David Terao and Johan Silot Suse Win Gold at Senior Varadero Pan Am Open, Lead Team USA to Nine Medals

(Colorado Springs, CO) – Team USA ended the Varadero Pan American Open with nine podium finishes at the senior tournament this weekend with junior athletes adding seven medals and cadets racking up seven more in the Pan Am Cup events.

2024 Varadero Senior Pan American Open Results

2024 Varadero Junior Pan American Cup Results

2024 Varadero Cadet Pan American Cup Results

David Terao (Fairfax, VA) and Johan Silot Suse (Salem, MA / NYAC / Pedro’s Judo Center) led Team USA with gold medal wins in the senior 60 kg and 81 kg divisions, respectively.

Terao, who punched his ticket to the 2023 Pan Am Games with a win at this event last year, returned to the top of the podium with a 3-0 finish on Thursday.

The 2016 Div I NCAA All-American wrestler defeated two of the sport’s up-and-coming stars in the early rounds, besting 2023 Junior World teammates Josh Yang (Los Angeles, CA / LA Judo Club) by ippon (instant win) in the quarter-finals and Chris Velazco (Coral Springs, FL / NYAC / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center) by a waza-ari (half point) in the semifinals.

In the finals, Terao pinned Milko Obregon (CUB) in the opening minute to secure his sixth Continental Open title in just over two years.

For Suse, who originally hails from Cuba, Varadero would mark his second Continental Open medal in as many attempts after winning bronze at the Montreal Pan Am Open in November.

Competing on Friday, the 2023 Junior Pan Am bronze medalist defeated Yaddik Kindelan Jimenez (CUB) in the quarter-finals by a pair of waza-aris and 2023 Pan Am Games bronze medalist David Popovici (CAN) by ippon in the semifinals.

In the finals, Suse came up against the 2023 champion, but threw Naysdel Cardoso (CUB) for a waza-ari before taking the win on penalties.

Alexander Knauf (Yorkville, IL / NYAC) and Geronimo Saucedo (Wylie, TX / Becerra Judo & Jujitsu Club) each advanced to the finals and ended the day with silver medals on Friday.

A bronze medalist at the 2023 Pan American Games, Knauf defeated Cubans Orlando Miranda Dvila and Blasdiel Gort Perez (CUB) in the quarter and semifinals each by a pair of waza-ari scores. In the finals, 2021 Senior Pan Am Championships bronze medalist Yuta Galarreta (PER) was down by two penalties before throwing Knauf for ippon in Golden Score (sudden death overtime). The win marks the fourth Senior Pan Am Open medal for Knauf who has advanced to the finals in all of his appearances on the circuit.

Saucedo, a 2023 Pan Am Games Team member at 90 kg, moved up to 100 kg to earn his first podium finish at the higher weight. In the quarters, Saucedo battled through two minutes of Golden Score before taking the match by a waza-ari over Maykol Cobas (CUB). After a win by two waza-aris over Zail Ramirez (CUB) in the semis, Saucedo was thrown by 2019 Senior Pan Am Championships bronze medalist Liester Cardona (CUB) for ippon in the finals.

Five members of Team USA won senior bronze medals in Varadero.

Sara Golden (Crystal Lake, IL / USA Judo National Resident Training Center Team) and Emily Jaspe (Hialeah, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center) each won bronze medals in the 63 kg division on Thursday.

Golden, a three-time Senior World Team member, advanced to the semifinals after a walkover against Jessica Castellano (CUB) who withdrew prior to the start of the tournament. She lost her next match by a waza-ari score against 2023 Pan Am Games silver medalist Isabelle Harris (CAN). In the bronze medal final, Golden took the match to the ground late in the opening minute and armbarred Karla Ramires Luna (CUB) to win her seventh Continental Open medal.

Jaspe, a fifth-place finisher at the 2023 Cadet Worlds, defeated Wendy Martinez (CUB) in her opening match by ippon, but dropped her next match on a pair of waza-ari scores against six-time Grand Slam medalist Maylin Del Toro Carvajal (CUB). Jaspe ended the day with a win over Odette Torriente Cabello (CUB) who she threw for ippon in the final minute.

