Lucas Allen has been named the 2024 recipient of the Mike Greaves Memorial Award.
The award was established by the Huntsville Sports Hall of Fame in 2015 and is presented annually to the municipality’s top male athlete.
Lucas’ father Jeff, known to many as “Judo Jeff,” was inducted into the Huntsville Sports Hall of Fame in 2022.
“I couldn’t be prouder,” says the elder Allen. “He puts a lot of hard working on and off the mat ad he’s working hard for his black belt in judo.”
Lucas Allen will receive the award during the Huntsville Sports Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Ceremony on Oct. 5 at the Canada Summit Centre.
“It’s incredible,” he says. “To see my dad get inducted into the Hall of Fame, it really inspired me. It’s really cool to know my name will be hanging in the same spot.”
Still a teenager, Allen says there’s no limit to how far someone can go in judo. He points out how he sees people of all ages competing at tournaments.
“I’m just going to keep going and see where it takes me down the road,” he continues. “I love fighting, I love competing, and I especially love training.”
Meanwhile, Judo Jeff is preparing for the World Judo Championships in Las Vegas in November. He and Lucas took part in a couple of events earlier this month ahead of the big event.
Between Jeff and Lucas, they won five medals, including three golds, at tournaments in Niagara Falls and Aurora. One of the events saw Jeff line up against the reigning European No-Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champion, who he said weighs close to 360 lbs. However, Allen beat him twice on his way to a gold medal.
Allen has previously won bronze and silver medals at the World Judo Championships so he’s determined to reach the top step of the podium this year.
“I’m going to fight hard this year to get it,” he says.
