The 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Richmond youth team traveled over 2 hours to the Knoxville Convention Center in Tennessee on Saturday, August 5th. With nine youth competitors between the ages of 7 and 14, the team emerged triumphant, earning the title of youth tournament champions.
Leading the charge was Natilee Wells, a recent national title winner, who inspired the team with her outstanding performance. Natilee secured four victories, winning all her bouts by submission, utilizing skillful technique winning with the dead orchard, triangle choke, rear naked choke, and reverse triangle. Following her lead, Vitoria Lopes also excelled, achieving double gold in gi and nogi divisions with three submissions and one victory by points.
Among the young male competitors, Alexander Johnson stood out with his exceptional skills, earning two gold medals in both gi and nogi categories. His dominating performance earned him an invitation to participate in the next skill division (expert), where he secured a well-deserved silver medal. Another standout performer was Joey Lopes, fondly known as “Captain Kirk,” who tactically outclassed his opponents, securing victory in all four of his matches with arm bars. Tor Lunnenborg and Jacob Moorehead both impressed in the nogi rounds, earning gold medals with their dominant performances. Leif Burgin showcased his potential as an intermediate grappler, securing a silver medal in his first intermediate nogi outing. Additionally, the 7-year-old Raylan Hall, a student at Model Elementary, and first time athlete for 10th Planet Richmond showcased his determination, securing a bronze medal in his first-ever grappling event. Special congratulations go out to Odin Burgin for his remarkable victories and formidableness in his first outing as an intermediate level grappler.
With an impressive total of 1458 points, 10th Planet Richmond claimed a decisive victory, leading the competition with a 250-point spread. The team dedicated the last month to focused training in preparation for this event. Up next, the 10th Planet Richmond youth team will travel to Bowling Green, KY, for a Fuji Brazilian Jiu Jitsu tournament, where they aim to continue their winning streak.
Furthermore, congratulations are in order for adult competitor Gene Morrow, who showcased his skills and secured a well-deserved 2nd place finish in a highly competitive bracket of 13 competitors.
