Jeremy Liggett (60kg) went 3-1 to win a silver medal at the 2006 Pan Am Championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina May 25-26th. Liggett turned in the best performance of his young career after defeating Arturo Cinceneros (MEX)  and Juan Postigos (PER) to set up a semi-final match with reigning Pan Am Champ and 3x European medalist Miguel Albarracin (ARG). Liggett (17) found himself down by a shido to start with but solid attacks by the youngster forced Albarracin (25) into receiving a shido of his own evening the match. With a minute to go Liggett countered Albarracin for a waza-ari  to secure the lead. Liggett then threw throwing the Argentine for ippon to move into the final.

The ironic twist in this match was that Albarracin’s coach is 1996 Olympic fifth place finisher, Gaston Garcia who used to be rivals with Liggett’s coach, Jason Morris. Morris held a lifetime 8-1 edge over Garcia with his lone win coming the last time Morris was in Argentina in the final of the 1995 Pan Am Games in Mar de Plata.

Liggett fought an entertaining battle in the final with North American rival Frazer Will (CAN).  Jeremy hung tough but ultimately lost two yukos to one. This showing solidifies Liggett’s position as the #1 ranked athlete in the country and the favorite to earn a berth on the 2008 Olympic team.

Katie Mocco (70kg) also turned in a career best performance going 3-1 to win bronze. Mocco started off her day by slamming Maria Rojas (VEN) for ippon with osoto in the first 5 seconds. Next up for Katie was a quarter final battle with reigning Pan Am champion and the woman who took Katie out in last years semi-final Diana Chala (ECU). Katie was clearly pumped for the match and after both girls battled for 5 minutes with no score, the match went into sudden death overtime. Mocco stepped it up big time by confidently throwing Chala with osoto for the match winning yuko. Katie lost a tough semi-final against Cuban Yalennis Castillo sending her to the bronze medal bout with hometown favorite Elisabeth Copes (ARG). Katie had to battle the crowd as well as Copes but she was up to the task as she pinned the Argentine for the bronze.

Carrie Chandler (52kg) failed to defend her Pan Am title by posting a disappointing 1-2 record to finish 7th. JMJC coach, Jason Morris was also chosen for the second straight year to be the official Head coach of the US team. 4x Olympian, Morris was also the 2005 US World team coach and is building good rapport with the entire US team.