The participants of the recently concluded Patgon Jiu-Jitsu fundraising tournament pose with their certificates of participation at the Trench Tech gym on Tuesday.
FOUR of Trench Tech’s young athletes will see action in the Patgon Jiu-Jitsu Tournament in Guam this Saturday, Oct. 21.
Training at Trench Tech and excelling in their respective weight classes at the recent Patgon Jiu-Jitsu fundraising event, Mateo “El Guapo” Almada, Gabe Mitchell, Trey “King Koa” Manglona, and Sophia Choi, along with coaches Cuki Alvarez and Ken Tanzawa, will represent the NMI.
The young athletes showcased control, skill and technique in dominating their opponents at the Trench Tech fundraising tournament.
Almada, Mitchell and Choi won gold in the Kids 2, Absolute and Peewee 1 weight classes, respectively, while Manglona took home the silver medal in the Kids 1 weight class. (“Justo” Jeremiah Quitugua, who won the gold, is unable to compete in Guam this year.)
Alvarez said this will be the first time that Almada and Choi will compete in the Guam tournament, but they are very excited and eager to showcase the techniques they have been learning.
“We will be bringing a strong team,” Alvarez said. “Although it is a smaller team compared to the previous teams we’ve brought down in the past two Patgon Jiu Jitsu Tournaments, the kids have all been preparing for six months,” he added.
In the spring season of the Patgon Jiu-Jitsu Tournament last April, Team NMI brought home six medals with Mitchell winning two golds.
Alvarez said more kids wanted to compete in Guam, but had prior obligations.
On Tuesday, participants of the Patgon Jiu-Jitsu fundraising event gathered at the Trench Tech gym to receive their certificates of participation.
“Congratulations and a job well done to all the Trench Tech kids who participated in this past in-house fundraising…tournament held at the Ada Gym on Oct 7th,” Alvarez said.
Mateo “El Guapo” Almada
Sophia Choi
Trey Manglona
Gabriel Mitchell
