Rodriguez Leads U.S. to Best Senior Pan Ams Performance Since 2022
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by Bill Kellick
Led by Dominic Rodriguez's (Fort Myers, Fla. / NYAC / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center) gold medal in the men's 81 kg division, the United States turned in its best performance at the Senior Pan American Championships in four years. The eight medals at the April 18-19 event in Panama City, Panama, equaled the medal total from the 2022 event in Lima, Peru.
In addition to the gold by Rodriguez, the U.S. earned silver medals from Alex Semenenko (Staten Island, N.Y. / NYAC / Generation Judo Club), Jonathan Yang (Los Angeles, Calif. / NYAC / USA Judo National Resident Team), and 2024 Olympians Jack Yonezuka (West Long Branch, N.J. / NYAC / Cranford JKC) and John Jayne (Chicago, Ill.).
Bronze medals were won by Ari Berliner (Cumming, Ga. / NYAC / Jason Morris Judo Center), Johan Silot (Salem, Mass. / NYAC / Pedro's Judo Center) and 2024 Olympian Maria Laborde (Kenosha, Wis. / NYAC / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center).
The U.S. medaled in all six men's divisions in which it competed.
Rodriguez, 21, won his second Senior Pan Am gold medal, having won his first as a 17-year-old in 2022. He has consistently performed well at all levels of Pan American Championships, winning three gold medals at the Cadet Championships as well as a gold and two bronze medals at the Junior Championships. Rodriguez went 4-0 in Panama City on Sunday, including wins by ippon (instant win) over Samuel Ayala (MEX) in the round of 16 and David Lima (BRA) in the semifinals. In the finals, Rodriguez scored two waza-aris (half point) to defeat Medickson Del Orbe Cortorreal (DOM) for the gold.
Yonezuka won his second straight medal in the men's 73 kg division, having won gold last year. On Saturday, he reached the final by scoring three straight victories by ippon over Alejandro Mora (CRC), Jose Gonzalez (ECU) and Justin Lemire (CAN). Facing World No. 3 Daniel Cargnin (BRA) in a rematch of the 2025 final, Cargnin was able to score the only point of the match on a waza-ari to claim the gold.
Competing in his first Senior Pan Am Championships, the 21-year-old Semenenko defeated Brazilians Andrey Coelho and Lucas Lima to reach the final of the men's +100kg division, where he lost to Francisco Solis (CHI) after picking up his third and disqualifying shido (penalty).
Eighteen-year-old Yang won a bronze medal in his Senior Pan Am debut last year and upgraded to silver this year. He defeated Diego Ismael (BRA) and Diego Garcia Ramirez (DOM) to reach the men's 60 kg semifinal against countryman Christopher Velazco (Coral Springs, Fla. / NYAC / Ki-itsu-sai National Training Center). The match went into Golden Score (sudden death overtime) where Velazco picked up his third shido to give the win to Yang. In the final against Jonathan Charon (CUB), the Cuban was able to score a waza-ari for the lone point of the match to claim the victory.
Jayne reached the podium for the fifth consecutive year at the Senior Pan Ams and now has two silver medals and three bronze medals in his resume. He won by ippon over Naysdel Cardoso (CUB) and American Alexander Knauf (Yorkville, Ill. / NYAC) to advance to the men's 90 kg final. Facing Robert Florentino (DOM) for the gold medal, Florentino scored the decisive waza-ari to claim the victory.
Berliner went 3-1 in the men's 66 kg division on Saturday to capture his second career bronze medal and first since 2022. Opening with a win by ippon over Heriberto De Aza (DOM), Berliner then lost by ippon in the quarterfinals to Jhonathan Benavides (ECU). However, he rebounded with consecutive victories by ippon over Jhordan Vanegas (COL) and Julien Frascadore (CAN) to claim the bronze.
Silot joined Rodriguez on the men's 81 kg podium with his first Senior Pan American medal, having also won a bronze medal at the 2023 Junior Pan Ams. He scored a victory by ippon over Alexis Harrison Ayarza (PAN) to reach the quarterfinal round, where he lost by ippon to David Lima (BRA). Silot regrouped to defeat Agustin Gil (ARG) by ippon in the repechage and then scored a yuko against Arthur Margelidon (CAN) in the bronze medal tilt.
Like her Olympic teammate Jayne, Laborde also captured her fifth straight medal at the Senior Pan Ams. After opening with a quarterfinal loss via penalties to Nemesis Candelo (PAN), Laborde scored consecutive victories by penalty over Gabriela Narvaez (PAR) and Erika Jara (ECU) to secure her place on the women's 48 kg podium.
