EDITOR DANIEL PALMER

Submitted photos

Clockwise from left: Abdul Fadel (white) tries to submit his opponent at the
B.C. Judo Championships last March; Fadel (blue) arm-locks his opponent;
Fadel (blue) at the World Junior Championships last November in Moscow.

Judo champ sets sights on Olympics

Langara student Abdul Fadel places fifth at World Judo Championships in Moscow

By ROSS ARMOUR

bdul Fadel’s teachers may want
to think twice about criticizing
him, as he is currently one of
the best judoists in the world.
The Langara human kinetics student
came fifth overall at the World Judo
Championships this past November in
Moscow.
“Last year I was two spots further
down, I was seventh. Luckily I did bet-
ter this year,” he said.

After his success on the world stage,
Fadel now has his sights set on a pos-
sible route to the Olympic Games in
London this summer.

“Tm with the alternate team for the
Olympics right now. So if the guy who
has the spot on the senior team takes
enough points then he gets to go. If he
doesn’t, then I get to go.”

Fadel has his fingers crossed he can
make the Canadian team and have a
shot at an Olympic medal.

“The guy with the senior team has

THE VOICE, THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2012 8

one more fight coming up and if he
manages to pick up a win there then
unfortunately it’s not mine. If he loses,
I’m heading to the Olympics.”

Fadel has been practicing judo since
the age of five and said athleticism
runs in the family.

“lve been involved with judo since
basically I could walk. My dad was a
former Olympian as well as all of my
uncles.”

Fight games are Fadel’s biggest pas-
sion, something he believes will define

him for a long time.

“Tt’s not just judo that I’m involved in
but specifically judo personally is
something I plan to pursue for the rest
of my life.”

A graduate of Lord Byng Secondary
School in Vancouver, Fadel also has
high hopes for the future.

“Tm hoping to use my judo and fight-
ing experience to take me into profes-
sional fighting, hopefully somewhere
within the borders of UFC or profes-
sional boxing.”

66

Pve been
involved
with judo
since I
could walk
ABDUL FADEL

Basketball coaches hustling to court fresh talent

Both mens and womens
teams turn to scouting
high school talent pool for
September tryouts

By BRANDON REID

s basketball season fades away,
Ae: Langara Falcons are scouting
players for next season.

But recruiting a future all-star is a
bit like hitting a game winner — shoot
for the best and hope it works out.

“You want to over-recruit because
we never fully know who’s going to
come back next season,” said Carly
Scearr, assistant coach for the women’s

basketball team.
Jake McCallum,
head coach for the
men’s _ basketball
team, said he won’t
know how many
spots are opening
until he finds time
to hold meetings.

“The year-end
meetings take
place whenever I Mens basketball
head coach

can find the time
soon after season
to meet with the players,” said McCal-
lum via e-mail.

“Typically, we discuss how the year
went on an individual and team basis
and what’s going to happen moving for-

ward.”

After evaluating the status of their
teams, coaches will scout out high
school and club team games for new
players, McCallum said.

“Basketball coaches will watch high
school games throughout the year.
They'll talk to players to see if they’re
interested in playing for us,” Scarr
said.

“If the players are interested they’ll
usually contact the coach and come
watch the Falcons play or send in an
application. For the women’s team we
already have two players committed to
coming next season,” she added.

Both women’s players are guards,
but coaches generally go after the best
players available regardless of position

because of limited options.

Ata college like Langara, most play-
ers move on after their first or second
year of playing due to university tran-
fers.

“We're losing our fifth year center
Carling Muir, we’re going to need post
players,” Scarr said.

McCallum said guards are typically
easier to find than forwards “so we are
usually looking for big men.”

The Falcons are in the PACWEST,
which governs 14 colleges and universi-
ties across B.C.

“We have open tryouts in the first
week of September where anyone
that’s a Langara student can attend,”
McCallum said. Recruiting forms can
be found on the Langara website.

66

You want
to over-
recruit
because
we never
fully know
who’s go-
ing to come
back next
season

CARLY SCARR