GUAM TRIO GARNERS PAN AM GOLD

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

Head coach Stephen Roberto and his Purebred Jiu-Jitsu delegation pose after competition. (photo courtesy of Coach Roberto)