Hatashita Sports Shines at the 2nd Junior Pan American Games in Asunción

The Junior Pan American Games — a stage built for rising stars.

Held every four years, this multi-sport event gives the next generation the chance to experience the full Olympic atmosphere. For many athletes, it’s their first taste of the big stage. For Hatashita Sports, it was another chance to prove we’re building champions.

This year, Asunción, Paraguay, hosted the action — and Hatashita Sports showed up strong. Seven athletes. One mission. And they delivered.

Four Silvers for Team USA — FOUR from Hatashita Sports Stars

Christopher Velazco (World #2 Junior, -60kg) fought with heart and precision. He opened with a clean ippon over Argentina’s Galo Villavicencio, then took out Colombia’s Jeronimo Pino Balbin by waza-ari in the semis. In the gold medal match, a single yuko from Ecuador’s Jhonathan Benevides made the difference. Silver for Velazco and a statement that gold is within reach.

Jacob Yang (World #8 Junior, -66kg) was on fire early, taking out Paraguay’s Agustin Ledesma and Chile’s Fabricio Meyer, both by ippon. In the final, Brazil’s Bruno Nobrega stopped his run, but Yang walked away with a well-earned silver.

Emily Jaspe (World #2 Junior, -63kg) showed grit all day. Wins by yuko over Chile’s Constanza Perez Garrido and Cuba’s Wendy Martinez put her in the final. Brazil’s Eduarda Bastos edged her out for gold, but Jaspe’s silver cemented her place among the best in the Americas.

Daniel Liubimovski (World #3 Junior, 100kg) joined the silver medal crew for Team USA, defeating Chile’s Marko Figueroa by ippon in the semis before falling to Brazil’s Gustavo Milano in the final.

Bronze for Ferguson

Rhadi Ferguson, Jr. (+78kg) brought home bronze, winning her medal match against Marielin Gomez (DOM) by yuko.

Strong Finishes from Gonzalez and Shulgin

Shavon Gonzalez (-70kg) and Daniel Shulgin (-81kg) both finished in 5th place after hard-fought matches that showcased their skill and determination.

FULL RESULTS:

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

Men’s 60 kg
1. Jhonathan Benevides (ECU)
2. Chris Velazco (Coral Springs, Fla. / NYAC / Ki-itsu-sai National Training Center)
3. Eduardo Sagastegui (MEX)
3. Lucas Takaki (BRA)
5. Galo Villavicencio (ARG)
5. Jeronimo Pino Balbin (COL)
7. Angel Hernandez Salon (GUA)
7. Yoel Hernandez (CUB)

Women’s 48 kg
1. Clarice Ribeiro (BRA)
2. Manuela Crespo (COL)
3. Laura Vasquez (ECU)
3. Malia Manibog (San Gabriel, Calif. / San Gabriel Judo Dojo)
5. Yainet Coronado (CUB)
5. Yarelis Lucas (DOM)
7. Addyson Tamura (CAN)
7. Noelia Paz (BOL)

Men’s 66 kg
1. Bruno Nobrega (BRA)
2. Jacob Yang (Los Angeles, Calif. / USA Judo National Resident Team)
3. Jhordan Vanegas (COL)
3. Xavion Johnson (BAH)
5. Fabricio Meyer (CHI)
5. Mateo Condor (PER)
7. Ian Kenner Aguirre Ramirez (MEX)
7. Agustin Ledesma (PAR)

Women’s 52 kg
1. Rafaela Rodrigues (BRA)
2. Aylin Avila (MEX)
3. Driulys Rivas (PER)
3. Leomaris Ruiz (VEN)
5. Wendy Golu (COL)
5. Harlee Hiller (Evansville, Ill. / Cohen Brothers Judo)
7. Valentina Alamo (ARG)
7. Nancy Gimenez (PAR)

