Team USA Wins 16 Medals at Pan Am U13 Championships

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by Bill Kellick

Three Americans reached the podium for the male 31kg division including gold medalist Devin Nishimura (2nd from left), silver medalist Aleksei Kondratev (left) and bronze medalist Alexander Abovyan (right). (Photo by Pan Am Judo)

Team USA athletes competing in the Pan Am U13 Championships mounted the podium 16 times on Thanksgiving Day in Varadero, Cuba, winning medals across 12 of the 16 weight categories, including two golds.

2024 Pan Am U13 Championship Results

A total of 222 competitors (131 men, 91 women) from 11 nations took part in the November 28 event. The 38-member U.S. delegation finished third in the medal standings behind Brazil and Cuba who both secured 20 podium finishes.

Team USA won titles in both the men’s and women’s events.

Twelve-year-old Jelisa Antolin (Ewa Beach, Hawaii / Hawaii Kaikaku Judo Club) claimed the title in the female 38kg event. The reigning USA Judo Youth National and Junior Olympic Champion, Antolin defeated Ecuador’s Victoria Barco in the final to win the gold medal as teammate Devanie Gomez (Richardson, Texas / Becerra Judo & Jujitsu Club) joined Antolin on the 38kg podium with a bronze medal.

The other U.S. gold medalist in the U13 championships was Devin Nishimura (Renton, Wash. / Washington Judo Academy) who led three American medalists in the male 31kg competition. Nishimura defeated countryman Aleksei Kondratev (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Darfight) in the final as they were accompanied on the award stand by bronze medalist teammate Alexander Abovyan (Glendale, Calif. / Hayastan MMA Academy).

Also claiming a silver medal was Felipe Avila (Miami Lakes, Fla. / Budokan Judo School) in the male 34kg event.

Other U.S. athletes returning home from Cuba with bronze medals were:

• Daniel Novitskiy (Hawthorn Woods, Ill. / Cohen Brothers Judo Club / Male 28kg)

• Maxim Bokun (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Darfight / Male 34kg)

• Edwin Vega (Lehigh Acres, Fla. / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center / Male 38kg)

• Jonathan Davila (Gardena, Calif. / Harbor Judo Dojo / Male 42kg)

• Knox Williams (Stafford, Va. / Wall 2 Wall Martial Arts / Male 52kg)

• Jargal Amarbayar (Albany, Calif. / Hanabi Albany Judo / Male +52kg)

• Maya Marin (Whittier, Calif. / Harbor Judo Dojo / Female 31kg)

• Naxi Li (Redmond, Wash. / Female 34kg)

• Emma Quepons (La Puente, Calif. / Guerreros Judo Club / Female 52kg)

• Vanessa Utnasunova (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Darfight / Female + 52kg)

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

U13 Men’s 28kg

1. Erik Jardines (CUB)

2. Jadiel Ruiz (CUB)

3. Daniel Novitskiy (Hawthorn Woods, Ill. / Cohen Brothers Judo Club)

3. Gabriel Paz (BRA)

5. Elijah Bergado (Santa Clara, Calif. / Nakano Judo Academy)

5. Maximiliano Vazquez (MEX)

7. Davi Rodrigues (BRA)

7. Pablo Torres (MEX)


U13 Men’s 31kg

1. Devin Nishimura (Renton, Wash. / Washington Judo Academy)

2. Aleksei Kondratev (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Darfight)

3. Alexander Abovyan (Glendale, Calif. / Hayastan MMA Academy).

3. Iker Solis (ECU)

5. Paulo Alles (BRA)

5. Jean Paul Lopez (CHI)

7. Marcus Fung (Millbrae, Calif. / Cahill’s Judo Academy)

7. Pablo Yanes (CUB)


U13 Men’s 34kg

1. Brian Zuniga (CUB)

2. Felipe Avila (Miami Lakes, Fla. / Budokan Judo School)

3. Maxim Bokun (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Darfight)

3. Davi Santana (BRA)

5. Luiz Oliveira (BRA)

5. Harlen Piedra (CUB)

7. Jonathan Herrera (CUB)

7. Ivan Miranda (CUB)


U13 Men’s 38kg

1. Javier Viera (CUB)

2. Athylla Torres (BRA)

3. William Hernandez (CUB)

3. Edwin Vega (Lehigh Acres, Fla. / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center)

5. Marco Aracena (DOM)

5. Zaurbek Khabalov (Palatine, Ill. / European Judo Academy)

7. Brandon Chacon (CRC)

7. Mathias Jaramillo (CHI)


U13 Men’s 42kg

1. Andro Sanchez (CUB)

2. Levy Rodrigues (BRA)

3. Manuel Batista (CUB)

3. Jonathan Davila (Gardena, Calif. / Harbor Judo Dojo)

5. Fabio Hurtado (CUB)

5. Stepan Mossintsev (Monroe, N.J. / Sword Judo Sambo Club)

7. Alexander Nunez (PAR)

7. Cristian Pujol (CUB)


U13 Men’s 47kg

1. Ronniel Leal (CUB)

2. Rodrigo Ramos (BRA)

3. David Abramovich (CAN)

3. Santiago Miguel (CUB)

5. Crixus Lores (CUB)

5. Allan Titov (Lake Zurich, Ill. / European Judo Academy)

7. Leandro Navarro (CUB)

7. Ernesto Ricardo (CUB)

Also Competed: Arthur Rossin (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Darfight), 1-2