Velazco, the 2022 Senior National Champion, won his second senior Continental Open medal with a bronze in the 60 kg division. In the opening round, Velazco defeated 2023 Cadet Varadero Pan Am Cup Champion Yoel Hernandez (CUB) on penalties. After his loss to Terao in the semifinals, Velazco led his bronze medal final against 2023 Senior Pan Am Championships bronze medalist Jonathan Charon (CUB) by two penalties before throwing Charon for ippon in Golden Score.

Fighting in her first tournament since sustaining an ACL injury last fall, two-time Senior World Team member Nicole Stout (Schenectady, NY / Jason Morris Judo Center) brought home a bronze medal in the 78 kg division on Friday. Stout defeated 2023 Varadero Junior Pan Am Cup silver medalist Limay Ventura (CUB) by a pair of waza-ari scores in the opening round, but lost to 2023 Pan Am Games bronze medalist Camila Figueroa (PER) by ippon in the semifinals. Fighting for bronze against Anabel Trujillo Chacon (CUB), Stout was thrown for ippon, but Chacon was called for head diving, giving Stout the win and her 12^th career Continental Open medal.

Competing in the +78 kg division on Saturday, 2023 Junior World Team member Jessica Alaynick was tied in her opening match against 2023 Pan Am Games fifth-place finisher Izayana Marenco (NCA) at two penalties each before falling to Marenco by a waza-ari. Alaynick went on to take the bronze medal on a walkover against four-time Olympic medalist Idalys Ortiz (CUB).

In the junior competition on Sunday, Team USA won seven medals with Velazco and Jaspe each returning to the podium after their senior bronze medal wins.

Velazco defeated three Cubans to win gold at 60 kg, taking his first match on penalties over Leodan Almora and scoring a waza-ari on Yordany Coromina Goitizolo before taking the semifinal by ippon. In the finals, Velazco fought Yoel Hernandez for the second time during the weekend, pinning Hernandez for gold after defeating him on penalties in the quarters of the senior event.

Nicole Cancela (Coral Springs, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center), a 2021 Junior Pan Am Champion at 52 kg, moved up to 57 kg last year and won her first Junior Continental Cup title in the new weight in Varadero. Cancela defeated Dilianne Sandoval Nadereaux (CUB) on penalties in the first round and took her next win over 2022 Cadet Pan Am Championships silver medalist Luciana Julca (PER) by two waza-aris to make the finals. Cancela and Naylen Acosta (CUB) fought into the second minute of Golden Score before Cancela took the win on penalties.

Dominic Rodriguez (Lehigh Acres, FL / NYAC / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center), the 2022 Senior Pan Am Champion at 73 kg, also moved up in weight since last season and is establishing himself as one to watch at 81 kg as he looks ahead to qualification for his third Junior World Team later this year. Rodriguez, who won both Youth Nationals and the Senior Tunis African Open last month, rolled through all four of his matches against Cuban opponents, winning three of the four matches by ippon and taking another on a walkover. Rodriguez defeated Gerardo Frometa, the 2023 Varadero Junior Pan Am Cup silver medalist, in the opening round and took the next on a walkover against Naysdel Cardoso who won silver in the senior event on Friday. In the semis, Rodriguez bested Yaddik Kindelan Jimenez and went on to throw Christian Gonzalez Cairo for gold less than a minute into their match.

Jaspe added a silver in the junior 63 kg competition to her senior bronze, finishing 2-1 on the day against a trio of Cuban opponents. Jaspe won her quarter-final match by penalties over Karla Ramires Luna and defeated Thalia Morales Romero by a pair of waza-ari scores. In the finals, Jaspe had a rematch against Wendy Martinez – the 18-year-old she defeated in the opening round of the senior competition. This time, however, Martinez threw Jaspe for a waza-ari in the final minute and transitioned into a pin for gold.  

