Team USA Wins 12 Medals in Montreal

(Colorado Springs, CO) – Four days of competition in Montreal saw Team USA come away with 12 medals across the senior, junior and cadet categories at the Pan American Open / Cup.

2023 Montreal Pan Am Open / Cup Results

The Pan American Open is a senior event in which athletes fought for Olympic qualifying and World Ranking points with seven members of Team USA reaching the podium.

The senior event began on Saturday with a silver medal win in the 66 kg category from Isaiah Ramirez (Barstow, CA / Barstow PAL Judo) and a bronze medal finish by Noran Elmahroukey (New Providence, NJ / NYAC / Colton Brown Training Center) at 57 kg.

Ramirez, a two-time Senior World Team member, entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed and opened his day with a bye into the round of 16 where he choked Adrian Shimabukuro (CAN). Ramirez won his next two matches with throws, besting Mikaelo Fonseca (CAN) by a waza-ari (half-point) in the second minute of the quarter-finals and Mounis Hawsawi (KSA) by ippon (instant win) in the last minute of the semifinals.

The gold medal final would be a matchup between the top two seeds of the tournament as Ramirez took on 2023 Senior Pan American-Oceania Champion Julien Frascadore (CAN). Although the Canadian couldn’t produce a score on the American, Ramirez dropped the match on penalties.

Ramirez’s silver medal finish is the first major senior international podium for the 21-year-old who began law school at the University of Nebraska this fall.

After nearly four years off from competition, Elmahroukey, a 2018 Junior World Team member, continued her successful return to the sport with her second senior international medal of the season.

Elmahroukey, who won gold at Senior Nationals in May, threw Kondelia Karas (CAN) for ippon in the opening minute of the quarter-finals, but lost her semifinal match when she was thrown for ippon by 2023 Junior World Team member Madeleine Birri (GBR) in the second minute.

In the bronze medal final, Elmahroukey and Jevgenija Gajic (SLO) fought into Golden Score (sudden death overtime) before Elmahroukey threw the 2023 Cadet World Team member for ippon.

On Sunday, Alex Knauf (Yorkville, IL / NYAC / Cohen Brothers Judo / 90 kg) and Phil Horiuchi (West Covina, CA / Los Angeles Tenri / +100 kg) won silver medals while Melissa Myers (Burnt Hills, NY / Jason Morris Judo Center / 70 kg), Johan Silot Suse (Salem, MA / NYAC / Pedro’s Judo Center / 81 kg) and Jared Causse (Westminster, CA / Los Angeles Tenri / 100 kg) each won bronze.

Knauf came into Montreal coming off his bronze medal win at the Pan Am Games in Santiago just three weeks ago and got the day off to a quick start, throwing Nicholas Haslett (CAN) for ippon in the first 30 seconds of the match.

Knauf dominated the semifinals as well, throwing Guillaume Gaulin (CAN) first for a waza-ari and then ippon in the second minute.

In the finals, however, Knauf was thrown for ippon during the opening exchange by Mohab Elnahas (CAN) who took his third career Continental Open title.

Fighting in a round robin +100 kg event, Horiuchi won his opener against Clement Musumadi (COD) whom he took to the ground for a pin and then a submission in the second minute.

In the finals, Horiuchi fought a close match against 2022 Cadet World Champion John Messe Bessong Jr. (CAN) before being pinned. The medal is the second Pan Am Open podium finish for Horiuchi who qualified for the Pan Am Games this year with a bronze medal finish at the Santiago Pan Am Open.   

Myers, a 2023 Senior Pan Am-Oceania Team member, drew a bye into the quarter-finals of the 70 kg division where she was pinned by 2023 Junior Pan Am-Oceania Champion Laurence Biron (CAN).

The bronze medal final would be a showdown between Myers and 2023 Pan Am Games Team member Yasmin Alamin (Woodbridge, VA / Sport Judo) – the 2022 Senior National Champion who fell to Myers at this year’s Senior Nationals. The two remain closely matched in a battle that went nearly four minutes into Golden Score. Both athletes received two penalties before Alamin took the third penalty that would give Myers the bronze – her fourth podium finish at a Pan Am Open event.  

A 2023 Junior World Team member and Senior National Champion, Suse scored his major senior international medal in Montreal with his bronze in the 81 kg division. Suse won his first match against Nace Herkovic (SLO) whom he threw for a pair of waza-ari scores. Suse threw Herkovic late in the second minute and clinched the match with a second throw with 19 seconds on the clock. In the quarter-finals, Suse and Djoni Askham (DEN) had two penalties each when the American threw Askham for a waza-ari score in the final 10 seconds of the match. The call was waved off, however, when Suse was given a hansokumake and Askham awarded the win.

