Team USA Wins 12 Medals at Pan Am U15 Championships

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – Team USA finished third in the medal standings at the Pan American U15 Championships in Panama City, winning 12 medals, including two gold.

Brazil earned the top position in the standings, claiming 22 medals with Ecuador securing 13.

2022 Pan Am U15 Championships Results

Team USA heard its national anthem played twice in the U15 event with Malia Manibog (San Gabriel, Calif. / San Gabriel Judo) claiming the 44kg women’s gold and Jacob Tamai (Elkridge, Md. / College Park Judo) earning the 58kg men’s title.

The reigning gold medalist at this event in the 40kg division, 14-year-old Manibog moved up to 44kg this season and returned to the top of the podium in her new weight. Manibog, who also won gold at the Junior Olympic Championships in June, came in as the 12^th seed, but won three straight matches to earn a position in the finals where she defeated Julieta Escobar (PAN) by ippon (instant win).

A bronze medalist at this event in 2021 at 48kg, Tamai moved up two weight categories this season, but the 10kg difference paid off quickly with a gold medal at the Junior Olympic Championships in June. In Panama, the 14-year-old won his first two rounds by ippon scores and went on to defeat Pedro Caldas (BRA) on penalties in the finals.

Three members of Team USA also advanced to the finals and secured silver medals in Panama.

The reigning Junior Olympic Champion, 13-year-old Eli Oshiro (Pearl City, Hawaii / Hawaii Kaikaku Judo Club) won gold in the 36kg category at the President’s Cup in Irving before leaving for Panama. Fighting in a round robin event, Oshiro won two matches by ippon and dropped a third to finish second.

Fourteen-year-old David Unenbat (Castro Valley, Calif. / Berkeley Genco Judo Club) swept the USA Judo National Championships this season, winning gold at both the Youth Nationals and Junior Olympics in the 64kg division. Unenbat was headed for a third title in Panama with three straight match wins by ippon before falling in the finals to Joao Medeiros (BRA).

A silver medalist in the +64kg event at the 2021 U15 Pan Ams, 14-year-old Chloe Williams (Stafford, Va. / Wall 2 Wall Martial Arts) earned a second silver this year. Williams went 1-1 in her event, winning her semifinal by ippon, but losing her final to Olivia Oliveira (BRA).

Seven U.S. athletes earned bronze in Panama:

• William Gomes (Fort Myers, Fla. / Chief Pride Judo Club / Men’s 40kg)
• Higen Castillo (Chesapeake, Va. / USA Stars East / Men’s 44kg)
• Ryan Dyer (Fort Worth, Texas / Fort Worth Judo / Men’s 64kg)
• Ecola Matsueda (Ewa Beach, Hawaii / Hawaii Kaikaku Judo Club / Women’s 44kg)
• Waverly Tamanaha (Temple City, Calif. / San Gabriel Judo / Women’s 48kg
• Elsa Clark (Potomac, Md. / Sport Judo / Women’s 53kg)
• Meena Phan (Rosemead, Calif. / San Gabriel Judo / Women’s 58kg

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

U15 Men’s 36kg
1. Emiliano Garcia (ECU)
2. Eli Oshiro (Pearl City, Hawaii / Hawaii Kaikaku Judo Club)
3. Favian Caballero (COL)
3. Ian Fernandez (MEX)

U15 Men’s 40kg
1. Gabriel Munoz (ECU)
2. Gabriel Gnoatto (BRA)
3. Jesus Diaz (MEX)
3. William Gomes (Fort Myers, Fla. / Chief Pride Judo Club)

5. Efrain Carrillo (MEX)
5. Dmitry Kondratev (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Darfight)

U15 Men’s 44kg
1. Diego Garcia (DOM)
2. Gustavo Alves (BRA)
3. Higen Castillo (Chesapeake, Va. / USA Stars East)
3. Eliot Pullaguary (ECU)
5. Akmal Jurabaev (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Darfight)
5. Angel Llanes (COL)
7. Juan Alvarez (COL)
7. Irving Bicoy III (Ewa Beach, Hawaii / Hawaii Kaikaku Judo Club)

U15 Men’s 48kg
1. Lucas Yamamoto (BRA)

2. Yuri Pereira (BRA)

3. Jose Perez (MEX)

3. Juan Soriano (ECU)
5. Juan Aragon (COL)

5. Micah Wegman (Calabasas, Calif. / Hayastan Judo)
7. Angel Landeros (MEZ)

7. Miguel Sanchez (COL)

Also Competed: Orelvis Beltran Jr. (Pembroke Pines, Fla. / Budokan Judo), 0-2

U15 Men’s 53kg
1. Paolo Salazar (MEX)
2. Pablo Garduno (MEX)
3. Luiz Coelho (BRA)
3. Luis Rodriguez (ECU)
5. Mario Rodriguez (PAN)
5. Juan Torres (COL)
7. Diego Gonzalez (PAN)
7. Victor Martinez (MEX)

