Lima and Marin Lead Team USA to 12 Individual Medals at Pan Am U13 Championships

(Colorado Springs, CO) – Team USA heard the Star Spangled Banner played twice on Friday at the Pan American U13 Championships in Lima, Peru with Daniel Lima (Coral Springs, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center) and Maya Marin (Whittier, CA / Harbor Judo Dojo) winning the men’s 47 kg and women’s 28 kg titles, respectively.

A bronze medalist in the 42 kg category last year, 12-year-old Lima came into the event as the top-ranked athlete in the nation at 47 kg and went undefeated, winning three straight matches to take gold. Lima drew a bye into the quarter-finals where he battled with Pedro De Carvalho (BRA) through two minutes of regulation and into Golden Score (overtime) before De Carvalho was given his third penalty of the match. In the semifinals, Lima met teammate Khangarid Erdembilegt (Bellevue, WA / Washington Judo Academy) – a 10-year-old who took silver behind Lima at both the Junior Olympics and Youth Nationals this year. In the final minute, Lima threw Erdembilegt for a waza-ari (half-point) score and held on to finish with a win at the end of regulation. Fighting for gold, Lima threw Pedro Mermeo (ECU) for ippon in the opening minute.

Lima stood on the podium with teammate Knox Williams (Stafford, VA / Wall 2 Wall Martial Arts) who finished 4-1 to earn bronze. Williams threw Santiago Lau Tam (PER) off the grip for an opening win in just four seconds, but lost his quarter-final to Bermeo on penalties in Golden Score. In the repechage, Williams needed a total of 28 seconds to throw each of his next two opponents for ippon, taking quick wins over Gaspar Vasquez (CHI) and Slender Anco (PER). Williams drew Erdembilegt in the bronze medal final where the Americans fought for nearly five minutes into Golden Score before Williams won on penalties.

A gold medalist at both the Junior Olympic and Youth National Championships, 11-year-old Marin defeated  Karoliny Franco (BRA) in back-to-back matches to claim gold at her first Pan Ams in their best-of-three series.

Eleven-year-old Fabrizzio Teran (Pompano Beach, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center) won bronze at this event last year at 34 kg and upgraded to a silver at 38 kg in Lima. Teran drew a bye into the quarter-finals and won his first two matches by waza-aris in Golden Score against Matheus Alves (BRA) and Esteban Escabi (PUR) to advance to the finals. In the finals, Teran fought Christiann Gady (BRA), the 2022 Pan Am U13 silver medalist at 34 kg. Teran took the match the full duration, but couldn’t come back from a throw by Gady for a waza-ari early in the final minute.

First-time Pan Am Team member Robert Vardanyan (Arleta, CA / Hayastan Judo) also reached the podium at 38 kg. The 11-year-old lost his opener to Gady, but fought his way through the repechage, pinning both Daniel Gavidia (PER) and Esteban Escabi (PUR) to secure bronze.

Ten-year-old Felipe Avila (Miami Lakes, FL / Budokan Judo School) became one of the day’s youngest medalists when he took silver in the 31 kg category. In the quarter-finals, Avila threw Joaquin Vera (PER) first for a waza-ari and again for ippon to end the match in the final minute. In the semis, Avila threw Ian Merchan (ECU) for a waza-ari during the first exchange and held his opponent scoreless for the remainder of the match. In the finals, Avila faced 2022 Pan Am U13 bronze medalist Frank Sanchez (ECUh) who won the match on penalties.

A gold medalist in the 31 kg division at this event last year, 12-year-old Taylor Do Carmo (Lehigh Acres, FL / Chief Pride Judo) reached the podium again, earning a silver medal after moving up to 34 kg. Do Carmo won his first two matches of the day with throws for ippon in the opening minute over Gerardo Villalon (MEX) and Juan Goncalves (BRA). In the finals, however, Do Carmo was thrown for ippon by Daniel Almeida (BRA).