In the repechage Suse fought two-time Senior World Team member Nick Yonezuka (West Long Branch, NJ / NYAC / Cranford JKC). In the rematch of their semifinal at the Senior Nationals, Suse and Yonezuka had two penalties each when Suse took the win over Yonezuka with a throw for a waza-ari score late in the second minute of Golden Score.

Suse took on Kalle Friis-Hansen (DEN) in the bronze medal final, scoring a waza-ari in the first minute and holding on to close out the match and reach the podium.

Suse’s teammate at the 2023 Junior Worlds, also reached the podium in Montreal, taking a bronze in the 100 kg division at his first major senior international tournament. Causse drew a bye into the semifinals where he was thrown for a waza-ari by eventual gold medalist Vid Kavnik (SLO) in the final 20 seconds of the match.  

In the bronze medal final, Causse pinned 2021 Veteran World bronze medalist Danick Rocheleau (CAN) in the final minute.

Team USA won five medals in the Junior and Cadet Pan American Cups as well with each of the team members standing on the podium at a Pan Am Cup for the first time.

A silver medalist at the Cadet Pan Am-Oceania Championships in September, Malia Manibog (San Gabriel, CA / San Gabriel Judo) won bronze in the junior 48 kg division on Wednesday and gold in the cadet competition at 44 kg.

Manibog finished the junior event on the first day of competition with a 3-1 record. The 2023 Cadet World Team member defeated Jenna Ko (CAN) by a waza-ari in the opening round, but lost her next match by ippon to Heidi Quach (CAN) who went on to claim gold in both the junior and senior events in Montreal. Manibog punched her ticket to the bronze medal final with a win by two waza-aris over 2022 Cadet World Team member Angelina McCristal (CAN) and earned her position on the podium when she defeated 2023 Cadet World Team member Maria-Magdaleina Delye (CAN) by penalties.

In the cadet event, Manibog won her first match on a walkover against Katherine MacArthur (CAN) and fought Delye for a second time, besting the Canadian by a pair of waza-ari scores.

Daniel Shulgin (Philadelphia, PA / Yawara Force) and Domenico Ternullo (Saugus, MA / Pedro’s Judo Center) each won bronze medals in the cadet competition.

Shulgin, a 2023 Cadet World Team member, won his quarter-final match in the 81 kg division by ippon against Tyler Lange (CAN) by ippon, but lost by ippon in the semis to Maj Kavnik (SLO) – the 2023 Cadet World Team member who went on to win silver. In the bronze medal final, Shulgin defeated Joackim Houle (CAN) scoring a waza-ari first and closing with an ippon.

Ternullo, a 2023 Cadet Pan Am-Oceania Championships Team member, defeated Reinis Rexhepi (CAN) by ippon in the 73 kg round of 16 and won his quarter-final match against Edouard Scorteanu (CAN) by penalties. After a loss to 2023 Berlin Cadet European Cup silver medalist Artem Neylov (CAN) by a waza-ari score, Ternullo defeated Julian Nickel (GER) by ippon to take bronze.

In the junior event, 2023 Junior Pan Am-Oceania Team member Lenny Sheynfeld (Staten Island, NY / Pedro’s Judo Center) won three straight matches, each by two waza-aris to advance to the gold medal final of the 66 kg division. Sheynfeld’s first two wins came against 2023 Cadet World Team members Vincent Roberge-Poitras (CAN) and Luka Tsatsalashvili (CAN). In the semifinals, Sheynfeld defeated luke Thomson (CAN) before falling to Gabriel Pio (BRA) by a waza-ari in the finals.

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

Senior Men’s 60 kg
1. Victor Dessureault (CAN)
2. Matteo Fantozzi (CAN)
3. Jose Ramos (GUA)
3. Vincent Nepton (CAN)
5. Tylor Collin (CAN)
5. Tayven Tremblay (CAN)
7. Jaime Wong (CAN)
7. Alexandre Desbiens (CAN)

Senior Women’s 48 kg
1. Heidi Quach (CAN)
2. Virginia Aymard (GAB)
3. Marie-Lune Turmel (CAN)
3. Priscilla Morand (MRI)
5. Malia Manibog (San Gabriel, CA / San Gabriel Judo)
5. Jacqueline Solis (GUA)
7. Kylee Esparbes (CAN)      
7. Angelina McCristall (CAN)

