Member News

April 18, 2008    

Max Wessell and Laquinta Allen Win Gold at South American Juvenile and Junior Championships

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – Max Wessell (Boulder, Colo. / Team FORCE) and Laquinta Allen (Lauderdale Lakes, Fla. / Onikusu Judo Club) both won their first titles outside the United States on Tuesday at the South American Juvenile and Junior Championships in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Both athletes won their gold medals in the Juvenile (15-16-year-old) division as part of the first U.S. Team ever to be invited to participate in this event.

Wessell fought up from 73kg to 81kg while Allen won the +70kg division.

Yan Kafarskiy (Richmond Hill, N.Y. / Spartak Sports Club) won a bronze medal in the Juvenile 73kg division on Tuesday as well.

Competition continued on Wednesday with the 17-19-year-old Junior division where Max Kafka (St. Paul Minn. / Midway Judo / 73kg) and Lisette Abad (San Jose, Calif. / After-School All-Stars / 48kg) won bronze medals. 

Andre Brooks (Lauderdale Lakes, Fla. / Onikusu Judo Club) also competed, placing fifth in the Junior 55kg division.