A two-time Cadet Pan Am Champion in the 70 kg division, Shavon Gonzalez (West Palm Beach, FL / USA Judo National Resident Training Center Team) moved down to 63 kg to take bronze at Youth Nationals two weeks ago, but returned to 70 kg this weekend where she won silver in the junior event. Gonzalez won her quarter-final by ippon against Renata Sandoval (MEX) and scored a waza-ari first against Lisrialis Gonzalez Bonnet (CUB) before ending the match with an ippon. In the finals, Gonzalez was thrown by Yilian Carvajal Ramos (CUB) for two waza-aris.

Anthony Farnot (Lehigh Acres, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center) and Alexander Prado (Coral Springs, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center) won silver and bronze medals in the junior event after winning gold medals in the cadet competition on Saturday.

Farnot fought three Cuban opponents in the 73 kg competition, winning his first two matches against Amaury Fonseca Perez and Dayron Betances Elias by ippons. In the finals, he was thrown for ippon by Cristhian Cordero who won bronze in the senior competition on Thursday.

Prado finished 3-1 in the junior 66 kg event, opening with a win by a waza-ari score over Mauricio De Armas (CUB) in the round of 16 before a loss by a waza-ari to Junior World No. 2 Jose Icelo (MEX). In the repechage, Prado had a rematch against Jorge Navas Rabi – the Cuban he defeated in the cadet finals. Prado took the win again by ippon in the junior event and went on to pin Ranxel Duquesne Mena (CUB) to win bronze, securing his second win over Mena who he also defeated in the opening round of the cadet event.

Farnot and Prado won two of Team USA’s three gold medals in the cadet event with Kanta Ueyama (Burbank, CA / Los Angeles Tenri Judo Dojo / +90 kg) earning the third.

Farnot went 2-0 in the cadet competition, defeating both Kevin Gomez Tamayo (CUB) and his Ki-Itsu-Sai teammate, Jared Navarro (Lehigh Acres, FL), on penalties to win his fourth career Cadet Pan American Cup gold medal.

Navarro, who took silver at his first Cadet Pan Am Cup, earned two wins by ippon in the earlier rounds, defeating his Ki-Itsu-Sai teammate, Sebastian Ramirez (Lauderhill, FL) and Jose Sanchez Lopez (CUB) in his first two matches.

Prado finished 3-0 on the day, defeating both Duquesne Mena and Navas Rabi by ippon as well as Anthony Reyes (Miami, FL / Falcon Judo) to win the 66 kg title.

A silver medalist at the 2023 Cadet Pan Ams, Ueyama won gold in his Cadet Pan Am Cup debut, taking an opening round win in the +90 kg event against Jardiel Giron Villalon (CUB) and two more victories by ippon over Brayan Jimenez (CUB).

Aubrey Genereux (Port Saint Lucie, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center) won silver in the 52 kg division at her first Cadet Pan American Cup. Genereux posted a win by ippon over Yolais Pedrosa Escudero (CUB), but lost two matches to gold medalist Dali Sentmanat Despaigne (CUB).

Orelvis Beltran (Pembroke Pines, FL / Falcon Judo Club) and Ellianna Abbott (Rayne, LA / Louisiana Judo) each ended the cadet event with bronze medals in the 60 kg and 57 kg divisions, respectively.

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

Senior Men's 60 kg
1. David Terao (Fairfax, VA)
2. Milko Obregon (CUB)
3. Christopher Velazco (Coral Springs, FL / NYAC / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center)
3. Tylor Collin (CAN)
5. Yoel Hernandez (CUB)
5. Jonathan Charon (CUB)
7. Joshua Yang (Los Angeles, CA / LA Judo Club)
7. Matteo Fantozzi (CAN)

Also Competed: James Foster (Mobile, AL / Foster’s Martial Arts), 0-1

Senior Women's 48 kg
1. Yunaisy Roque Flebes (CUB)
2. Leyanis Batista Preval (CUB)
3. Yainet Coronado (CUB)

