won the eight-man tournament bracket, knowing that you only had one man left to beat?

A: When I got the win, there was an immediate surge of emotion and you pump your fist. I knew I had to beat Ryan Reser two more times, and that made my celebration short lived. As soon as I got off the mat, I looked at my coach and said, “We have to do this two times. It’s a difficult position to be in to continue to fight with that energy.” It was a good 45-minutes to an hour before we fought, and trying to maintain that energy level and my composure and still be motivated was not easy.

Q: How did you feel at the conclusion of the tournament?

A: I just felt terrible knowing I walked out of my last match. I felt empty. Yeah, I had a pretty good day if you only watch the first three fights. The last two were the most important fights of my career and those were the ones I lost.

Q: What do you consider your biggest achievement in your Judo run?

A: I think my most memorable moment would be the first time I won the Pan Am Games in 2002. Leading up to it, half way through the year, I wouldn’t have been picked to make the team. It ended up I beat out Ryan Reser to make the Pan American games. I was behind him in points, but I passed by him at the U.S. Open and made the Pan American team. I don’t think people expected me to go out there and win because I was facing the number one Brazilian. It was a great feeling, winning a tourney that no expects you to win.

Q: Talk about your career at San Jose State. Is that where you want to remain?

A: My home is here now, and that is my home club. We have a lot of international students. It’s a great Dojo and I love being there.

Q: How much did it help you having the Dojo right up the street?

A: Just the fact that the Judo club was up the street helped when I was 5 years old, it happened to work out from day one.

-Jason Blasco, Staff Writer

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