Lynn siblings impress in judo tournaments

Davin and Chloe Clement, both students at the Shoemaker Elementary School, brought home the hardware in two judo tournaments this summer.Chloe Clement, 10, and her brother Davin Jr., 7, both medaled at the Bay State Games (1 silver, 1 bronze) and at the US Open (2 golds, 1 bronze), with the latter event taking place in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Both events took place last month. The Clements train with “Team Junior Force” out of Pedro?s Junior Center in Wakefield.Jimmy Pedro of Lynn, who owns Pedro?s Judo Center, is a two-time Olympic bronze medalist and the 2012 coach of the US Olympic team, which included Kayla Harrison of Marblehead, the first American to win an Olympic gold medal in the martial art of judo. Pedro is currently training Team USA for the 2016 Rio Games. His father Jim Pedro Sr. of Lynn is an instructor and trainer at the dojo, or studio.Dojo manager Riley McIlwain, a Lynn native, called Davin and Chloe Clement “two of our shining stars.”He added, “They really embody Pedro?s Judo Center. They?re hard-working, committed, give back to others, straight-A students. Every major holiday, they spend time handing out meals to families in need. They embody the spirit of judo.”?They are not only great athletes, but the sport of judo has shown them fitness, discipline, teamwork and most importantly self-confidence,” their mother, Evelyn Crowley, said.Davin Clement, whose nickname is “Junior,” and Chloe Clement have been training at the dojo for about two years. Last month was a chance for them to compete.?Both did really well (at the Bay State Games),” McIlwain said. “It was Junior?s first real big tournament … He fought very aggressively. He took it to the kid as much as he could … I was happy with his performance.”As for Chloe Clement, McIlwain said, “She?s the sweetest kid, but when it?s game time, she has no problem taking it to the kid.”The US Open involved over 800 athletes, including 10 youngsters from Pedro?s Judo Center.McIlwain said that in the US Open, Davin and Chloe Clement “both stepped out there and did what they had to do.”When McIlwain grew up in Lynn, he lived on Mayfair Street, “near Mino?s Roast Beef,” he said. He is a St. Mary?s alumnus. He is the head coach of the junior competition team in addition to serving as dojo manager.?We actually have a pretty rigid testing system at our school,” he said. “They have to earn it.”He noted that “all of our kids have been tossing with Kayla and (fellow Team USA member) Travis (Stevens). Kayla used to be an instructor at our school.”He said that the Clements are “tough kids, but more important, they are great kids.”Davin and Chloe Clement are both members of St. George Greek Orthodox Church as well as student council members at Shoemaker.