Senior Men's 66 kg
1. Orlando Polanco (CUB)
2. Maikel Oconor Salazar (CUB)
3. Alejandro Gandia (PUR)
3. Danilo Garcia Gonzalez (CUB)
5. Miguel Diaz Leon (CUB)
5. Nathan Belfer (Solon, OH / Pedro’s Judo Center)
7. Mauricio De Armas (CUB)
7. Frederic De Cardaillac (CAN)

Senior Women's 52 kg
1. Aleanny Carbonell Julian (CUB)
2. Francine Echevarria (PUR)
3. Daniela Barrera Pompa (CUB)
3. Lilian Morales (CUB)
5. Yolais Pedrosa Escudero (CUB)

Senior Men's 73 kg
1. Magdiel Estrada (CUB)
2. Marlon Herrera (CUB)
3. Olivier Gagnon (CAN)
3. Cristhian Cordero (CUB)
5. Claumel Clavel (CUB)
5. Jon Kuan Fleitas (CUB)
7. Philippe Abel Metellus (HAI)
7. Amaury Fonseca Perez (CUB)

Also Competed: Steven Boldbaatar (Bellevue, WA / Washington Judo Academy), 0-1

Senior Women's 57 kg
1. Marian Flores (PER)
2. Dilianne Sandoval Nadereaux (CUB)
3. Laurence Gagnon (CAN)
3. Kiara Arango (PER)
5. Naylen Acosta (CUB)
5. Lian Benavides (CUB)
7. Makarena Borrego (CUB)
7. Leanet Recio Ruiz (CUB)

Also Competed: Ellianna Abbott (Rayne, LA / Louisiana Judo), 0-1
Nicole Cancela (Coral Springs, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center), 0-1

Senior Men's 81 kg
1. Johan Silot (Salem, MA / NYAC / Pedro’s Judo Center)
2. Naysdel Cardoso (CUB)
3. Ruben Romero (CUB)
3. Maikel Mkencie Londres (CUB)
5. David Popovici (CAN)
5. Gerardo Frometa (CUB)
7. Yaddik Kindelan Jimenez (CUB)
7. Amado Montes (CUB)

Also Competed: Ramon Hernandez Jr. (Pompton Lakes, NJ / North Jersey Judo), 0-1

Senior Women's 63 kg
1. Isabelle Harris (CAN)
2. Maylin Del Toro Carvajal (CUB)
3. Emily Daniela Jaspe (Hialeah, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center)
3. Sara Golden (Crystal Lake, IL / USA Judo National Resident Training Center Team)
5. Karla Ramires Luna (CUB)
5. Odette Torriente Cabello (CUB)

Senior Men's 90 kg
1. Yuta Galarreta (PER)
2. Alexander Knauf (Yorkville, IL / NYAC)
3. Sergueis Rodriguez Figueroa (CUB)
3. Blasdiel Gort Perez (CUB)
5. Davit Aghasaryan (Sunland, CA / USA Judo National Resident Training Center Team)
5. Guillaume Gaulin (CAN)

Senior Women's 70 kg
1. Katarzyna Sobierajska (POL)
2. Diana Brenes (CRC)
3. Mairelys Inojosa Polanco (CUB)
3. Sairy Colon (PUR)
5. Yilian Carvajal Ramos (CUB)
5. Shavon Gonzalez (West Palm Beach, FL / USA Judo National Resident Training Center Team)

Senior Men's 100 kg
1. Liester Cardona (CUB)
2. Geronimo Saucedo (Wylie, TX / Becerra Judo & Jujitsu Club)
3. Jose Garcia Garcia (CUB)
3. Maykol Cobas (CUB)
5. Jonathan Delgado (CUB)
5. Zail Ramirez (CUB)

Senior Women's 78 kg
1. Coralie Godbout (CAN)
2. Camila Figueroa (PER)
3. Lianet Cardona (CUB)
3. Nicole Stout (Schenectady, NY / Jason Morris Judo Center)
5. Limay Ventura (CUB)
5. Anabel Trujillo Chacon (CUB)

Senior Men's +100 kg
1. Jonathan Loynaz (CUB)
2. Omar Cruz Leon (CUB)
3. Jorge Pineda Pedroso (CUB)
3. Leonis Alvarez Sosa (CUB)
5. Ivan Alfonso (CUB)

