Gonzalez, Farnot and Liubimovski Lead Team USA to 14 Medals at Pan Am-Oceania Championships

(Colorado Springs, CO) – Team USA won 14 medals at the Cadet Pan American-Oceania Championships in Calgary on Friday – the most of any nation at the tournament for the best athletes ages 17 and under across three continents.

2023 Cadet Pan Am-Oceania Championships Results

Out of Team USA’s 19 competitors, 17 advanced to the medal rounds with 14 earning medals and three taking top-five finishes.

Anthony Farnot (Lehigh Acres, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center / 73 kg), Daniel Liubimovski (Staten Island, NY / Colton Brown Training Center / 90 kg) and Shavon Gonzalez (West Palm Beach, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center / 70 kg) each reached the top of the podium in Calgary.

Fifteen-year-old Farnot and 16-year-old Liubimovski each made his debut at the Cadet Pan Am-Oceania Championships just weeks after competing at the Cadet World Championships for the first time.

Farnot, who was the top seed at 73 kg, earned a bye into the semifinals where he defeated Elisey Sokolov (CAN) by a trio of penalties. In the finals, Farnot threw Rafael Ramirez (MEX) for a waza-ari (half-point) and moved into a pin to take the match.

Liubimovski threw 2022 Cadet Pan Am-Oceania Champion Alexandre Albano II (BRA) for the waza-ari he would need to clinch the match in the 90 kg semifinals. In the finals, Liubimovski threw two-time Cadet Pan American Cup Champion Derik Rodriguez (PUR) for a waza-ari and transitioned quickly into a pin to win gold.

Seventeen-year-old Gonzalez earned her second Cadet Pan Am-Oceania title and third overall medal at the event after winning gold in 2021 and bronze in 2022. In the semifinals, top-seeded Gonzalez threw Nova Rotbart (CAN) for a waza-ari score in the final minute, but the call was waved off. With the match in Golden Score (sudden death overtime), Gonzalez took the match to the ground, pinning the Canadian to advance to the finals. Gonzalez would face another Canadian to win gold, battling down to the wire before throwing Charline Bourque for a waza-ari in the final three seconds of regulation.

Four members of Team USA advanced to the finals and ended the competition with silver medal finishes.

On the heels of her fifth-place finish at the Cadet Worlds, 17-year-old Emily Jaspe (Hialeah, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center) entered the event as the reigning Cadet Pan Am-Oceania Champion at 63 kg and was favored to defend her title. Jaspe won her first two matches by ippon (instant win) against opponents from Mexico, defeating Renata Sandoval and Maria Cruz to advance to the finals. In one of the day’s most highly anticipated matches, Jaspe took on 2023 Cadet World silver medalist Sophia Camara (BRA). Jaspe scored first, throwing the Brazilian for a waza-ari in the third minute, but Camara came back quickly with a waza-ari score of her own to tie the match. After four minutes of regulation, the two fought for three and a half more minutes into Golden Score before Camara threw Jaspe for a second waza-ari.

Representing Team USA for the first time on the international stage, 14-year-old Kanta Ueyama (Burbank, CA / LA Tenri Judo Dojo) won silver in his Pan Am-Oceania Championships debut at +90 kg. Ueyama started strong, winning each of his first two matches by ippon against Gerardo Castelan (MEX) and Patricio Urra (CHI) in the quarter and semifinals, respectively. In the finals, Ueyama was unable to score against Luis Antonio Oliveira (BRA) and lost on penalties with just 13 seconds remaining in regulation.

Fifteen-year-old Cadet World Team members Damian Lang (Bellevue, WA / Washington Judo Academy) and Malia Manibog (San Gabriel, CA / San Gabriel Judo Dojo) each fought for gold with Lang placing second at 50 kg and Manibog at 40 kg.

Manibog won her first two matches by ippon, advancing to the finals after defeating Nanami Anderson (AUS) and Maria-Magdaleina Delye (CAN). She came up against reigning Cadet World Champion Clarice Ribeiro (BRA) in the finals where Ribeiro pinned Manibog in the opening minute. Manibog escaped before 20 seconds was called, but Ribeiro still scored a waza-ari. In the next minute, the Brazilian threw Manibog for ippon to win gold.

Lang threw Paolo Salazar Vargas (MEX) for ippon in the opening match of his round robin division, but fell in the finals to Lucas Yamamoto (BRA) who threw Lang for a waza-ari score.

Seven first-time Pan Am-Oceania Team members won bronze medals in Calgary.

Sixteen-year-old Jonathan Yang (Los Angeles, CA / LA Judo Club) followed his seventh-place finish at the Cadet Pan Ams with a bronze medal win in the 55 kg division. Yang earned a bye into the quarter-finals where he threw Lautaro Cruces (ARG) for a waza-ari score and choked him to win the match in the final 10 seconds. In the semifinals, Yang and Yonatan Ayzelman (AUS) had two penalties each at the end of regulation, but the Australian took the win when Yang went out of bounds for a third penalties just eight seconds into Golden Score. In the bronze medal final, Yang defeated teammate Henry Parsadanian (North Hollywood, CA) by three penalties to one.

Sixteen-year-old Cadet World Team member Alexander Prado (Coral Springs, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center) rebounded from an opening round loss to Luka Tsatsalashvili (CAN) by a waza-ari to win two straight matches and earn a position on the podium. In the repechage, Prado threw Canadian Vincent Nepton for ippon 10 seconds into the match. Prado broke away from a tie at a waza-ari a piece to pin Jack Bannister (AUS) and win bronze.

Samantha Garcia (Torrance, CA / Harbor Judo Dojo) opened her 48 kg division with a win on penalties over Melody Greiner (CAN) in the quarter-finals and made it to the third minute of the semifinals before being choked by Nicole Marques (BRA). In the bronze medal finals, the 16-year-old threw Nayla Burzio (ARG) for a waza-ari in the final 10 seconds of regulation.

Sixteen-year-old Kevin Do Carmo (Lehigh Acres, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center) entered the 66 kg division as the No. 1 seed, but fell to the eventual champion in the quarter-finals when he was choked by Bruno Nobrega (BRA). In the repechage, Do Carmo took both of his wins by ippon over Chileans Juan Leiva and Fabricio Meyer.

Jasmine Macias (La Puente, CA / Guerreros Judo) lost her opening round in the 57 kg event to Juana Maidana (ARG); however, she won three straight matches to claim bronze. The 16-year-old bested three-time Pan American Cup Champion Saicha Serrano (PUR) and five-time Continental Cup medalist Oren Kelly (AUS) in the repechage. In the finals, Macias and Alyssa Tkachenko (CAN) went to Golden Score before Tkachenko was given her third penalty of the match.

After a quarter-final win against five-time Continental Cup medalist Carstens Beyers (AUS), 15-year-old Octavio DeOliveira (Lynnfield, MA / Pedro’s Judo Center) dropped his semifinal match against Lucas Ribeiro (BRA). In the bronze medal final, De Oliveira threw two-time Continental Cup medalist Lucas Vladich-McKenzie (AUS) in less than a minute.

Fighting in the +70 kg event, 15-year-old Sophia Dresel (Casselberry, FL / Sasaki Judo) lost her opening match on penalties to eventual gold medalist Dandra Camilo (BRA), but came away with a bronze medal after a walkover win against Barbara Padilla (MEX).

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

Men’s 50 kg
1. Lucas Yamamoto (BRA)
2. Damian Lang (Bellevue, WA / Washington Judo Academy)
3. Paolo Salazar Vargas (MEX)

Women’s 40 kg
1. Cyntia Vazquez Ortiz (MEX)

Men’s 55 kg
1. Samuel Silva (BRA)
2. Yonatan Ayzelman (AUS)
3. Jonathan Yang (Los Angeles, CA / LA Judo Club)
3. Esteban Maldonado (ARG)
5. Lautaro Cruces (ARG) 
5. Henry Parsadanian (North Hollywood, CA)
7. Edwin Damian Alonso Cruz (MEX)
7. Yeziel Rosado (PUR)

Women’s 44 kg
1. Clarice Ribeiro (BRA)
2. Malia Manibog (San Gabriel, CA / San Gabriel Judo Dojo)
3. Sofia Hernandez (MEX)

