Shane Simerly

Shane Simerly is the 2008 All Sports Association Amateur award winner. A graduate of Niceville High School, Shane is currently residing in the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs and is a member of the United States Olympic Training Center Judo team. He is currently qualified on the USA judo elite roster in the 73 kilogram class as a result of last year’s competitions. He begins the 2008 season going to the 66 kilogram class and will attend the Belgium Open and the San Jose Memorial in San Jose, CA just prior to the banquet. Shane’s goal is to be in the top 8 in the country by May 2008 in the 66 kilogram class. This will qualify him to compete in the Olympic Trials in Las Vegas this June. Shane’s eventual goal is to compete in the Olympic Games in Beijing.

In amateur Judo Shane was the gold medalist three times winning the Sunshine State games, twice named the Sunshine State games most outstanding competitor and also the games most outstanding male athlete. He is a five times Florida State Champion. He won the Bronze Medal at the US Judo High School Nationals and was the silver medalist in the US Judo Junior Nationals. He was the gold medalist at the Virginia Open, Lonestar Classic, Swamp Classic and twice at the Disney Wide World of Sports Open. Shane won a silver and two bronze medals in three national point qualifying tournaments (Northglenn Championships, Continental Crown, and Golden State Championships) in 2007. Shane is the son of Rick and Debbie Simerly of Niceville.