Senior Women's +78 kg
1. Naomis Elizarde Suarez (CUB)
2. Dayle Ojeda (CUB)
3. Izayana Marenco (NCA)
3. Jessica Alaynick (Scotia, NY / Jason Morris Judo Center)
5. Aslin Alpajon Leyva (CUB)

Junior Men’s 60 kg
1. Christopher Velazco (Coral Springs, FL / NYAC / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center)
2. Yoel Hernandez (CUB)
3. Yamil Valdez Penton (CUB)
3. Yordany Coromina Goitzolo (CUB)
5. Leodan Almora (CUB)
5. Diego Gonzalez (PUR)
7. Adiel Carrion (PUR)
7. Schesnuik Matthew (CAN)

Junior Women’s 48 kg
1. Yunaisy Roque Flebes (CUB)
2. Yelsis Mendez (CUB)
3. Leyanis Batista Preval (CUB)
3. Yainet Coronado (CUB)
5. Miraelis Planche Ramirez (CUB)
5. Yuliannis Marcane Napoles (CUB)
7. Maria Vargas Trejo (CUB)
7. Melany Calderon Rivera (CUB)

Junior Men’s 66 kg
1. Jose Icelo (MEX)
2. Adel Fresneda (CUB)
3. Alexander Prado (Coral Springs, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center)
3. Miguel Diaz Leon (CUB)
5. Ranxel Duquesne Mena (CUB)
5. Randy Trujillo DuForneaux (CUB)
7. Jorge Navas Rabi (CUB)
7. Agustin Ledesma (PAR)

Junior Women’s 52 kg
1. Lilian Morales (CUB)
2. Aylin Avila (MEX)
3. Dali Sentmanat Despaigne (CUB)
3. Driulys Rivas (PER)
5. Daniela Barrera Pompa (CUB)
5. Yolais Pedrosa Escudero (CUB)

Junior Men’s 73 kg
1. Cristhian Cordero (CUB)
2. Anthony Farnot (Lehigh Acres, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center)
3. Yanzel Fresneda Barrios (CUB)
3. Karel Sosa Alvarez (CUB)
5. Dayron Betances Elias (CUB)
5. Amaury Fonseca Perez (CUB)
7. Kevin Gomez Tamayo (CUB)
7. Jose Sanchez Lopez (CUB)

Also Competed: Jared Navarro (Lehigh Acres, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center), 0-1

Junior Women’s 57 kg
1. Nicole Cancela (Coral Springs, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center)
2. Naylen Acosta (CUB)
3. Luciana Julca (PER)
3. Evelyn Jubiel Aviles (CUB)
5. Saicha Serrano (PUR)
5. Dilianne Sandoval Nadereaux (CUB)
7. Leanet Recio Ruiz (CUB)
7. Helen Rovira Crespo (CUB)

Also Competed: Ellianna Abbott (Rayne, LA / Louisiana Judo), 0-1

Junior Men’s 81 kg
1. Dominic Rodriguez (Lehigh Acres, FL / NYAC / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center)
2. Christian Gonzalez Cairo (CUB)
3. Jorge Alfonso Hernandez (CUB)
3. Yaddik Kindelan Jimenez (CUB)
5. Gerardo Frometa (CUB)
5. Francisco Galarza Hernandez (PUR)
7. Hansel Delgado Pena (CUB)

Junior Women’s 63 kg
1. Wendy Martinez (CUB)
2. Emily Daniela Jaspe (Hialeah, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center)
3. Karla Ramires Luna (CUB)
3. Thalia Morales Romero (CUB)
5. Jessica Castellano (CUB)
5. Hilary Lam (PER)
7. Maria Suarez Cuellar (CUB)
7. Dailenis Naranjo Montalvo (CUB)

Junior Men’s 90 kg
1. Derik Rodriguez (PUR)
2. Orlando Miranda Dvila (CUB)
3. Brayan Delis Perez (CUB)