Senior Men’s 66 kg
1. Julien Frascadore (CAN)
2. Isaiah Ramirez (Barstow, CA / Barstow PAL Judo)
3. Mounis Hawsawi (KSA)
3. Frederic De Cardaillac (CAN)
5. Daniel McCristall (CAN)
5. Daniil Kremerman (CAN)    
7. Michael Phaneuf (CAN)
7. Mikaelo Fonseca (CAN)

Also Competed: Nathan Belfer (Solon, OH / Pedro’s Judo Center), 1-1
Lenny Sheynfeld (Staten Island, NY / Pedro’s Judo Center), 0-1

Senior Women’s 52 kg
1. Evelyn Beaton (CAN)
2. Amelie Grenier (CAN)
3. Hannah Niven (GBR)
3. Sheily Lopez (GUA)
5. Dasha Tkatchenko (CAN)
5. Jenna Schurr (Torrance, CA)
7. Sarra Bourihane (CAN)

Senior Men’s 73 kg
1. Antoine Bouchard (CAN)
2. Justin Lemire (CAN)
3. Benjamin Levy (GBR)
3. Olivier Gagnon (CAN)
5. Luke Davies (GBR)
5. Yanis Hachemi (CAN)
7. Felix Mercier-Ross (CAN)
7. Isaac Carmichael (Wakefield, MA / Pedro’s Judo Center)

Also Competed: Antonio Alvarado (La Puente, CA / Pedro’s Judo Center) ), 0-1
Edward Lynch (Oklahoma City, OK / First Baptist Harrah Judo Team), 0-1

Senior Women’s 57 kg 
1. Malin Wilson (GBR)
2. Madeleine Birri (GBR)
3. Noran Elmahroukey (New Providence, NJ / NYAC / Colton Brown Training Center)
3. Mahee Savoie (CAN)
5. Jevgenija Gajic (SLO)
5. Hailey Ko (CAN)
7. Inara Bardai (CAN)
7. Kondelia Karas (CAN)

Senior Men’s 81 kg
1. Kaegan Young (CAN)
2. Maxim Trigub (IRL)
3. Johan Silot Suse (Salem, MA / NYAC / Pedro’s Judo Center)
3. Djoni Askham (DEN)  
5. Kalle Friis-Hansen (DEN)
5. Eoin Fleming (IRL)       
7. Nick Yonezuka (West Long Branch, NJ / NYAC / Cranford JKC)
7. Maj Kavnik (SLO)

Also Competed: Emiliano Saucedo Goldschmied (Wylie, Texas / Becerra Judo), 1-1
Jucoy Baatjes (Grand Rapids, MI / Godai Judo), 0-1
Maxwell Alaynick (Scotia, NY / Jason Morris Judo Center), 0-1

Senior Women’s 63 kg
1. Isabelle Harris (CAN)
2. Nadia Matchiko Guimendego (CAF) 
3. Helene Christensen (DEN)
3. Kiera Westlake (CAN)
5. Isabella Lauritsen (DEN)
5. Emily Niven (GBR)
7. Loika Robertson (CAN)
7. Rebeca Manaila (CAN)

Also Competed: Liana Morello (Wakefield, MA / Pedro’s Judo Center), 0-1
Regina Arias (Elizabeth, NJ / Tech Judo), 0-1

Senior Men’s 90 kg
1. Mohab Elnahas (CAN)
2. Alexander Knauf (Yorkville, IL / NYAC / Cohen Brothers)
3. Alec Garand (CAN)
3. Guillaume Gaul in (CAN)
5. Davit Aghasaryan (Sunland, CA / Los Angeles Tenri)
5. Alex Marineau (CAN)        
7. Nicholas Haslett (CAN)
7. Faniry-Michael Andriamanana (CAN)

Also Competed: Gianni Hallak (New York City, NY / Kokushi Budo Institute), 0-1

Senior Women’s 70 kg
1. Emily Sook (DEN)
2. Rachael Hawkes (IRL)
3. Melissa Myers (Burnt Hills, NY / Jason Morris Judo Center)    
3. Laurence Biron (CAN)
5. Yasmin Alamin (Woodbridge, VA / Sport Judo)
5. Kiera Burt (CAN)

Senior Men’s 100 kg
1. Vid Kavnik (SLO)
2. Benjamin Kendrick (CAN)
3. Matthew Sexton (GBR)
3. Jared Causse (Westminster, CA / Los Angeles Tenri)
5. Michael Akbashev (CAN)
5. Danick Rocheleau (CAN)

