WELCOME MAT HALL OF FAME
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WELCOME MAT JUDO JUJITSU SAMBO
THE WELCOME MAT HALL OF FAME

    Welcome Mat  has a long, proud and honorable history with athletes and coaches  who have competed, trained and coached all over the world since 1969.  Welcome Mat members have competed in judo, sambo, sport jujitsu and submission grappling at all levels, from local tournaments to the Olympic Games.  Each person selected to this exclusive group has made a positive and lasting impression and represented Welcome Mat with honor, fighting spirit and skill.
BECKY SCOTT
World Sambo Champion; Pan American Games Gold Medal Winner; U.S. National Champion in both Judo and Sambo; Gold Medal Winner in the U.S. Olympic Festival; National Ladder Tournament Champion; Medal winner in numerous international judo championships.; World Judo Championship Team Alternate for the 1st World Women's Judo Championships in 1980; U.S. Team Coach at the World (Under 21) Judo Championships; Coach at numerous national judo training camps held at the U.S. Olympic Training Center and other national and international training camps. Becky was a pioneer in women's judo in the early 1970s and was one of the athletes who paved the way for other female atheltes to follow. With over 550 career wins, Becky was, and continues to be, highly respected for her fighting spirit and skill.

JAN TRUSSELL
World Sambo Champion; Pan American Games Gold Medal Winner; U.S. National Champino in both Judo and Sambo; Gold Medal Winner in the U.S. Olympic Festival; National ladder Tournament Champion; Pacific Rim Judo Champion; Member of the U.S. Team at the World Judo Championships; Medal winner in numerous international judo championships.  Jan is one of the most-traveled Welcome Mat athletes, having competed in over 20 countries. Jan is the younger sister of Becky Scott, but certainly earned her own reputation on the mat as a champion.

KENNEY BRINK
World (Under 21) Sambo championships-Bronze Medal; National Junior Judo Champion many times; gold medal winner in numerous international judo champtionships; National High School Judo Champion; National Junior Sambo Champion, Natinoal Senior Sambo Championships-Silver Medal; 4th-Pan American Championships; Member of the Judo Squad at the U.S. Olympic Training Center; Junior Judo All-American. Kenney holds the club record for most matches in one day (14 wins-1 loss and the gold medal) and the USJF Junionr Nationals.  Kenney also has more career wins (over 1,000) than any other Welcome Mat athlete.

CHRIS HECKADON
World Sambo Champion; National Sambo Champion in both the senior and junior categories;  AAU Judo 145 lbs. and Grand Champion; Winner of the Millinium Man Submission Grappling Championship at the Arnold Shwarzenegger Classic; Varsity Collegeiate Wrestler; National High School Judo Champion; National Junior Olympic Judo Champion; Junior Judo All-American. Chris was one of the toughest and best-conditioned atheltes ever from Welcome Mat.  His relentless, aggressive style earned real respect from opponents and team-mates alike.

CORINNA WEST
1996 Olympic Games-U.S. Team Member; National Champion in both judo and sambo; Pan American Games Silver Medal in judo; Pan American Championships Gold medal in sambo; National High School Judo Champion; National Collegiate Judo Champion; National Junior Olympic Judo Champion; Medal winner in numerous international judo championships; National Medal Winner in Freestyle Wrestling; Junior Judo All-American; Member of the Judo Squad at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. Corinna is the most traveled Welcome Mat athlete, competing in at least 30 different countries. Corinna started her athletic career at Welcome Mat as an 8-year old taking judo at the Lykins Multi-Purpose Center and finished her career at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, proving hard work, believing in yourself and determination pay off.








EVETTE TAYLOR
World (Under 21) Sambo Shampionships-Bronze Medal; Multi-time National Junior Judo Champion, USJI Junior All-American, Multi-time National AAU Junior Sambo Champion.  Evette is one of the toughest and most technically skilled athletes to ever represent Welcome Mat.  Equally comfortable throwing or fighting opponents on the ground, Evette beat many top women during her career. 




SHAWN WATSON
National Collegiate Judo Champion; National Shingitai Jujitsu Champion; National AAU Sambo Champion; National AAU Judo Champion; Silver Medal at the USA Judo Nationals; Member-U.S. Team at the World (Under 21) Judo Championships; Gold Medal-CNE International Judo Championships, Toronto, Canada; Bronze Medal-Benito Juarez International Judo Games, Mexico; Member of many U.S. international judo teams.  Shawn is one of the most talented and accomplished athletes to ever represent Welcome Mat.  A National Champion in judo, sambo and jujitsu, Shawn was one of the best fighters ever to compete for our club.  Shawn spent an extended period of time at the U.S. Olympic Training Center and was one of the top judo athletes at that facility as well.


WARREN FRANK
World Sambo Championships-Silver Medal; National High School Judo Champion; National Junior Judo Champion; National AAU Sambo Champion; International Gold Medal Winner in numerous judo tournaments; USJI Junior All-American. Warren, known as "War Zone" for his tough fighting style was a gifted athlete who was as skilled as he was tough. Warren was a team-mate of Shawn Watson at the U.S. Olympic Training Center and was always in top shape.  Warren is truly one of the best atheltes to ever represent Welcome Mat.


MATT GARDNER
National Junior Judo Champion; National Junior Sambo Champion.  Matt was one the most well-liked and talented athletes at Welcome Mat until his tragic death at the age of 15.  Truly a tragic loss, Matt Gardner will be missed.





JIM SCHNEWEIS
National AAU Sambo Champion; Missouri Valley and Midwest Open Sambo Champion; Missouri State Games Judo Champion.  Jim served as the Head Wrestling Coach at Bishop Ward and Platte City High Schools for many years and developed many state high school wrestling champions in both Kansas and Missouri. Jim hosted many national, regiona and local sambo tournaments at Ward High School and was a USA Wrestling and AAU Sambo national referee.  An avid rugby player, Jim was a great coach and technician, and was a rough and tough wrestler as well.
JOE ROBERTS
BILL WEST
KEVIN COX
SANDI QUENELLE HARRELSON
KEN CABEAN
RICHARD LAZOTT
BRYAN POTTER
CHARLES GARCIA
ADRIAN GARCIA
JOHN OLSON
WILLIAM QUENELLE
LARRY JINKS
STEVE SODEN
GENE SMITH
SASCHA TAGHIZADA

TOM ALEJOS
KELVIN KNISELY
BOB RITTMAN
KIRK QUINONES
GARY IDLEBURG
STEVE SCOTT
KRISTI BRINK BARCHERS
LARRY LEIN
CHRIS LEIN