Colorado Springs, Colo.) – After two days of intense individual competition at the Pan American Championships in San Salvador, El Salvador, the format turned to a team event on Sunday in which Team USA brought home a silver medal in the men’s competition and a bronze in the women’s event.


The team competition included seven men’s teams and nine women’s teams with five athletes fighting on each. On the men’s side, the event included the 66kg, 81kg, 90kg, 100kg and Open divisions. On the women’s side, the 52kg, 63kg, 70kg, 78kg and Open divisions were held.

The U.S. Men’s Team began the event well with a 5-0 win over El Salvador with Brad Bolen (Glenville, N.Y. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center / 66kg), Travis Stevens (Wakefield, Mass. / USA Judo National Team FORCE / 81kg). Garry St. Leger (Brooklyn, N.Y. / NYAC / Legrosports Starrett / 90kg), Kyle Vashkulat (Glenville, N.Y. / NYAC / USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center / 100kg) and Daniel McCormick (Wakefield, Mass. / NYAC / USA Judo National Team FORCE / Open) all earning wins.


In the semifinals, the U.S. defeated Mexico, 3-2, with wins by Stevens, St. Leger and McCormick.


With two wins under the team’s belt, the men advanced to the final against Cuba.


Although the U.S. men lost the match, 1-4, and placed second overall, Stevens avenged his loss in the individual competition to Osmay Cruz when he threw the Cuban for ippon.



The U.S. Women’s Team placed won the bronze medal, coming back from a first-round loss to Cuba to win the next three matches against Guatemala, Puerto Rico and Argentina.



During the match against Cuba, Kayla Harrison (Wakefield, Mass. / NYAC / USA Judo National Team FORCE) threw 2008 Olympic silver medalist Yalennis Castillo for ippon in the 78kg division. Competing in the 52kg division, Jeanette Rodriguez (Davie, Fla. / USA Judo National Training Site at South Florida) posted a draw when she tied World and Olympic medalist Yanet Bermoy. In the 63kg division, Janine Nakao (Wakefield, Mass. / NYAC / USA Judo National Team FORCE) led a close match against 2010 Pan American Champion Yaritza Abel by two penalties before being countered with a throw for ippon (instant win). Katie Sell (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center) and Toni Geiger (Dumont, N.J. / Tech Judo) lost their 70kg and Open divisions, respectively.



In the repechage, Team USA defeated Guatemala, 4-1. After competing in the 48kg division in the individual event, Ann Shiraishi (San Francisco, Calif. / East Bay Judo Institute) subbed in for Rodriguez in the 52kg division to win the first match by ippon. Sell, Harrison and Geiger each won their matches by ippon while Nakao lost her match by three matches to two.



Next, Team USA won a match against Puerto Rico, 2-2-1 to advance to fight for bronze. Shiraishi and Laursen won matches on walkovers while Harrison tied her match and Nakao and Sell lost their matches.



Team USA won the women’s bronze medal, 5-0 against Argentina with Shiraishi, Sell, Harrison and Geiger all earning wins. Marti Malloy (San Jose, Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University), a silver medalist in the 57kg division, fought up to 63kg for the team event where she won her match by ippon.


Complete team results are as follows:



Men

1. Cuba

2. USA

3. Puerto Rico

4. Brazil

5. El Salvador

6. Mexico

7. Guatemala



Women

1. Cuba

2. Brazil

3. Mexico

4. USA

5. Colombia

6. Argentina

7. El Salvador

8. Puerto Rico