Men’s 73 kg
1. Matheus Nolasco (BRA)
2. Alfredo Valdivieso (ECU)
3. Tomas Hernandez (CHI)
3. Rafael Ramirez (MEX)
5. Keiner Sanchez Garnica (COL)
5. Anthony Farnot (Lehigh Acres, Fla. / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center)
7. Enzo Peralta (PAR)
7. Paolo Alberto Silva Manzi (URU)

Women’s 57 kg
1. Bianca Reis (BRA)
2. Audreys Pacheco (VEN)
3. Carla Van Zyl (CAN)
3. Mayra Solis (COL)
5. Frida Maya (MEX)
5. Luciana Julca (PER)
7. Nicole Cancela (Lake Worth, Fla. / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center)
7. Jimena Arce Lacayo (CRC)

Men’s 81 kg
1. Luan Almeida (BRA)
2. Arthur Karpukov (CAN)
3. Luis Pariche (VEN)
3. Alem Yuma (ARG)
5. Daniel Shulgin (Philadelphia, Pa. / Yawara Force Judo/Sambo Club)
5. Benjamin Galarreta (PER)
7. Francisco Galarza Hernandez (PUR)
7. Elias Veron Fernandez (PAR)

Women’s 63 kg
1. Eduarda Bastos (BRA)
2. Emily Jaspe (Hialeah, Fla. / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center)
3. Maria Cruz (MEX)
3. Ivette Fuentes (VEN)
5. Wendy Martinez (CUB)
5. Ingrid Choco (COL)
7. Noilyn Aguilar Bravo (CRC)
7. Constanza Perez Garrido (CHI)

Men’s 90 kg
1. Jesse Barbosa (BRA)
2. Naysdel Cardoso (CUB)
3. Jhon Caicedo Sinisterra (COL)
3. Samuel Corzo (VEN)
5. Derik Rodriguez (PUR)
5. Tomas Quinteros (ARG)
7. Edgar Benitez (PAR)
7. Emilio Loo (PER)

Women’s 70 kg
1. Heydi Santillana (COL)
2. Maria Eduarda Oliveira (BRA)
3. Charlie Thibault (CAN)
3. Hannelys Espina (VEN)
5. Shavon Gonzalez (West Palm Beach, Fla. / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center)
5. Victoria Ramirez Peguero (DOM)
7. Yamileth Juarez Loya (MEX)
7. Valeria Duarte (PAR)

Men’s 100 kg
1. Gustavo Milano (BRA)
2. Daniel Liubimovski (Staten Island, N.Y. / NYAC / Colton Brown Training Center)
3. Christopherd Galvis (COL)
3. Marko Figueroa (CHI)
5. Gustavo Canizalez (VEN)

Women’s 78 kg
1. Dandara Camillo (BRA)
2. Tania Murillo (COL)
3. Mackenzie Schultz (Daleville, Ala. / Black Ice Judo)
3. Lisrialis Gonzalez Bonnet (CUB)
5. Maria Pesantez (ECU)
5. Yhoseli Stephania Matos (DOM)
7. Nahyr Angelacio (PAR)
7. Paula Constanza Sanchez Ledesma (MEX)

Men’s +100 kg
1. Andrey Coelho (BRA)
2. Jose Miguel Brache Jarquin (DOM)
3. John Messe A Bessong (CAN)
3. Kanta Ueyama (Burbank, Calif. / LA Tenri Judo)
5. Patricio Urra (CHI)
5. Hugo Sanchez (MEX)
7. Valentino Valdivia (PER)
7. Jonathan Delgado (CUB)

Women’s +78 kg
1. Dayanara Curbelo Travieso (CUB)
2. Kharla Casas (CHI)
3. Rhadi Ferguson, Jr. (Tampa, Fla. / High Noon Judo)
3. Ana Soares (BRA)
5. Marielin Gomez (DOM)
5. Alisa Kofman (CAN)

 

We’re excited to see what the future holds and can’t wait to watch them hit the tatami at the Junior World Championships in Lima, Peru in just a few months!