Team USA Wins 15 Medals at Pan Am U13 and U15 Championships

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) - Team USA won 15 medals at the Pan American U13 and U15 Championships for junior athletes on Saturday and Sunday in Porto Alegre, Brazil.  

On the first day of competition, the 11- and 12-year-olds won eight medals overall, including silver medals by Mikael Codinach (Miami, Fla. / Champion Martial Arts / 28kg) and Ashlyn White (Pembroke Pines, Fla. / Panther Judo) whose only loss of the day in the 38kg division came to Thais Kondo (BRA).  Kondo was one of 16 Brazilians who dominated the first day of competition, sweeping all 16 gold medals.

The following players earned bronze medals on Saturday: 

• Zachary Sherman (Plantation, Fla. / Vigness Judo / 31kg)
• Brian Abreu (Miami, Fla. / Champion Martial Arts / 34kg)
• Alejandro Menendez (Miami, Fla. / Falcon Judo / 42kg)
• Matthew Landry (Forestdale, Mass. / JW Judo Club / 47kg)
• Amber Pair (Cascade, Idaho / McCall Judo / 31kg)
• Katherinne Lieby (Pembroke Pines, Fla. / Panther Judo / 47kg) 

Team USA continued on Sunday with competition in the 13-14-year-old division. 

The team's smallest player of the day, Matthew Kearney (Keller, Texas / Okuri Judo), earned one of the best finish for the United States when he won a silver medal in the 36kg division. Mark Okamura (Chicago, Ill. / Tohkon) earned a silver medal as well, winning his first two matches in the 58kg division before a final round loss to Vinicius Pompeo (BRA).

Five other players earned medals as well, including: 

• Donald Moseman III (San Carlos, Calif. / San Jose Buddhist Judo Club / 40kg)
• Michael Assels (Garland, Texas / Ruben Martin Judo Training Center / 64kg)
• Angelica Chen (Orlando, Fla. / Central Florida Judo & Jujitsu / 44kg)
• Lauren Baez (Coral Gables, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami / 58kg)
• Melissa Myers (Yorkville, Ill. / Fox Valley Judo & Jujitsu / 64kg) 

Complete results are as follows:

U13 Male

28kg
1. Savio Santos (BRA)
2. Mikael Codinach (Miami, Fla. / Champion Martial Arts)

31kg
1. Kaian Pires (BRA)
2. Juan Pablo Hernandez (COL)
3. Maximiliano Marcello (ARG)
3. Zachary Sherman (Plantation, Fla. / Vigness Judo)
5. Erik Almeda (URU)
5. Raymundo Garza Vargas (MEX)

34kg
1. Vitor Kaminari (BRA)
2. Steven Morocho (ECU)
3. Brian Abreu (Miami, Fla. / Champion Martial Arts)
3. Martin Miranda (ARG)
5. Mario Angel Gutierrez (URU)

38kg
1. Gustavo Caçao (BRA)
2. Luciano Uezen (ARG)
3. Bayona Moreno Orlando (COL)
3. Luis Saeteros (ECU)
5. Federico Guillade (URU)
5. Fabian Fuentes (CHI)

Also Competed: Leo Naumann (Cleveland, Okla. / USA Stars), 0-2

42kg
1. Tacio Santos (BRA)
2. Ariel Illescas (ECU)
3. Alejandro Menendez (Miami, Fla. / Falcon Judo)
3. Carlos Rodriguez Silva (PUR)
5. Matthew Soares (URU)
5. Samir Lodoño Correa (COL)

47kg
1. Vinicius Pompeo (BRA)
2. Cristhofer Fracno (COL)
3. Adrian Gandia Gines (PUR)
3. Matthew Landry (Forestdale, Mass. / JW Judo Club)
5. Omar Urquidez (MEX)
5. Martin Merlo (ARG)

52kg
1. Frederica Taira (ARG)
2. Victor Ochoa Licon (MEX)
3. Rafael Sommel (BRA)
4. Arkangel Sommer (COL)

+52kg
1. Raul Soares (BRA)
2. Johan Reyes Rojas (COL)
3. Said Hernandez Solis (MEX)
3. Gaston Sanches (ARG)
5. Maximiliano Trochon (URU)

Female U13

28kg
1. Bruna Silva (BRA)
2. Ariana  Giler (ECU)
3. Martha Rodriguez Aguilar (MEX)

31kg
1. Ana Ferreira (BRA)
2. Erika Paredes (ECU)
3. Amber Pair (Cascade, Idaho / McCall Judo)

34kg
1. Ana Martins (BRA)
2. Maria Villalva (COL)
3. Kelly Chimbo (ECU)
3. Candela Sosa (ARG)
5. Gabriela Rivera (Pembroke Pines, Fla. / Panther Judo Club)

38kg
1. Thais Kondo (BRA)
2. Ashlyn White (Pembroke Pines, Fla. / Panther Judo Club)
3. Maria Noh Gala (MEX)

42kg
1. Geovana Lima (BRA)
2. Alicia Che Moo (MEX)
3. Augustina DeLucia (ARG)
3. Paol Acevedo (PUR)
5. Luisa Martinez (COL)
5. Roya Garakani (Daville, Calif. / Cupertino Judo Club)

47kg
1. Kamilla Silva (BRA)
2. Cinthya Camargo (COL)
3. Katherinne Lieby (Pembroke Pines, Fla. / Panther Judo Club)
3. Florencia Reinoso (ARG)
5. Evelyn Rocha (URU)

52kg
1. Marina Nakamura (BRA)
2. Brgitte Carabali (COL)
3. Milagros Contrebas (ARG)
3. Diana Benes Fallas (CRC)
5. Carmen Estupiñan (ECU)

+52kg
1. Emanuela Barbosa (BRA)
2. Mayte Asanza (ECU)
3. Laura Uribe Riveros (COL)
4. Martha Rodrigues Aguilar (MEX)

Male U15

36kg
1. Andres Oliveros Castillo (COL)
2. Matthew Kearney (Keller, Texas / Okuri Judo Club)
3. Leandro Pardo (ARG)
3. Joao Silva Sobrinho (BRA)
5. Cesar Verde Vasquez (MEX)

40kg
1. Matheus Galvão (BRA)
2. Carlos Nazario Gonzalez (PUR)
3. Donald Moseman III (San Carlos, Calif. / San Jose Buddhist Judo Club)
3. Jimmy Herrera (ECU)
5. Facundo DeLucia (ARG)
5. Pablo Fagian (URU)

44kg
1. Celso Conceição (BRA)
2. Juan Lopes Ibañez (MEX)
3. Charly Vega (ECU)
3. Robinson Areiza Correa (COL)
5. Nicolas Trillas (URU)
5. Brian Vital (ARG)

Also competed: Justin Anthony (Oklahoma City, Okla. / USA Stars), 0-2

48kg
1. Giovani Goes (BRA)
2. Santiago Legallais (ARG)
3. Juan Valencia Caicedo (COL)
3. Gonzalo Idro (CHI)
5. Jaime Rendon (ECU)
5. Jeffrey Ruiz (PUR)

53kg
1. Angel Escobedo Hernandez (MEX)
2. Andres Chapparo (COL)
3. Brener Marcon (BRA)
3. Kevin Lecaro (ECU)
5. William Inserra, Jr. (Stafford, Va. / Sport Judo)
5. Manuel Quinteros (ARG)

58kg
1. Vinicius Pompeo (BRA)
2. Mark Okamura (Chicago, Ill. / Tohkon)
3. David Prestes (URU)
3. Leonardo Jimenez (COL)
5. Rodrigo Garcia Vargas (MEX)
5. Mariano Acuña (ARG)

64kg
1. Thsigo Chiodi (BRA)
2. Carlos Soliz (ECU)
3. Michael Assels (Garland, Texas / Ruben Martin Training Center)
3. Matias Etchechury (ARG)
5. Arnoldo Ochoa Licon (CSR)
5. Dorian Ramirez Tirado (COL)

+64kg
1. Gabriel Tiago (BRA)
2. Constantino Avendano (MEX)
3. Erick Cavagnaro (ECU)
3. Isaac Escandon Restrepo (COL)
5. Benjamin Veler (McKinney, Texas / Becerra Judo & Jujitsu)
5. Santiago Millaman

Female U15

36kg
1. Sandy Badillo Jaimes (COL)
2. Natalia Jacobi (BRA)
3. Karyna Castillo Oreza (MEX)

40kg
1. Lais Lessa (BRA)
2. Evelin Acevedo (ARG)
3. Jazbeldy Jimenez Benitez (COL)
3. Feride Perez Juarez (MEX)
5. Garces Coraima (ECU)
5. Barbara Caceres (CHI)

44kg
1. Alexia Castilhos (BRA)
2. Fiorella Garnica (ARG)
3. Angelica Chen (Orlando, Fla. / Central Florida Judo & Jujitsu)

48kg
1. Paula Barboza (ARG)
2. Aline Baldigen (BRA)
3. Karen Muñoz Garcia (COL)
3. Erika Fuentes (ECU)

53kg
1. Izabely Santos (BRA)
2. Maria Arango Rico (COL)
3. Nicol Bagui (ECU)
3. Cecilia Moreno Rodriguez (MEX)
5. Andrea Borges (URU)
5. Brenda Ayala (ARG)

58kg
1. Manoella Costa (BRA)
2. Noelia Ponce (ARG)
3. Lauren Baez (Coral Gables, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at North Miami) 
3. Debanhy Ochoa Licon (MEX)
5. Maribel Giron Escobar (COL)
5. Maria Guillade (URU)

64kg
1. Viviane Donomai (BRA)
2. Daniela Palacios Culman (COL)
3. Macarena Ramis (ARG)
3. Melissa Myers (Yorkville, Ill. / Fox Valley Judo & Jujitsu Club)

+64kg
1. Roberta Silva (BRA)
2. Viveros Marlin (ECU)
3. Paola Herrera (ARG)
3. Miriam Gonzalez Vega (MEX)
5. Jenny Munoz Cifuentes (COL)

Tags: Alejandro Mendez , Amber Pair, Angelica Chen, Ashlyn White, Brian Abreu, Donald Moseman, Katherine Lieby , Katherinne Lieby, Lauren Baez, Leo Naumann, Mark Okamura, Matthew Kearney, Matthew Landry, Melissa Myers, Michael Assels, Mikael Codinach, Zachary Sherman