Men’s 60 kg
1. Joao Lira (BRA)
2. Eduardo Sagastegui (MEX)
3. Alexander Prado (Coral Springs, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center)
3. Xavion Johnson (BAH)
5. Jack Bannister (AUS)
5. Luka Tsatsalashvili (CAN)
7. Adiel Carrion (PUR)
7. Vincent Nepton (CAN)      

Women’s 48 kg
1. Nycolly Carneiro (BRA)
2. Nicole Marques (BRA)
3. Melody Grenier (CAN) 
3. Samantha Garcia (Torrance, CA / Harbor Judo Dojo)

5. Maelie Tournier (AUS)
5. Nayla Burzio (ARG)
7. Daniela Leandro (MEX)

Men’s 66 kg
1. Bruno Nobrega (BRA)
2. Fahd Fithane (CAN)
3. Kevin Do Carmo (Lehigh Acres, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center)

3. Tobias Vidal (ARG)

5. Vincent Roberge-Poitras (CAN)
5. Fabricio Meyer (CHI)
7. Juan Leiva (CHI)

7. Reiver Alvarenga Soto (ARG)

Also Competed: Domenico Ternullo (Saugus, MA / Pedro’s Judo Center), 0-1

Women’s 52 kg
1. Leanna Au (CAN)
2. Laurence Gagnon (CAN)
3. Callie Bannister (AUS)

3. Kendra Quiroz Larios (MEX)
5. Suri Dayana Montes Perez (MEX)
5. Natalie Pino (Hialeah, FL / Budokan Judo School)

Men’s 73 kg
1. Anthony Farnot (Lehigh Acres, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center)
2. Rafael Ramirez (MEX)
3. Nicolas Villa (CAN)
3. Elisey Sokolov (CAN)
5. Angel Hernandez Rojas (MEX) 

5. Nicholas McClifty (AUS)

Women’s 57 kg
1. Eduarda Bastos (BRA)
2. Bianca Tandean (AUS) 
3. Jasmine Macias (La Puente, CA / Guerreros Judo)
3. Juana Maidana (ARG)
5. Frida Maya (MEX)
5. Alyssa Tkachenko (CAN) 
7. Oren Kelly (AUS)
7. Martina Moreno (CHI)

Men’s 81 kg
1. Yehor Paladii (CAN)
2. Lucas Ribeiro (BRA)
3. Carstens Beyers (AUS)

3. Octavio DeOliveira (Lynnfield, MA / Pedro’s Judo Center)

5. Francisco Galarza Hernandez (PUR)
5. Lucas Vladich-McKenzie (AUS)
7. Agustin Venegas (CHI)
7. Marco Aurelio Concha Aranda (MEX)

Women’s 63 kg
1. Sophia Camara (BRA)
2. Emily Jaspe (Hialeah, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center)
3. Dakota Sanzana (CAN)
3. Maria Cruz (MEX)
5. Renata Sandoval (MEX)
5. Jayda Fulp (Fort Worth, TX / Chandler Judo Academy)
7. Indy Arizmendi Nguyen (PUR)
7. Gabrielle Woodward (AUS)

Men’s 90 kg
1. Daniel Liubimovski (Staten Island, NY / Colton Brown Training Center)
2. Derik Rodriguez (PUR)
3. Alexandre Albano II (BRA)

Women’s 70 kg
1. Shavon Gonzalez (West Palm Beach, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center)
2. Charline Bourque (CAN)
3. Nova Rotbart (CAN)

Also Competed: Chloe Williams (Stafford, VA / Wall 2 Wall Martial Arts), 0-2

Men’s +90 kg
1. Luis Antonio Oliveira (BRA)
2. Kanta Ueyama (Burbank, CA / LA Tenri Judo Dojo)

3. Gerardo Castelan (MEX)
3. Patricio Urra (CHI)
5. Matys Rainville (CAN)
5. Jose Miguel Brache Jarquin (DOM)

Women’s +70 kg
1. Dandra Camilo (BRA)
2. Frederique Lavigne (CAN)
3. Sophia Dresel (Casselberry, FL / Sasaki Judo)