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2011 Jr & Juv Pan Am Championships - Santiago, Chile

Team USA to Compete This Weekend at the Pan American Junior and Juvenile Championships in Santiago, Chile

Sixteen of the top young judoka in the country are headed for Santiago, Chile, to compete this weekend at the Pan American Junior and Juvenile Championships, one of the most prestigious and competitive tournaments in the Americas.

Leading the team is Head Coach Brett Wolf ( Menomonee Judo Club, Chicago, IL ). Menomonee is well represented with two players, Andrew Varga, 73kg, and Max Bermont, 100kg, on the team. Assistant Coach will be Henry Okamur, also of Chicago, IL.

A returning veteran of numerous Junior Pan Am teams, Kyle Taketa, 66 kg, (Taishi Judo Club, Torrance, CA) is the most experienced and decorated member of the team, taking gold last year at this event in the 66kg division.

Competition will include Juvenile divisions (ages 15 and 16) on Friday and Junior divisions (ages 17 to 19) on Saturday. Many of the athletes will also compete at the South American Championships on Sunday.

The top juniors from more that 20 countries are expected to participate. This includes delegations from traditional power Brazil, along with Argentina, Peru, Costa Rica and Colombia and among others.

Five members of the team will also compete this November at the Junior World Championships being held in Cape Town, South Africa. They are Lauren Baez (Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center, Coral Gables, FL), Nathan Kearney (Okuri Judo, Keller, TX), KyleTaketa (Taishi Judo Club, Torrance, CA), Andrew Varga( Menomonee Judo Club, Chicago, IL) and Derek Wojcik (Ippon Judo, Tyrone, GA).

Another five members of the team recently returned from Kiev, Ukraine where they competed in the Cadet World Championships (ages 15 and 16). These players include: Adonis Diaz, William Inserra, Michael Assels, Lauren Baez and Alisha Galles.

A complete roster of athletes competing this weekend in Santiago includes:

JUNIOR TEAM, ages 17 - 19:

Mary Decker, 57 kg, Colorado

Carla Genao-Butler, 63 kg, Colorado

Nathan Kearney, 55 kg, Texas

Kyle Taketa, 66 kg, California

Andrew Varga, 73 kg, Illinois

Austin Cavanaugh, 81 kg, Illinois

Derek Wojcik, 90 kg, Georgia

Max Bermont, 100 kg, Illinois

Jimmy Barnes, +100 kg, Oklahoma

JUVENILE TEAM, ages 15 and 16: