Team USA Wins 15 Medals at Pan American Visually Impaired Championships

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – In an event that included competitors from Venezuela, Canada and Sweden, Team USA won 15 medals at the Pan American Visually Impaired Championships on Saturday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT®.

Myles Porter (Colorado Springs, Colo. / NYAC / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center), a bronze medalist at the 2010 International Blind Sports Association World Championships, won the 100kg division where he defeated Timothy Rees (CAN) and Hector Espinosa (VEN) by ippon (instant win). 

In the Heavyweight Open division, Porter won his first two matches against Venezuelans William Montero and Hector Espinosa by quick ippons, but placed second overall after a loss in the finals to Tony Walby (CAN) who won gold in the +100kg division earlier in the day. 

Porter’s OTC teammate Ron Hawthorne (Colorado Springs, Colo.) won a silver medal in the 60kg division where he defeated Elvin Vargas (VEN), but lost his match against Justin Karn (CAN).

In the 73kg division, Adnan Gutic (St. Louis, Mo. / White Dragon Judo Club) also earned a silver medal for Team USA after earning a win against teammate Mike Davis (Sacramento, Calif. / Team Sacramento), but suffering a loss to Mauricio Briceno (VEN).

Gutic also competed in the men’s lightweight open division where he defeated Hawthorne in the bronze medal match to place third.

Complete results are as follows: 

Completed Draws

Women’s 48kg
1. Urimare Bracho (VEN)

1. Urimare Bracho (VEN)
2. Cindy Simon (Wayne, N.J. / Kokushikai)

Women’s 63kg
1. Naomi Soazo (VEN)
2. Nicolina Pernheim (SWE)

Women’s 70kg
1. Christella Garcia (Sacramento, Calif. / Sacramento Judo)

Women’s +70kg
1. Katie Davis (Sacramento, Calif. / Team Sacramento)

Women’s Heavyweight Open
1. Nicolina Pernheim (SWE)
2. Christella Garcia (Sacramento, Calif. / Sacramento Judo)
3. Katie Davis (Sacramento, Calif. / Team Sacramento)

Men’s 60kg
1. Justin Karn (CAN)
2. Ron Hawthorne (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)
3. Elvin Vargas (VEN) 

Men’s 66kg
1. Marcos Falcon (VEN)
2. Josh Farra (Coatesville, Pa. / Liberty Bell Judo)

Men’s 73kg
1. Mauricio Briceno (VEN)
2. Adnan Gutic (St. Louis, Mo. / White Dragon Judo Club)
3. Mike Davis (Sacramento, Calif. / Team Sacramento)

Men’s 81kg
1. Reinaldo Carvallo (VEN)
2. Steve Patten (Englewood, Colo. / Denver Judo)

Men’s 100kg
1. Myles Porter (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)
2. Timothy Rees (CAN)
3. Hector Espinosa (VEN)

Men’s +100kg
1. Tony Walby (CAN)
2. William Montero (VEN)
3. Steve Mulhern (Camden, N.J. / Liberty Bell Judo)

Men’s Lightweight Open
1. Mauricio Briceno (VEN)
2. Marcos Falcon (VEN)
3. Justin Karn (CAN)
3. Adnan Gutic (St. Louis, Mo. / White Dragon Judo)
5. Mike Davis (Sacramento, Calif. / Team Sacramento)
5. Ron Hawthorne (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)

Men’s Heavyweight Open
1. Tony Walby (CAN)
2. Myles Porter (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)
3. Hector Espinosa (VEN)
3. Timothy Rees (CAN)
5. Reinaldo Carvallo (VEN)
5. William Montero (VEN)

Tags: Adnan Gutic, Cindy Simon, Katie Davis, Michael Davis, Myles Porter, Ron Hawthorne, Steve Mulhern, Steve Patten