Member News
April 13, 2006
Team USA Wins Five Gold Medals on First Day of Pan American Junior Championships
(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – Team USA completed the first day of competition at the Pan American Junior Championships, held Thursday at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, with trips to the medal stand in all 16 juvenile (15-16-year-old) divisions.
Only halfway through the event that includes 17 nations, the Americans swept already have equaled their best gold medal tally at a Pan Am Junior event, claiming five – a feat last accomplished at the 2004 event in Carolinas, Puerto Rico.
Anchored by a strong contingent from the North Miami USA Judo National Training Site, the U.S. women picked up four gold medals and the overall Women’s Team title.
Franchesca Durand (Coral Springs, Fla./North Miami USA Judo National Training Site/52kg) not only won gold, but claimed the Ippon Trophy for winning each of her four matches by ippon (instant win, similar to a knockout in boxing), including a 12-second dispatch of Amanda De Faria (BRA).
Durand’s gold medal comes in her first Pan Am Junior event, but she is a familiar face on this circuit, having won titles at the 2004 and 2005 Pan Am Infantil Championships (13-14-year-olds).
Jeanette Rodriguez (North Lauderdale, Fla./North Miami USA Judo National Training Site/48kg) also won gold, following last year’s silver medal at this event.
Rodriguez, the #3-ranked senior at 48kg, won each of her matches by ippon as well and received the Most Inspirational Female Award.
Rodriguez and Durand’s North Miami teammate Veronica Prado (North Lauderdale, Fla./40kg) improved on last year’s bronze medal finish with a gold and two wins by ippon over Maria Gomes (BRA).
Kayla Harrison (Middletown, Ohio/Renshuden/63kg) rounded out the women’s golden quartet, winning each of her three matches by ippon.
The 15-year-old continues to have a whirlwind competition tour, having won the High School National Championships in Tinley Park, Ill. at 70kg three weeks ago and just returning from a senior Super World Cup in Moscow in which she picked up her first European wins and a ninth place finish, earlier this week.
“I’m still jetlagged, but the Moscow event went really well, so I’m definitely glad I went,” Harrison said.
Harrison won each of her matches by ippon, first throwing 2006 High School Champion Sofia Aliendo (ARG) with hirai goshi (sweeping hip throw) before picking up two wins by choke over Rafany Solis (VEN) and Nathalia Carvalhes (BRA).
“I would’ve liked to have done better today. I like smashing people, not just winning,” she laughed. “But I got sick at last year’s Pan Ams and didn’t compete, so its good to come back and do well.”
Next week Harrison, Durand, Prado and Rodriguez travel to Houston to compete in the USA Judo Senior National Championships, April 21-22.
“I’m ready to show everybody that I’m not just a 15-year-old kid,” said Harrison, a 2005 Nationals bronze medalist. “I think getting out there in Europe is making me a better player and I’m just training every day like there’s no tomorrow.”
Kyle Vashkulat (Scotia, N.Y./Jason Morris Judo Center/90kg) not only won his first Pan Am Junior title, but also claimed the Outstanding Male Competitor award, defeating Tales De Camargo (BRA) by ippon in his final match.
One of the most exciting matches of the day pitted 2006 New York Open Champion and Ronnie Talledo (PER) against Daniel Chow (Honolulu, Hawaii/Hawaii Tenri) at 60kg.
Chow, a Pan Am Junior rookie, was down by a koka (smallest points) for most of the match, but came in with a throw for yuko (quarter-point) with 20 seconds left in the match and looked like he was going to make the biggest upset of the evening.
Talledo quickly became more aggressive, continuously attacking until he answered with a throw for yuko of his own with five seconds on the clock to secure the win.
The U.S. men won eight medals overall to take second place in the team competition behind Brazil.
“I think we did really well today,” said Coach Jhonny Prado (Coral Springs, Fla.). “Everyone on the team finished with a medal and we’re looking forward to tomorrow.”
Competition continues Friday with preliminary action beginning at 10 a.m., followed by finals at 5 p.m. in the junior divisions (17-19-year-olds).
