Skip to content

Team USA Wins Eight Medals at Junior Pan Am Games

Share:

by Bill Kellick

Emily Jaspe (l) took home the silver medal in the women's 63kg competition on Aug. 11. (Photo by XPress Media)

(Colorado Springs, CO) – USA Judo athletes earned eight medals as the individual judo competition wrapped up Tuesday at the second edition of the Junior Pan American Games in Asuncion, Paraguay. U.S. judoka won four silver medals and four bronze medals as part of Team USA competing at the two-week event. The Junior Pan American Games is a multi-sport event for junior athletes, with 334 events in 28 sports. The Games conclude on August 23. The mixed team competition will be held on Wednesday.

Silver medalists for the U.S. included world #3-ranked junior Daniel Liubimovski (Staten Island, N.Y. / NYAC / Colton Brown Training Center) in the men's 100kg, #8-ranked Jacob Yang (Los Angeles, Calif. / USA Judo National Resident Team / LA Judo Club) in the men's 66kg, #2-ranked Christopher Velazco (Coral Springs, Fla. / NYAC / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center) in the men's 60kg, and #2-ranked Emily Jaspe (Hialeah, Fla. / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center) in the women's 63kg.

Liubimovski defeated Marko Figueroa (CHI) by ippon (instant win) in the semifinals before losing to Gustavo Milano (BRA) by yuko (partial score) in the final.

Yang won two matches by ippon to reach the 66kg final. He beat Agustin Ledesma (PAR) in the quarterfinal and Fabricio Meyer (CHI) in the semifinal before losing by ippon to Bruno Nobrega (BRA) in the gold medal match.

Velazco opened the 60kg competition with a victory by ippon over Galo Villavicencio (ARG) in the quarterfinals, then defeated Jeronimo Pino Balbin (COL) by waza-ari (half point) in the semis. In the final, Jhonathan Benevides (ECU) was able to score a yuko on Velazco for the only point to earn the gold medal.

Jaspe scored wins by yuko over Constanza Perez Garrido (CHI) and Wendy Martinez (CUB) to reach the 63kg final, where Eduarda Bastos (BRA) won the gold by yuko over Jaspe.

Team USA medalists on the final day of competition were (l to r) Mackenzie Schultz (bronze), Daniel Liubimovski (silver), Rhadi Ferguson, Jr. (bronze) and Kanta Ueyama (bronze).

Junior Pan American Games bronze medalists for Team USA were Rhadi Ferguson, Jr. (Tampa, Fla. / High Noon Judo) in the women's +78kg, Mackenzie Schultz (Daleville, Ala. / Black Ice Judo) in the women's 78kg, Kanta Ueyama (Burbank, Calif. / LA Tenri Judo) in the men's +100kg and Malia Manibog (San Gabriel, Calif. / San Gabriel Judo Dojo) in the women's 48kg.

Ferguson won bronze with a victory by yuko over Marielin Gomez (DOM).

Schultz opened with a win by ippon over Yhoseli Stephania Matos (DOM) in the quarterfinals. After a loss to Tania Murillo (COL) via ippon in the semifinals, Schultz rebounded with a throw for ippon in the opening minute of her bronze medal match against Maria Pesantez (ECU).

Penalties played an integral part in Ueyama's road to the podium. After losing in the quarterfinals via penalty to John Messe A Bessong (CAN), Ueyama came through the repechage with a win via penalty over Jonathan Delgado (CUB) and secured the bronze medal in Golden Score (sudden death overtime) when his opponent, Hugo Sanchez (MEX), incurred his third and disqualifying penalty.

Manibog won her quarterfinal match by waza-ari over Yainet Coronado (CUB), but then lost by ippon in the semifinals to eventual gold medalist Clarice Ribeiro (BRA). She regrouped to defeat Yarelis Lucas (DOM) by ippon in the bronze medal match.

Opening day medalists pictured with coaches German Velazco and Carrie Chandler were (l to r) Christopher Velazco (silver), Malia Manibog (bronze) and Jacob Yang (silver).

Team USA also received fifth-place finishes from Anthony Farnot (Lehigh Acres, Fla. / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center) in men's 73kg, Harlee Hiller (Evansville, Ill. / Cohen Brothers Judo) in women's 52kg, Shavon Gonzalez (West Palm Beach, Fla. / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center) in women's 70kg and Daniel Shulgin (Philadelphia, Pa. / Yawara Force) in men's 81kg, and a seventh-place finish from Nicole Cancela (Lake Worth, Fla. / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center) in women's 57kg. The team was coached by German Velazco and Carrie Chandler.