Two members of Team USA reached the podium in the 42 kg event where 12-year-olds Daniel Korolyev (Brooklyn, NY / Darfight) and Johan Badillo (Lehigh Acres, FL) earned silver and bronze medals at their first Pan Ams. Korolyev each of his first three matches on penalties in Golden Score, defeating Bolivar Gaona (ECU), Carlos Zavaleta (PER) and Vitor Soares (BRA). In the finals, Korolyev was thrown for ippon by Jose Silva (BRA). Badillo rebounded from a loss in the quarter-finals to Soares to win his next two matches, defeating Zavaleta in the repechage by a waza-ari and throwing Jayben Reyes (PUR) for ippon nearly a minute into Golden Score.

Twelve-year-old Michael Oviedo (Hialeah, FL / Chief Pride Judo) earned bronze in the +52 kg division at his first Pan Am Games. Oviedo drew a bye into the quarter-finals where he pinned Diego Rosado (ECU). In the semifinals, Ovieda hung in for the first 90 seconds before being thrown for a waza-ari by Miguel Dantas (BRA). In the bronze medal finals, Oviedo and Neymar Ayala (CHI) went down to the wire with Oviedo throwing the Chilean for ippon at the buzzer.

The men’s 28 kg bronze medal final came down to a battle between two members of Team USA. Eleven-year-old Devin Nishimura (Renton, WA / Washington Judo Academy) won his quarter-final match on penalties against Elan Patino (ECU), but lost his semi on penalties to Kaua Soares (BRA). In the bronze medal final, Nishimura was up by a waza-ari against 10-year-old Alexander Abovyan (Glendale, CA / Glendale Judo Academy) when he threw his teammate for ippon to take bronze.

The women’s 34 kg bronze medal also came down to a bronze medal fight between two members of Team USA. Eleven-year-old Jelisa Antolin (Ewa Beach, HI / Hawaii Kaikaku Judo Club) was thrown for ippon in the final 20 seconds of the semifinals, but came back in the bronze medal final to throw her 12-year-old teammate Clara Notopradono (San Gabriel, CA / Colton Brown Training Center) for ippon eight seconds into Golden Score.

On Saturday, Team USA entered the mixed team event, winning silver and bronze medals.

Avila, Teran and Lima each won their second medal of the tournament, earning silver with teammates Landon Williams (Stafford, VA / Wall 2 Wall Martial Arts / +52 kg), Lily Infantado (Fort Myers, FL / Chief Pride Judo / 31 kg) and Abby Tavarez (Fort Myers, FL / Chief Pride Judo Club / 38 kg).

Nishimura, Vardanyan and Oveido also claimed additional medals, winning bronze with Joshua Davlatov (Deerfield, IL / JS Martial Arts / 48 kg), Kailee Sanjur (Watauga, TX / Fort Worth Judo / 31 kg) and Maribelle Deaver (North Fort Myers, FL / Chief Pride Judo Club / 38 kg).

Top eight and U.S. results individual results are as follows:

U13 Men’s 28 kg
1. Liam Macias (ECU)
2. Kaua Soares (BRA)
3. Devin Nishimura (Renton, WA / Washington Judo Academy)
3. Alan Patino (ECU)
5. Alexander Abovyan (Glendale, CA / Glendale Judo Academy)
5. Pablo Dominguez (ECU)
7. Iker Solis (ECU)

U13 Men’s 31 kg
1. Frank Sanchez (ECU)
2. Felipe Avila (Miami Lakes, FL / Budokan Judo School)
3. Pedro Ferreira (BRA)
3. Ian Merchan (ECU)
5. Gabriel Rosado (ECU)
5. Juan Tapia (CHI)
7. Stephano Torres (PER)
7. Joaquin Vera (PER)

U13 Men’s 34 kg
1. Daniel Almeida (BRA)
2. Taylor Do Carmo (Lehigh Acres, FL / Chief Pride Judo)
3. Edwin Agudo (ECU)
3. Juan Goncalves (BRA)
5. Pier Acuna (PER)
5. Gerardo VIllalon (MEX)

U13 Men’s 38 kg
1. Christiann Gady (BRA)
2. Fabrizzio Teran (Pompano Beach, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center)
3. Matheus Alves (BRA)
3. Robert Vardanyan (Arleta, CA / Hayastan Judo)
5. Esteban Escabi (PUR)
5. Angel Tejeda (DOM)
7. Daniel Gavidia (PER)
7. Jose Lau Tam (PER)