Outstanding Male Competitor: Kyle Vashkulat (Scotia, N.Y./Jason Morris Judo Center/90kg)
Outstanding Female Competitor: Mayra Da Silva (BRA/70kg)
Ippon Trophy (Male): Felipe Da Silva (BRA/55kg)
Ippon Trophy (Female): Franchesca Durand (Coral Springs, Fla./North Miami USA Judo National Training Site/52kg
Most Inspirational Male: Leandro Silva (BRA/51kg)
Most Inspirational Female: Jeanette Rodriguez (North Lauderdale, Fla./North Miami USA Judo National Training Site/48kg)
Team awards are as follows:
Team Female Competition
1. USA 313
2. Brazil 232
3. Venezuela 212
Team Male Competition
1. Brazil 611
2. USA 134
3. Peru 100
Complete results are as follows:
Juvenile Female 40kg
1. Veronica Prado (North Lauderdale, Fla./North Miami USA Judo National Training Site)
2. Maria Gomes (BRA)
Juvenile Female 44kg
1. Maria Velazquez (VEN)
2. Diana Cobos (ECU)
3. Ana Souza (BRA)
3. Daimisy Porras (North Lauderdale, Fla./North Miami USA Judo National Training Site)
Juvenile Female 48kg
1. Jeanette Rodriguez (North Lauderdale, Fla./North Miami USA Judo National Training Site)
2. Isabelle De Lima (BRA)
3. Shalimar Bristol (PUR)
3. Meris Mejias (DOM)
Juvenile Female 52kg
1. Franchesca Durand (North Lauderdale, Fla./North Miami USA Judo National Training Site)
2. Kercy Romero (VEN)
3. Amanda De Faria (BRA)
3. Ana Avila (MEX)
5. Keisha Vazquez (PUR)
Juvenile Female 57kg
1. Camila Minakawa (BRA)
2. Angelica Delgado (North Lauderdale, Fla./North Miami USA Judo National Training Site)
3. Kristhia Mendez (PUR)
3. Myriam Lamarche (CAN)
5. Brenda Rolon (ARG)
Juvenile Female 63kg
1. Kayla Harrison (Middletown, Ohio/Renshuden)
2. Nathalia Carvalhes (BRA)
3. Rafany Solis (VEN)
3. Sofia Aliendo (ARG)
Juvenile Female 70kg
1. Mayra Da Silva (BRA)
2. Kelita Zupancic (CAN)
3. Mayra Izquierdo (ECU)
3. Haley Shadden (Mineral Wells, Texas/Ruben Martin Judo)
5. Juliana Cintron (PUR)
Juvenile Female +70kg
1. Juliana Boliva (VEN)
2. Margaret De Jesus (PUR)
3. Kate Patton (Zephyrhills, Fla./El Mambi Judo)
Juvenile Male 51kg
1. Leandro Silva (BRA)
2. Angelo Miranda (PUR)
3. Ronny Blanco (VEN)
3. Anthony Aguilar (Ontario, Calif./Guerros)
Juvenile Male 55kg
1. Felipe Da Silva (BRA)
2. Jose Castillo (VEN)
3. Diego Rodriguez (ARG)
3. Aaron Gonzalez (Burleson, Texas)
Juvenile Male 60kg
1. Ronnie Talledo (PER)
2. Daniel Chow (Honolulu, Hawaii/Hawaii Tenri)
3. Marcos Seixas (BRA)
3. Adrian Zapata (VEN)
5. Harley Diaz (PUR)
5. Diego Gonzalez (ARG)
Juvenile Male 66kg
1. Victor Oliveira (BRA)
2. Antonio Rodriguez (Pembroke Pines, Fla./North Miami USA Judo National Training Site)
3. Alejandro Campos (ARG)
3. Lisandro Toconis (VEN)
5. Michellangelo Bell (AHO)
5. Misael Velazquez (PUR)
Juvenile Male 73kg
1. Mauro Moura (BRA)
2. Apolinar Garcia (MEX)
3. Cody Peterson (Milwaukee, Wis./Judo Inc.)
3. Jose Aguilar (VEN)
5. Anthony Rivera (PUR)
5. Levar Arthur (BAR)
Juvenile Male 81kg
1. Bruno Rodriguez (BRA)
2. Cesar Tejeda (PUR)
3. Facundo Vega (ARG
3. Joshua Angelini (Havre de Grace, Md./Lancaster Judo)
Juvenile Male 90kg
1. Kyle Vashkulat (Scotia, N.Y./Jason Morris Judo Center)
2. Tales De Camargo (BRA)
3. Gustavo Acenjo (ARG)
3. Felix Rivera (PUR)
Juvenile Male +90kg
1. Roberto Da Silva (BRA)
2. Tony Sangimino (Burlingame, Calif./Cahill’s Judo)
3. Luis Mendoza (MEX) |