2025 Junior Pan American Games Results

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

Men’s 60 kg
1. Jhonathan Benevides (ECU)
2. Chris Velazco (Coral Springs, Fla. / NYAC / Ki-itsu-sai National Training Center)
3. Eduardo Sagastegui (MEX)
3. Lucas Takaki (BRA)
5. Galo Villavicencio (ARG)
5. Jeronimo Pino Balbin (COL)
7. Angel Hernandez Salon (GUA)
7. Yoel Hernandez (CUB)

Women’s 48 kg
1. Clarice Ribeiro (BRA)
2. Manuela Crespo (COL)
3. Laura Vasquez (ECU)
3. Malia Manibog (San Gabriel, Calif. / San Gabriel Judo Dojo)
5. Yainet Coronado (CUB)
5. Yarelis Lucas (DOM)
7. Addyson Tamura (CAN)
7. Noelia Paz (BOL)

Men’s 66 kg
1. Bruno Nobrega (BRA)
2. Jacob Yang (Los Angeles, Calif. / USA Judo National Resident Team)
3. Jhordan Vanegas (COL)
3. Xavion Johnson (BAH)
5. Fabricio Meyer (CHI)
5. Mateo Condor (PER)
7. Ian Kenner Aguirre Ramirez (MEX)
7. Agustin Ledesma (PAR)

Women’s 52 kg
1. Rafaela Rodrigues (BRA)
2. Aylin Avila (MEX)
3. Driulys Rivas (PER)
3. Leomaris Ruiz (VEN)
5. Wendy Golu (COL)
5. Harlee Hiller (Evansville, Ill. / Cohen Brothers Judo)
7. Valentina Alamo (ARG)
7. Nancy Gimenez (PAR)

Men’s 73 kg
1. Matheus Nolasco (BRA)
2. Alfredo Valdivieso (ECU)
3. Tomas Hernandez (CHI)
3. Rafael Ramirez (MEX)
5. Keiner Sanchez Garnica (COL)
5. Anthony Farnot (Lehigh Acres, Fla. / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center)
7. Enzo Peralta (PAR)
7. Paolo Alberto Silva Manzi (URU)

Women’s 57 kg
1. Bianca Reis (BRA)
2. Audreys Pacheco (VEN)
3. Carla Van Zyl (CAN)
3. Mayra Solis (COL)
5. Frida Maya (MEX)
5. Luciana Julca (PER)
7. Nicole Cancela (Lake Worth, Fla. / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center)
7. Jimena Arce Lacayo (CRC)

Men’s 81 kg
1. Luan Almeida (BRA)
2. Arthur Karpukov (CAN)
3. Luis Pariche (VEN)
3. Alem Yuma (ARG)
5. Daniel Shulgin (Philadelphia, Pa. / Yawara Force Judo/Sambo Club)
5. Benjamin Galarreta (PER)
7. Francisco Galarza Hernandez (PUR)
7. Elias Veron Fernandez (PAR)

Women’s 63 kg
1. Eduarda Bastos (BRA)
2. Emily Jaspe (Hialeah, Fla. / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center)
3. Maria Cruz (MEX)
3. Ivette Fuentes (VEN)
5. Wendy Martinez (CUB)
5. Ingrid Choco (COL)
7. Noilyn Aguilar Bravo (CRC)
7. Constanza Perez Garrido (CHI)

Men’s 90 kg
1. Jesse Barbosa (BRA)
2. Naysdel Cardoso (CUB)
3. Jhon Caicedo Sinisterra (COL)
3. Samuel Corzo (VEN)
5. Derik Rodriguez (PUR)
5. Tomas Quinteros (ARG)
7. Edgar Benitez (PAR)
7. Emilio Loo (PER)

Women’s 70 kg
1. Heydi Santillana (COL)
2. Maria Eduarda Oliveira (BRA)
3. Charlie Thibault (CAN)
3. Hannelys Espina (VEN)
5. Shavon Gonzalez (West Palm Beach, Fla. / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center)
5. Victoria Ramirez Peguero (DOM)
7. Yamileth Juarez Loya (MEX)
7. Valeria Duarte (PAR)

Men’s 100 kg
1. Gustavo Milano (BRA)
2. Daniel Liubimovski (Staten Island, N.Y. / NYAC / Colton Brown Training Center)
3. Christopherd Galvis (COL)
3. Marko Figueroa (CHI)
5. Gustavo Canizalez (VEN)

Women’s 78 kg
1. Dandara Camillo (BRA)
2. Tania Murillo (COL)
3. Mackenzie Schultz (Daleville, Ala. / Black Ice Judo)
3. Lisrialis Gonzalez Bonnet (CUB)
5. Maria Pesantez (ECU)
5. Yhoseli Stephania Matos (DOM)
7. Nahyr Angelacio (PAR)
7. Paula Constanza Sanchez Ledesma (MEX)

Men’s +100 kg
1. Andrey Coelho (BRA)
2. Jose Miguel Brache Jarquin (DOM)
3. John Messe A Bessong (CAN)
3. Kanta Ueyama (Burbank, Calif. / LA Tenri Judo)
5. Patricio Urra (CHI)
5. Hugo Sanchez (MEX)
7. Valentino Valdivia (PER)
7. Jonathan Delgado (CUB)

Women’s +78 kg
1. Dayanara Curbelo Travieso (CUB)
2. Kharla Casas (CHI)
3. Rhadi Ferguson, Jr. (Tampa, Fla. / High Noon Judo)
3. Ana Soares (BRA)
5. Marielin Gomez (DOM)
5. Alisa Kofman (CAN)