Trench Tech Gym brings home 5 medals from Guam

Trench Tech Gym instructor Justis “Cuki” Alvarez, top row second from left, poses with 13 of the jiu jitsu practitioners that flew to Guam for the Patgon Jiu Jitsu Tournament. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Trench Tech Gym had a successful stint in the recent Patgon Jiu Jitsu Tournament in Guam after taking home six medals—three silvers and three bronzes.

Jacqueline Iris Quitugua, Trey Manglona, and Gabe Mitchell bagged the silver medals, while the bronze medals were won by Mitchell, Justo Quitugua, and Jordan Camacho.

Seven-year-old Jacqueline Iris Quitugua won second place as a grey belt in the junior 1 division of the heavyweight class, while 11-year-old Manglona was runner-up in the junior 2 as a white belt middle heavyweight.

Trench Tech Gym instructor Justis “Cuki” Alvarez, left, poses with Gabe Mitchell who won two medals—a silver in the No Gi teen-juvenile category and a bronze in the Gi division—in the Patgon Jiu Jitsu Tournament in Guam. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Mitchell finished second as a white belt in the No Gi teen-juvenile category and third in the Gi division after the 13-year-old was bumped up from the teen 2.

Eleven-year-old Justo Quitugua took the bronze in the ultra heavyweight junior 2 category, while 7-year-old Camacho was third in the pee wee 2 super heavyweight as a white belt.

The rest of the Trench Tech Gym team that went to Guam were Alexander Diaz (junior division), Kaiya Pangelinan (junior 1 division), Raymond Earl Hazlett (junior 2), Reiden Travilla (junior 1), Tate Manglona (junior 2), Hani Reyes (peewee 2), Brian Reyes (junior 2), and Chris Hardt (juvenile).

Trench Tech Gym instructor Justis “Cuki” Alvarez said all 13 of their jiu jitsu practitioners except Hardt saw action in Guam, adding that the latter didn’t compete because he had no opponent. 

Alvarez said the six-medal haul in the recent Patgon Jiu Jitsu Tournament in Guam was a nice surprise considering the stiff competition they faced. 

“We always have goals of winning medals, however, because the competition was so strong, realistically, we knew we wouldn’t medal in all our divisions. But five kids medalling is a plus in our books and we are proud of their accomplishments. But to us, they are all winners for competing.”  

He added Trench Tech Gym is proud of the baker’s dozen’s performance in Guam, including Hardt, who all trained to get in competition form. 

“They did great. The competition was fierce and all our kids were as prepared as they could have been, but there is always room for improvement. So we need to work on a lot of things for the next tournament because all the competitors  from Guam who our kids competed against were good and well trained!” 

Alvarez then thanked all the sponsors that made their trip to the Patgon Jiu Jitsu Tournament possible, namely former governor Ralph DLG Torres for his huge contribution that paid all their flights, Bridge Capital LLC for providing rooms at the Perlas Courte Condos, and Saipan Mayor’s Office and Hardt Eye Clinic for their monetary donations. 

Other corporate sponsors include Tang’s Corp., the Officer of Senate President Celine R. Babauta (D-Saipan), Ete Cafe, and FÖKAI Guam.