
GSPN’s 2024 Youth Athlete of the Year is getting 2025 off to a great start.
Sage Cruz won the prestigious Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) Submission Grappling Tournament in the 11-12yr old, 36kg (79lbs) bracket. The ADCC Open was held in San Diego, California on January 18.
ADCC Opens are for all competitors – kids through masters, beginner through advanced, from any country.
Although never having participated in ADCC, Sage competed in the Advanced Division against previous ADCC Open winners and the current ADCC World Champion, Ian Mondrago.
Sage won his first match in dominant fashion. He controlled his opponent with superior technical skills. By the end of regulation, Sage took the W with a 13-0 score. In fact, Sage cleaned out the bracket without having a single point scored against him.
Sage won his next two matches via submission, both with Rear Naked Chokes (RNC). This set up the much anticipated Finals match against the current ADCC World Champion, Ian Mondrago.
Sage started the match with a quick single leg takedown, and after being re-positioned to the center of the mat, he took Ian’s back for a rear mount.
Sage made several RNC submission attempts but Ian escaped and the match went back and forth. After time expired, Sage narrowly defeated Ian in overtime. It was a hard-fought Finals match, but Sage’s dominant positions and multiple submission attempts secured the win.
For good measure, Sage went up a weight class (40kg). Sage submitted all his opponents on the way to his second Finals match against another ADCC World Champion. Sage fought to the point of exhaustion, but came up short against the larger opponent, losing in his last match of the day.
Sage closed out his first ADCC experience with Gold and Silver medals.
Sage trains out of Atos Guam when he is on island, and with Island Jiu Jitsu Atos when visiting his Dad—currently stationed at Ft. Shafter—in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Sage’s next competitions are the Hawaii Triple Crown and San Jose ADCC Open.


GPS Sports Calendar
February 2025
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
- 26
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 1
Events for January
1st
LEGACY SPIKEFEST TOURNAMENT
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
H.S. RUGBY
H.S. GIRLS SOFTBALL
Events for February
1st
Events for February
4th
H.S. GIRLS SOFTBALL
H.S. TENNIS
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
H.S. BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
5th
H.S. BOYS BASKETBALL
H.S. RUGBY
Events for February
6th
H.S. GIRLS SOFTBALL
ISA H.S. TENNIS
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Events for February
7th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
H.S. BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
8th
SINDALU NINJA GAMES
H.S. RUGBY
H.S. GIRLS SOFTBALL
Events for February
9th
Events for February
11th
H.S. GIRLS SOFTBALL
ISA H.S. TENNIS
H.S. BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
11th
Events for February
13th
H.S. GIRLS SOFTBALL
ISA H.S. TENNIS
Events for February
15th
H.S. RUGBY
H.S. GIRLS SOFTBALL
Events for February
15th
Events for February
16th
Events for February
18th
H.S. GIRLS SOFTBALL
ISA H.S. TENNIS
H.S. BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
20th
ISA H.S. TENNIS
FIBA BASKETBALL: GUAM VS. MONGOLIA
Events for February
21st
H.S. BOYS BASKETBALL
H.S. RUGBY PLAYOFFS
Events for February
22nd
H.S. RUGBY
H.S. GIRLS SOFTBALL SEMIFINALS
Events for February
23rd
Events for February
25th
ISA H.S. TENNIS
H.S. BOYS BASKETBALL

Volleyball
BOYS BEACH VOLLEYBALL HEATS UP
