
By Patrick Lujan
Three of Guam’s off spring continue to make our island proud as Kai McDermott , Robert Artero Maley and Laralei Gandaoli captured gold medals stateside in the IBJJF 2015 Pan Kids Jiu-Jitus Championships Sunday in Long Beach, California – the biggest kids BJJ tournament in the world.
McDermott, a four-time youth world champion, pulled off two arm bars to capture gold in the PeeWee 3 medium heavy grey belt division.

A Family Affair: Parents Justin and Tricia McDermott with baby sister Kali support Kai’s jiu-jitsu ventures. (courtesy photo)
It is the second straight year McDermott has won the Pan Am Championships. He just turned nine-years-old on Feb. 6th.
“Thank you to all my teammates and coaches at Conde Koma BJJ, all my family and friends on Guam for always supporting me… Also to my sponsor Shoyoroll for my sick gear,” said the young McDermott. “Guam is always on my heart when I compete.”
Maley also won both matches to take top honors in the Junior 3 Grey Heavy division. He trains at Gracie Barra San Clemente under Professor Felipe Guedes from São Paulo, Brazil.
“Train insane or remain the same,” said Maley, who hard trained for nearly a year specifically for this competition.
After the competition, Maley had a chance to hang out with some of the Guam Purebred competitors.
Purebred’s Gandaoli was all over her first-round opponent 30-0. That’s right, 30-0! And that was against the East Coast Pan Am champion. She won 6-2 in the finals. It must run in the blood – older sister Jayronne is also a jiu-jitsu world champion. The youngster actually went up a weight bracket and an age group for this competition.

Gold medalist Laralei Gandaoli took out her first opponent 30-0 on her way to the championship. (courtesy photo)
Purebred Jiu-Jitsu head coach Stephen Roberto headed a team that finished with five medals: 1 Gold, 2 Silver and 2 Bronze.
YELLOW / Junior 1 / Female / Medium Heavy Laralei Gandaoli gold
YELLOW / Junior 3 / Male / Rooster Ely Pocaigue II bronze
ORANGE / Junior 3 / Female / Medium Heavy Francesca Jolie Ada Lizama silver
ORANGE/GREEN / Teen 2 / Male / Middle Dawson Arceo silver
ORANGE/GREEN / Teen 3 / Male / Rooster Javon-John Sablan Borja bronze


GPS Sports Calendar
March 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for February
28th
Events for March
2nd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL FINALS
Events for March
3rd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
ISA GIRLS SOCCER FINALS
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL FINALS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL FINALS
Events for March
4th
35th RAINBOWS FOR ALL CHILDREN 3.5 MILER
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE FINALS
Events for March
5th
MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS ROUND 3
Events for March
5th
Events for March
6th
Events for March
7th
Events for March
9th
Events for March
11th
GSPN PRESEASON BOYS VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT DAY 1
Bank of Guam Block Party 5K
Events for March
12th
Events for March
13th
Events for March
14th
Events for March
15th
Events for March
17th
World Athletics Indoor Championships
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Events for March
18th
PAY-LESS KICK THE FAT 5K/10K
World Athletics Indoor Championships
Events for March
19th
Events for March
21st
Events for March
25th
MARIANAS OPEN PRO JAPAN TOURNAMENT
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Events for March
26th
MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS ROUND 4
Events for March
28th
ISA GIRLS SOFTBALL
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Events for March
30th
ISA GIRLS SOFTBALL
IIAAG GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Events for March
31st
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

MMA/Boxing
BENAVENTE BRINGS RARE SKILL TO FIGHT GAME

Running/Track
SPECIAL OLYMPICS TRACK EVENT ON APR 1

Volleyball
EAGLES HOLD OFF WARRIORS IN 5 SETS

Jiu-Jitsu
MARIANAS OPEN TO TAKE OVER TOKYO

MMA/Boxing
BENAVENTE BRINGS RARE SKILL TO FIGHT GAME

Volleyball
EAGLES HOLD OFF WARRIORS IN 5 SETS
COMING SOON …
- 4th Quarter Sports
QUICK HITS
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Guam MTB National Championship: Edward Oingerang and Jennifer Camacho are your 2023 MTB national champions. Oingerang finished the course in 1:13:24 while Camacho won her second straight title in 54:08.