Senior Men’s +100 kg
1. John Messe Bessong Jr.
2. Philip Horiuchi (West Covina, CA / Los Angeles Tenri)
3. Clement Musumadi (COD)

Senior Women’s +78 kg
1. Ana Laura Portuondo Isasi (CAN)
2. Coralie Godbout (CAN)    
3. Tahani Alqahtani (KSA)

Junior Men’s 60 kg
1. Vincent Nepton (CAN)
2. Eliandre Barriault-Tremblay (CAN)
3. Jaka Samec (SLO)
3. Alexandre Desbiens (CAN)
5. Olivier Maurice (CAN)
5. Tayven Tremblay (CAN)
7. Egan McLean (CAN)
7. Jaime Wong (CAN) 

Junior Women’s 48 kg
1. Heidi Quach (CAN)
2. Valeria Kostrovets (CAN)
3. Malia Manibog (San Gabriel, CA / San Gabriel Judo Dojo)
3. Kylee Esparbes (CAN)
5. Maria-Magdaleina Delye (CAN)
5. Katherine MacArthur (CAN)
7. Angelina McCristall (CAN)
7. Martina Diaz (CHI)

Junior Men’s 66 kg
1. Gabriel Pio (BRA)
2. Lenny Sheynfeld (Staten Island, NY / Pedro’s Judo Center)
3. Daniil Kremerman (CAN) 
3. Fahd FIthane (CAN)
5. Vincent Roberge-Poitras (CAN)
5. Luke Thomson (CAN) 
7. Lowan Le Bris (CAN)
7. Oliver Noerskov (DEN)

Junior Women’s 52 kg
1. Sheily Lopez (GUA)
2. Lucy Robinson (GBR)
3. Laurence Gagnon (CAN)
3. Sarra Bourihane (CAN)
5. Avery Gibney (CAN)
5. Dasha Tkatchenko (CAN)
7. Maegan Grooten (CAN)
7. Beata Schenk (CAN)

Junior Men’s 73 kg
1. Bertil Lavrsen (DEN)
2. Morgan Errboe (DEN)
3. Aksel Birlund (DEN)
3. Artem Neyolov (CAN)
5. Benjamin Levy (GBR)      
5. Matis Ganet (CAN)
7. Louis-Maxime Dube (CAN)     
7. Olivier Gagnon (CAN)

Also Competed: Danylo Korotych (Houston, TX / Revolution Dojo), 0-1

Junior Women’s 57 kg
1. Jevgenija Gajic (SLO)
2. Madeleine Birri (GBR)
3. Hayden Thibeault (CAN)
3. Hailey Ko (CAN)
5. Carla Van Zyl (CAN)
5. Kondelia Karas (CAN)
7. Violette Louet (CAN)
7. Dilana Gesa (CAN)

Junior Men’s 81 kg
1. Jumber Meladze (CAN)
2. Djoni Askham (DEN)
3. Tigran Kryvytskyi (CAN)
3. Lasha Tsatsalashvili (CAN)
5. Yuriy Semenyuk (CAN)
5. Mohammad Said Habib (CAN)
7. Guy Porter (CAN)
7. Carter Althouse (CAN)

Also Competed: Daniil Bondar (Houston, TX / Revolution Dojo), 0-1

Junior Women’s 63 kg
1. Sarah Ekosky (CAN)
2. Margot Chevalier (CAN)
3. Maralgoo Batbayar (CAN)
3. Loika Robertson (CAN)
5. Liana Morello (Wakefield, MA / Pedro’s Judo Center)
5. Dakota Sanzana (CAN)
7. Vivian Whitton (CAN)

Junior Men’s 90 kg
1. Yehor Paladii (CAN)
2. Ozbej Razgorsek (SLO)
3. Oleksandr Kaplin (CAN)
3. Faniry-Michael Andriamanana (CAN)
5. Munkhu Batbayar (CAN)
5. Nicholas Haslett (CAN)
7. Mathias Perron (CAN)
7. Lucas MacDonald (CAN)     

Junior Women’s 70 kg
1. Missy Jen Dorval Mbele (CAN)
2. Abigail Smith (CAN)
3. Ralia Lamri (MAR)
4. Annika Michaluk (CAN)   

Junior Men’s 100 kg
1. Vid Kavnik (SLO)
2. Michael Akbashev (CAN)
3. Nick Luchkin (CAN)

Junior Men’s 78 kg
1. Frederique Lavigne (CAN)
2. Naomi Fowler (CAN) 