Top eight and U.S. results are as follows:
Men’s 60 kg
1. Jonathan Charon (CUB)
2. Jonathan Yang (Los Angeles, Calif. / USA Judo National Resident Team)
3. Jairo Moreno (ESA)
3. Diego Garcia Ramirez (DOM)
5. Christopher Velazco (Coral Springs, Fla. / NYAC / Ki-itsu-sai National Training Center)
5. Arath Juarez (MEX)
7. Kobe Chavez (CHI)
7. Moises Rosado (MEX)
Women’s 48 kg
1. Clarice Ribiero (BRA)
2. Mary Dee Vargas Ley (CHI)
3. Maria Laborde (Kenosha, Wis. / NYAC / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center)
3. Laura Vasquez (ECU)
5. Erika Jara (ECU)
5. Nemesis Candelo (PAN)
7. Gabriela Narvaez (PAR0
7. Ekaterina Danilkov (CAN)
Men’s 66 kg
1. Orlando Polanco (CUB)
2. Jhonathan Benavides (ECU)
3. Ari Berliner (Cumming, Ga. / NYAC / Jason Morris Judo Center)
3. Joaquin Tovagliari (ARG)
5. Julien Frascadore (CAN)
5. Willian Lima (BRA)
7. Jhordan Vanegas (COL)
7. Mateo Condor (PER)
Women’s 52 kg
1. Larissa Pimenta (BRA)
2. Evelyn Beaton (CAN)
3. Francine Echevarria (PUR)
3. Paulina Martinez (MEX)
5. Driulys Rivas (PER)
5. Samantha Josefa (DOM)
7. Lilian Cordones (PAN)
7. Wendy Golu (COL)
Also Competed: Toni Pepia (Staten Island, N.Y. / NYAC / Colton Brown Training Center), 1-1; Malia Soberano (Aiea, Hawaii), 0-1
Men’s 73 kg
1. Daniel Cargnin (BRA)
2. Jack Yonezuka (West Long Branch, N.J. / NYAC / Cranford JKC)
3. Justin Lemire (CAN)
3. Guilherm e De Oliveira (BRA)
5. Alonso Wong (PER)
5. Ferney Ruiz Mesa (COL)
7. Maikor Yefri Louis Pierre (DOM)
7. Jose Gonzalez (ECU)
Women’s 57 kg
1. Shirlen Nascimento (BRA)
2. Sarah Souza (BRA)
3. Maria Villalba (COL)
3. Ana Rosa (DOM)
5. Mariah Holguin (San Antonio, Texas / Universal Judo)
5. Lian Benavides (CUB)
7. Hilary Lam (PER)
7. Maya Leopold (URU)
Also Competed: Noran Elmahroukey (New Providence, N.J. / NYAC / Colton Brown Training Center), 0-1
Men’s 81 kg
1. Dominic Rodriguez (Fort Myers, Fla. / NYAC / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center)
2. Medickson Del Orbe Cortorreal (DOM)
3. David Lima (BRA)
3. Johan Silot (Salem, Mass. / NYAC / Pedro's Judo Center)
5. Francois Gauthier Drapeau (CAN)
5. Arthur Margelidon (CAN)
7. Adrian Gandia (PUR)
7. Agustin Gil (ARG)
Women’s 63 kg
1. Jessica Klimkait (CAN)
2. Rafaela Silva (BRA)
3. Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard (CAN)
3. Anriquelis Barrios (VEN)
5. Karlee Carrouth (Oklahoma City, Okla. / NYAC / USA Stars)
5. Maylin Del Toro Carvajal (CUB)
7. Prisca Awiti Alcaraz (MEX)
7. Cindy Mera (COL)
Also Competed: Emily Jaspe (Hialeah, Fla. / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center), 0-1
Men’s 90 kg
1. Robert Florentino (DOM)
2. John Jayne (Chicago, Ill.)
3. Rafael Macedo (BRA)
3. Diego Diaz (MEX)
5. Alexander Knauf (Yorkville, Ill. / NYAC)
5. Jose Luis Ortega Mendoza (PAN)
7. Yuta Galarreta (PER)
7. Naysdel Cardoso (CUB)
Women’s 70 kg
1. Nauana Silva (BRA)
2. Esmerelda Damiano Guerrero (DOM)
3. Charlie Thibault (CAN)
3. Luana Carvalho (BRA)
5. Celinda Corozo (ECU)
5. Melissa Myers (Burnt Hills, N.Y. / Jason Morris Judo Center)
7. Anisleidys Ur Lopez (CUB)
7. Heydi Santillana (COL)
Men’s 100 kg
1. Leonardo Goncalves (BRA)
2. Ivan Felipe Silva Morales (CUB)
3. Francisco Balanta (COL)
3. Oscar Santana (DOM)
5. Ivo Dargoltz (ARG0
5. Thomas Briceno (CHI)
7. Jeremy Olivares (MEX0
7. Victor Ochoa (MEX)
Women’s 78 kg
1. Brenda Olaya (COL)
2. Sairy Colon (PUR)
3. Beatriz Freitas (BRA)
3. Coralie Godbout (CAN)
5. Camila Figueroa (PER)
5. Lianet Cardona (CUB)
7. Norma Liliana Cardenas (MEX)
Men’s +100 kg
1. Francisco Solis (CHI)
2. Alex Semenenko (Staten Island, N.Y. / NYAC / Generation Judo Club)
3. Lucas Lima (BRA)
3. Andy Granda (CUB)
5. Luis Amezquita (VEN)
5. Jose Nova Alcantara (DOM)
7. John Messe A Bessong (CAN)
7. Andrey Coelho (BRA)
Women’s +78 kg
1. Karen Leon (VEN)
2. Moira Morillo (DOM)
3. Dayanara Curbelo Travieso (CUB)
3. Karra Hanna (BAH0
5. Beatriz Souza (BRA0
5. Brigitte Carabali (COL)
Also Competed: Gusmary Garcia Savigne (Claymont, Del. / El Idrissi Judo Academy), 0-2