U13 Men’s 42 kg
1. Jose Silva (BRA)
2. Daniel Korolyev (Brooklyn, NY / Darfight)
3. Johan Badillo (Lehigh Acres, FL)
3. Vitor Soares (BRA)
5. Tony Pincay (ECU)
5. Jayben Reyes (PUR)
7. Viorel Martinez (PER)
7. Carlos Zavaleta (PER)

Also Competed: Joshua Davlatov (Deerfield, IL / JS Martial Arts), 0-1

U13 Men’s 47 kg
1. Daniel Lima (Coral Springs, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center)
2. Pedro Mermeo (ECU)
3. Pedro De Carvalho (BRA)
3. Knox Williams (Stafford, VA / Wall 2 Wall Martial Arts)
5. Mateus Bindewald (BRA)
5. Khangarid Erdembilegt (Bellevue, WA / Washington Judo Academy)
7. Slender Anco (PER)
7. Michael Minevich (CAN)

U13 Men’s 52 kg
1. Leonel Vasquez (ECU)
2. Luis Atzori (BRA)
3. Alexis Sandoval (PER)
3. Bismarck Vega (ECU)
5. Angel Arreaga (ECU)
5. Khantenger Erdembilegt (Bellevue, WA / Washington Judo Academy)
7. Diego Aguirre (CHI)
7. Jose Speroni (BRA)

U13 Men’s +52 kg
1. Angel Serulle (DOM)
2. Miguel Dantas (BRA)
3. Leonardo Mendes (BRA)
3. Michael Oviedo (Hialeah, FL / Budokan Judo School)
5. Nehymar Ayala (CHI)
5. Jorge Gordillo (ECU)
7. Diego Rosado (ECU)
7. Landon Williams (Stafford, VA / Wall 2 Wall Martial Arts)

U13 Women’s 28 kg
1. Maya Marin (Whittier, CA / Harbor Judo Dojo)
2. Karoliny Franco (BRA)

U13 Women’s 31 kg
1. Alessandra Santos (BRA)
2. Maritza Madrid (ECU)
3. Hedeline Alvarado (ECU)
3. Maria Arassem (BRA)
5. Paula Quinchi (ECU)
5. Kailee Sanjur (Watauga, TX / Fort Worth Judo)
7. Lily Infantado (Fort Myers, FL / Chief Pride Judo)
7. Ana Villanueva (PER)

U13 Women’s 34 kg
1. Maria Maciel (BRA)
2. Gabrielli Casola (BRA)
3. Jelisa Antolin (Ewa Beach, HI / Hawaii Kaikaku Judo Club)
3. Maria Penafiel (ECU)
5. Clara Notopradono (San Gabriel, CA / Colton Brown Training Center)
5. Joslyann Quijano (PUR)
7. Fernanda Sandoval (MEX)

U13 Women’s 38 kg
1. Sofia Gonzalez (ECU)
2. Laressa Tavres (BRA)
3. Maria Pavanatti (BRA)
3. Amy Rosario (DOM)
5. Domenica Caldas (ECU)
5. Abby Tavarez (Fort Myers, FL / Chief Pride Judo Club)
7. Maribelle Deaver (North Fort Myers, FL / Chief Pride Judo Club)
7. Ana Diaz (PUR)

U13 Women’s 42 kg
1. Anita Silva (BRA)
2. Emilly De Assis (BRA)
3. Mayra Aulestia (ECU)
3. Renata Moreno (MEX)
5. Maryorie Huaiquipan (CHI)
5. Logan Teramoto (Pearl City, HI / Hawaii Kaikaku Judo Club)
7. Domenica Guerrero (ECU)

U13 Women’s 47 kg
1. Thayna Lorena (BRA)
2. Paola Reyes (PUR)
3. Isabela Da Silva (BRA)
3. Ksenia Oudovikine (CAN)
5. Claudia Crespo (ECU)
5. Pheyton Vasquez (PER)
7. Zumiko Pozo (PER)
7. Briana Vidal (PER)

U13 Women’s 52 kg
1. Maria Barcelos (BRA)
2. Elisa Rodrigues (BRA)
3. Silvana Donayre (PER)

U13 Women’s +52 kg
1. Ana Da Silva (BRA)
2. Riana Costa (BRA)
3. Lhaissa Goncalles (BRA)