U13 Men’s 52kg

1. Pedro De Carvalho (BRA)

2. Leonel Vasquez (ECU)

3. Leandro Sanchez (CUB)

3. Knox Williams (Stafford, Va. / Wall 2 Wall Martial Arts)

5. Khangarid Erdembilegt (Bellevue, Wash. / Ippon Judo Dojo)

5. Icery Sabido (CUB)

7. Francisco Camacho (MEX)

7. Brayan Miranda (CUB)


U13 Men’s +52kg

1. Joao Monteiro (BRA)

2. Bernardo Lotto (BRA)

3. Jargal Amarbayar (Albany, Calif. / Hanabi Albany Judo)

3. Cristian Campos (BRA)

5. Luan Araujo (BRA)

5. Leon Arjona (MEX)

7. Christiano Lima (BRA)

7. Uriah Yahel (East Brunswick, N.J. / Colton Brown Training Center)

Also Competed: Khachik Levonyan (Glendale, Calif.), 1-1

Women’s U13 28kg

1. Melody Noa (CUB)

2. Valeria Armas (CUB)

3. Nathaly Limonta (CUB)

3. Yiliadis Urquia (CUB0

5. Michelle Nguyen (Pomona, Calif. / Guerreros Judo Club)

5. Sofia Plaza (ECU)

7. Melissa Perez (CUB)


Women’s U13 31kg

1. Klara Ribeiro (BRA)

2. Naomi Sheridan (BRA)

3. Rosa Arteaga (CUB)

3. Maya Marin (Whittier, Calif. / Harbor Judo Dojo)

5. Elianny Rojas (CUB)

5. Mariana Zevirikoski (BRA)

7. Anibletse Tamayo (CUB)

7. Domenika Zhindon (ECU)


Women’s U13 34kg

1. Mae Oliveira (BRA)

2. Fernanda Sena (BRA)

3. Liz Hernandez (CUB)

3. Naxi Li (Redmond, Wash.)

5. Emili Hernandez (CUB)

5. Fernanda Sandoval (MEX)

7. Liv Abbott (Rayne, La. / Louisiana Judo)

7. Carla Perez (CUB)

Also Competed: Camille Cook (Oklahoma City, Okla. / USA Stars Foundation), 0-1

Women’s U13 38kg

1. Jelisa Antolin (Ewa Beach, Hawaii / Hawaii Kaikaku Judo Club)

2. Victoria Barco (ECU)

3. Elaine Calvo (CUB)

3. Devanie Gomez (Richardson, Texas / Becerra Judo & Jujitsu Club)

5. Laura Ferenz (BRA)

5. Misha Shin (Braintree, Mass. / Pedro’s Judo Center)

7. Keilan Maturell (CUB)

7. Keyla Pita (CUB)


Women’s U13 42kg

1. Laressa Tavares (BRA)

2. Domenica Guerrero (ECU)

3. Emily Cardozo (BRA)

3. Angelina Hernandez (CUB)

5. Ashley Garcia (CUB)

5. Luciana Marshall (CUB)

7. Sofia Linarez (Mesquite, Texas / Becerra Judo & Jujitsu Club)

7. Keiko Mayeda (Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. / Harbor Judo Dojo)

Also Competed: Maribelle Deaver (Fort Myers, Fla. / Chief Pride Judo Club), 0-2

Women’s U13 47kg

1. Thaily Molina (MEX)

2. Laila Paredes (ECU)

3. Elloa Pessoa (BRA)

3. Yemali Valiente (CUB)

5. Aitana Molina (CUB)

5. Abby Tavarez (Lehigh Acres, Fla. / Chief Pride Judo Club)

7. Hevellen Silva (BRA)

7. Cristina Zamora (MEX)

Also Competed: April Liu (Rowland Heights, Calif. / L.A. Judo Club), 0-1

Women’s U13 52kg

1. Maria Shiroma (BRA)

2. Carla Toaza (ECU)

3. Erika Mayea (CUB)

3. Emma Quepons (La Puente, Calif. / Guerreros Judo Club)

5. Sunji Grushkowitz (Belmont, Calif. / Cahill’s Judo Academy)

5. Gabrielle Monthe Noussi (Fort Worth, Texas / Fort Worth Judo Club)

7. Daniela Amador (CUB)

7. Rosmery Fernandez (CUB)


Women’s U13 +52kg

1. Clara Barros (BRA)

2. Julya Correa (BRA)

3. Lara Oliveira (BRA)

3. Vanessa Utnasunova (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Darfight)

5. Paula Laborde (CUB)

5. Solange Rodriguez (CUB)

7. Ashanty Herrera (CUB)

7. Lauren Luis (CUB)

Also Competed: Ha Neul Jeong (Los Angeles, Calif. / L.A. Judo Club), 0-1; Annaliece Rivas (La Puente, Calif. / Guerreros Judo Club), 0-1


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