U15 Men’s 58kg
1. Jacob Tamai (Elkridge, Md. / College Park Judo)

2. Pedro Caldas (BRA)
3. Victor Calzada (MEX)
3. Juan Nunez (ECU)
5. Anderson Henao (COL)
5. Tobit Vergara (PAN)
7. Abraham Olmos (MEX)

U15 Men’s 64kg
1. Joao Medeiros (BRA)
2. David Unenbat (Castro Valley, Calif. / Berkeley Genco Judo Club)
3. Ryan Dyer (Fort Worth, Texas / Fort Worth Judo)
3. Anner Ortiz (ECU)
5. Yadiel Acevedo (PUR)
5. Rafael Fonseca (BRA)
7. Abel Lozada (MEX)
7. Andre Luz (BRA)

U15 Men’s +64kg
1. Ramon Hsieh (BRA)
2. Pedro Silva (BRA)
3. Gabriel Da Silva (BRA)
3. Rafael Ramirez (MEX)
5. Julio Avila (MEX)
5. Carlos Perez (DOM)
7. Marlon Castro (COL)
7. Altair Junior (BRA)

U15 Women’s 36kg
1. Jeissiara Gomes (BRA)
2. Cyntia Vazquez (MEX)
3. Melany Morocho (ECU)

U15 Women’s 40kg
1. Juliana Yamasaki (BRA)
2. Alicya Assis (BRA)
3. Jordanna Espin (ECU)
3. Nahomi Rivera (MEX)
5. Laura De Leon (PAN)
5. Avery Kadohiro (San Gabriel, Calif. / San Gabriel Judo)

7. Quetzalli Gonzalez (MEX)

U15 Women’s 44kg
1. Malia Manibog (San Gabriel, Calif. / San Gabriel Judo)
2. Julieta Escobar (PAN)
3. Ecola Matsueda (Ewa Beach, Hawaii / Hawaii Kaikaku Judo Club)
3. Clarice Ribeiro (BRA)

5. Angela Torres (MEX)

5. Danna Vera (COL)

7. Ericka Jacobo (MEX)

7. Carla Tolentino (DOM)

Also Competed: Nina Rodriguez (Port Saint Lucie, Fla. / SunCoast Warriors Judo Team), 0-2

U15 Women’s 48kg
1. Nicole Rodrigues (BRA)
2. Maria Resende (BRA)
3. Samantha Morales (ECU)
3. Waverly Tamanaha (Temple City, Calif. / San Gabriel Judo)
5. Kamilah Campana (PAN)
5. Rocio Garcia (PUR)
7. Claudia Carrero (PUR)
7. Chloe Obuhanych (Ewa Beach, Hawaii)

Also Competed: Ellianna Abbott (Rayne, La. / Louisiana Judo), 0-2

U15 Women’s 53kg
1. Manuela Maia (BRA)
2. Kawany Pires (BRA)
3. Elsa Clark (Potomac, Md. / Sport Judo)
3. Maithe Ferrin (ECU)
5. Mackenzie McPherson (Miramar, Fla. / Budokan Judo)
5. Amanda Pabon (PUR)
7. Elizabeth Carrillo (MEX)
7. Victoria Sauceda (MEX)

Also Competed: Aubrey Genereux (Port Saint Lucie, Fla. / SunCoast Warriors Judo Team), 0-1

U15 Women’s 58kg
1. Deniss Antun (ECU)
2. Angelica Torres (COL)
3. Meena Phan (Rosemead, Calif. / San Gabriel Judo)

3. Darith Ruiz (COL)
5. Allison Garcia (Torrance, Calif. / Harbor Judo Dojo)
5. Mariangel Guido (CRC)
7. Katherine Naranjo (PAN)

U15 Women’s 64kg
1. Maria Hottis (BRA)
2. Isadora Silva (BRA)
3. Estefany Platas (MEX)
3. Heidy Zuniga (ECU)
5. Jael Lopez (MEX)
5. Ana Serrano (MEX)
7. Alessia Quinto (Katy, Texas / Westlake Judo Club)

7. Zurly Rivas (COL)

U15 Women’s +64kg
1. Olivia Oliveira (BRA)
2. Chloe Williams (Stafford, Va. / Wall 2 Wall Martial Arts)

3. Bianca Freitas (BRA)
3. Maria Moreno (COL)
5. Briana Sanchez (MEX)
5. Eyshila Sousa (BRA)