Junior Women’s 70 kg
1. Yilian Carvajal Ramos (CUB)
2. Shavon Gonzalez (West Palm Beach, FL / USA Judo National Resident Training Center Team)
3. Renata Sandoval (MEX)
3. Lisrialis Gonzalez Bonnet (CUB)
5. Sheila Perez Avila (CUB)
5. Yaimaceli Lizama Budn (CUB)
7. Daniela Rodriguez Bonald (CUB)
7. Kaila Pita Zorrilla (CUB)

Junior Men’s 100 kg
1. Zail Ramirez (CUB)
2. Jose Garcia Garcia (CUB)
3. Alejandro Ortiz Cintra (CUB)

Junior Women’s 78 kg
1. Lianet Cardona (CUB)
2. Limay Ventura (CUB)

Junior Men’s +100 kg
1. Ivan Alfonso (CUB)
2. Gerardo Castelan (MEX)
3. Brayan Jimenez (CUB)

Junior Women’s +78 kg
1. Naomi Alvarez Hernandez (CUB)

Cadet Men’s 55 kg
1. Radennis Romero Nuez (CUB)
2. Albert Barnett Izquierdo (CUB)
3. Norlen Jerez Ramirez (CUB)

Cadet Women’s 44 kg
1. Miraelis Planche Ramirez (CUB)
2. Yuliannis Marcane Napoles (CUB)
3. Dainelis Aragon Martinez (CUB)

Cadet Men’s 60 kg
1. Neisbert Batista Estrada (CUB)
2. Yordany Coromina Goitzolo (CUB)
3. Schesnuik Matthew (CAN)
3. Orelvis Beltran (Pembroke Pines, FL / Falcon Judo Club)

Cadet Women’s 48 kg
1. Melany Calderon Rivera (CUB)
2. Lizandra Romero Garcia (CUB)
3. Maria Vargas Trejo (CUB)
5. Amanda De Los Reyes Bayeux (CUB)

Cadet Men’s 66 kg
1. Alexander Prado (Coral Springs, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center)
2. Jorge Navas Rabi (CUB)
3. Ranxel Duquesne Mena (CUB)

Cadet Women’s 52 kg
1. Dali Sentmanat Despaigne (CUB)
2. Aubrey Genereux (Port Saint Lucie, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center)
3. Yolais Pedrosa Escudero (CUB)

Cadet Men 73 kg
1. Anthony Farnot (Lehigh Acres, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center)
2. Jared Navarro (Lehigh Acres, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center)
3. Kevin Gomez Tamayo (CUB)
3. Jose Sanchez Lopez (CUB)

Also Competed: Sebastian Ramirez (Lauderhill, FL / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center), 0-2

Cadet Women’s 57 kg
1. Yadanis Caballero Fonseca (CUB)
2. Evelyn Jubiel Aviles (CUB)
3. Leisis Villanueva Fernandez (CUB)
3. Ellianna Abbott (Rayne, LA / Louisiana Judo)

Cadet Men’s 81 kg
1. Jorge Alfonso Hernandez (CUB)
2. Hansel Delgado Pena (CUB)

Cadet Women’s 63 kg
1. Thalia Morales Romero (CUB)
2. Dailenis Naranjo Montalvo (CUB)
3. Maria Suarez Cuellar (CUB)
3. Lys Rojas Blanco (CUB)

Cadet Men’s 90 kg
1. Brayan Delis Perez (CUB)
2. Yesniel Montalvo Basabe (CUB)

Cadet Women’s 70 kg
1. Daniela Rodriguez Bonald (CUB)
2. Kaila Pita Zorrilla (CUB)
3. Sheila Perez Avila (CUB)
3. Yaimaceli Lizama Budn (CUB)

Cadet Men +90 kg
1. Kanta Ueyama (Burbank, CA / Los Angeles Tenri Judo Dojo)
2. Brayan Jimenez (CUB)
3. Jardiel Giron Villalon (CUB)

Cadet Women +70 kg
1. Aslin Alpajon Leyva (CUB)
2. Naomi Alvarez Hernandez (CUB)