High school female wrestler Akiyama to throw out first pitch at Seattle Mariners game
<< Back to Articles
John Miller (USA Judo)
04/20/2004
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (April 20, 2004) - The Seattle Mariners make a practice of recognizing youth and athletic achievers. Today they are honoring Leilani Akiyama's (Bellevue, Washington) impressive two-sport Championship run this March. Akiyama won the title in the 52 kg (114.6 lbs.) division at the National High School Judo Championships on March 21 and came back just one week later to win the 118 lbs.-category at the USGWA National High School Wrestling Championships in Michigan. Leilani's double title is all the more impressive because she won all of her Judo matches by "Ippon", the equivalent of a knockout in boxing, or a pin in wrestling - AND she won all her Wrestling matches by "pin", the equivalent of a knockout in boxing, or an Ippon in Judo. Either way - that spells CHAMP. Akiyama will throw out the first pitch at the opening of the Mariners' home game April 20 in Seattle.