Junior Women’s +78 kg
1. Marianna Karas (CAN)

Cadet Men’s 50 kg
1. Arel Roitman (CAN)
2. Elias McLean (CAN)

Cadet Men’s 55 kg
1. Loic Beaton (CAN)
2. Xavier Brouillette (CAN)
3. Nathan Thiel (CAN)
3. Maxwell Mulingtapang (CAN)    
5. Sebastien Fecteau (CAN)
5. Emrys Cauden (CAN)
7. Martin Stuardo (CHI)
7. Jackson Gillies (CAN)

Cadet Women’s 44 kg
1. Malia Manibog (San Gabriel, CA / San Gabriel Judo)
2. Maria-Magdaleina Delye (CAN)
3. Maya Roy (CAN)

Cadet Men’s 60 kg
1. Jaka Samec (SLO)
2. Denis Neyolov (CAN)
3. Eliandre Barriault-Tremblay (CAN)
3. Matthew Schesnuik (CAN)   
5. Antoine Jean Pierre (CAN)
5. Nickita Tretiacov (CAN)
7. Olivier Maurice (CAN)
7. Samuel Roberge-Poitras (CAN)

Cadet Women’s 48 kg
1. Valeria Kostrovets (CAN)

Cadet Men’s 66 kg
1. Fahd FIthane (CAN)
2. Lowan Le Bris (CAN)
3. Nik Pavlic (SLO)
3. Luka Tsatsalashvili (CAN) 
5. Andre Philippe Manuel (CAN)
5. Peter Davies (GBR)
7. Edmon Poltorac (CAN)
7. Sawyer Althouse (CAN)

Cadet Women’s 52 kg
1. Laurence Gagnon (CAN)
2. Avery Gibney (CAN)
3. Lucy Robinson (GBR)
3. Melody Grenier (CAN)
5. Isla Diesmos (CAN)
5. Kayla McLean (CAN)
7. Maegan Grooten (CAN)
7. Beata Schenk (CAN)

Cadet Men’s 73 kg
1. Artem Neyolov (CAN)
2. TOmo Di Cesare (CAN)
3. Edoauard Scorteanu (CAN)
3. Domenico Ternullo (Saugus, MA / Pedro’s Judo Center)
5. Louis-Maxime Dube (CAN)
5. Julian Nickel (GER)
7. Jacob Riverin (CAN)
7. Maxime Bourgoin (CAN)

Cadet Women’s 57 kg
1. Jevgenija Gajic (SLO)
2. Juniper Wong (CAN)
3. Carla Van Zyl (CAN)
3. Alyssa Tkachenko (CAN)
5. Hayden Thibeault (CAN)
5. Leah Michaud (CAN)
7. Kolbi Fenrick (CAN)
7. Rima Bourihane (CAN)

Cadet Men’s 81 kg
1. Tigran Kryvytskiyi (CAN)
2. Maj Kavnik (CAN)
3. Daniel Shulgin (Philadelphia, PA / Yawara Force)
3. Mohammad Said Habib (CAN)
5. Joackim Houle (CAN)
5. Tristan Bourque (CAN)
7. Daniel Ekosky (CAN)
7. Tyler Lange (CAN)

Cadet Women’s 63 kg
1. Maralgoo Batbayar (CAN)
2. Maya Aubert Gomez (GBR) 
3. Alandra Steiger (CAN)
3. Charlie Thibault (CAN)
5. Margot Chevalier (CAN)
5. Antonia Gonzalez (CHI)
7. Lina Jbilou (CAN)
7.  Sara-Anne Beaudin (CAN)

Cadet Men’s 90 kg
1. Yehor Paladii (CAN)
2. Oleksansdr Kaplin (CAN)
3. Munkhu Batbayar (CAN)
3. Ozbej Razgorsek (SLO)
5. Domen Prednik (SLO)
5. Eden Khalfon (CAN)

Cadet Women’s 70 kg
1. Charline Bourque (CAN)
2. Missy Jen Dorval Mbele (CAN)
3. Annika Michaluk (CAN)
3. Abigail Smith (CAN) 
5. Hannah Yin (CAN)
5. Cassandra Perreault (CAN)
7. Aryanna Godin (CAN)

Cadet Men’s +90 kg
1. Mohamed Amine Sislem (CAN)
2. Marko Figueroa (CHI)
3. Cai James (CAN)

Cadet Women’s +70 kg
1. Frederique Lavigne (CAN)
2. Marianna Karas (CAN)
3. Naomi Fowler (CAN)
3. Emily Harris (CAN)