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Senior National Champions to be Named in Birmingham

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by Bill Kellick

Malia Manibog will look to defend her title in the 48 kg division (Photo by Roy Nanjo)

(Colorado Springs, CO) – More than 350 athletes will fight for titles at the USA Judo Senior National Championships in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday, May 24.

2025 Senior National Championships Live Results

Future Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles will compete for $500 in prize money.

In addition to the senior elite and visually impaired events, athletes also will fight for titles in brown belt, veterans, novice and IJF-Junior categories.

Competition begins at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex at 8:15 a.m. with preliminary rounds. Gold medal finals will be held 30 minutes after the conclusion of all regular and/or bronze medal senior matches.

Tickets are $15 for ages 13 and up and $12 for children 9-12. Children ages 8 and under are free.

The event will serve as preparation for next month's Senior World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. The following eight athletes are expected to compete in both Birmingham and Budapest:

  • Ari Berliner (Cumming, Ga. / NYAC / Jason Morris Judo Center), four-time Senior National Champion and three-time Senior World Team member
  • Jared Causse (Westminster, Calif. / USA Judo National Resident Team / Los Angeles Tenri Judo Dojo / 100 kg), 2023 Junior World Team member and three-time Pan Am Open medalist
  • Mariah Holguin (San Antonio, Texas / Universal Judo / 57 kg), 2022 Senior National Champion and five-time Senior World Team member
  • Maria Laborde (Kenosha, Wis. / NYAC / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center / 48 kg), 2024 Olympian, two-time Senior National Champion and three-time Senior World Team member
  • Melissa Myers (Burnt Hills, N.Y. / Jason Morris Judo Center), two-time Senior National Champion and 2024 Senior World Team member
  • Johan Silot (Salem, Mass. / NYAC / Pedro’s Judo Center / 81 kg), 2023 Senior National Champion and 2024 silver medalist
  • Jonathan Yang (Los Angeles, Calif. / USA Judo National Resident Team / L.A. Judo / 60 kg), 2024 Cadet World Champion
  • Jack Yonezuka (West Long Branch, NJ / NYAC / Cranford JKC / 81 kg), 2024 Olympian, three-time Senior World Team member and 2021 Senior National Champion

In addition to Berliner and Myers, the following athletes will return to defend their 2024 Senior National titles:

  • Anna Atkinson (Tacoma, Wash. / Ippon Judo Dojo / +78 kg), two-time Continental Open silver medalist
  • Issei Barefoot (Charlotte, N.C. / Pedro's Judo Center / 90 kg), 2021 Junior World Team member
  • Emily Jaspe (Hialeah, Fla. / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center / 63 kg), 2024 Senior National Champion, two-time Cadet and three-time Junior World Team member
  • Daniel Liubimovski (Staten Island, N.Y. / Colton Brown Training Center / 100 kg), five-time Cadet and Junior Pan Am medalist
  • Malia Manibog (San Gabriel, Calif. / San Gabriel Judo / 48 kg), four-time Cadet and Junior Pan Am medalist
  • Alex Semenenko (Staten Island, N.Y. / NYAC / +100 kg), three-time Cadet and Junior World Team member
  • Nicole Stout (Schenectady, N.Y. / Jason Morris Judo Center / 78 kg), two-time Senior World Team member and four-time Senior National Champion
  • Christopher Velazco (Coral Springs, Fla. / NYAC / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center / 60 kg), 2024 Senior World Team member

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