Hernandez wins at Scottish Open
By Kevin Sjoberg
WASHBURN – It’s been an improbable career that has now spanned into its fifth decade, but Washburn resident James “Chico” Hernandez continues to turn heads for his performances on the wrestling mat.
On July 24 in Dumfries, Scotland, the 56-year-old competitor won the heavyweight judo championship in the open class blue belt division and took the bronze medal in masters sombo at the International Budo Federation Scottish Open Judo and the Federation International Association of Sombo Championships held at the DG1 Leisure Centre.
Hernandez, a 1979 University of Maine at Presque Isle graduate and member of the UMPI Athletic Hall of Fame and the Maine Sports Hall of Fame, also took fifth place in the open heavyweight black belt division. Hernandez, competing in judo for the first time, was defeated by 35-year-old John Imrie of Edinburgh, Scotland, a former British Olympic team member who weighed in at 360 lbs.
Hernandez, representing the USA and the American Sombo Association, also fought a former British world team member from the 2002 World Championships and multiple Scottish champion Jack Tinning of Dumfries. Hernandez lost to the 49-year-old Tinning, 4-3, for the silver in sombo.
The event was sanctioned by the British Sombo Federation and Federation International Association of Sombo. Hernandez represented Team USA and staked his claim amid Scottish, English and Dutch teams.
At the conclusion of the championships in an official ceremony, Hernandez was honored at a banquet held at the Moreig Hotel by the Dumfries and Galloway Council. He received a crystal pyramid from Galloway Glass denoting the “Civic Hospitality Achievement Award.”
Hernandez was also honored by the Scottish Sombo Federation and International Budo Federation as Scottish Rep. Robin Hyslop presented Hernandez with the Scottish Sombo Federation Award for the federation’s appreciation of Hernandez’s “fighting spirit” and contributions to Scottish Sombo.
“The people in Scotland were first class,” said Hernandez, who despite being the oldest competitor in the field “knew I could fight the distance.”
He said his preparation for the competition included “running 100-meter sprints on the Caribou High School track, throwing around a 500-lb. tire behind UMPI and doing 100 pushups.”
Hernandez is a former USA national Sombo champion and FIAS World Cup vice-champion in Sombo. In 2002, he was featured on a box of Wheaties Energy Crunch cereal as an “Everyday Champion.”
On July 26, Hernandez was asked to be the featured clinician at the MMA/Sombo wrestling submission seminar held at Whitehaven Sports Centre in Whitehaven, Cumbria, England. The event featured some of the United Kingdom’s top MMA cagefighters such as Alex Ryan and Derek Morris. ?
Contributed photo
CHICO HERNANDEZ of Washburn takes control in his match against Scotland’s Jack Tinning during a competition held in Scotland recently. Hernandez won the open class blue belt heavyweight judo title and took third in masters sambo at the tournament.
