The WAKO USA Kickboxing Team Trials were held February 8-11th 2024 in Orlando, Florida at the Wyndham Resort Convention Center. Competitors from across the nation fought for contention to represent America at the WAKO (World Association of Kickboxing Organizations) Junior World Championships in Budapest, Hungary this fall. In all, 61 athletes and a coaching staff of 10 will represent America at the World Championships August 23-September 1st at BOK Sports Hall.
USA Kickboxing sanctions competition in two disciplines, Tatami and Ring Sports. According to Bill Viola Jr. (WAKO USA Tatami Chairman), the organization is spearheading Kickboxing towards the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane, Australia. Viola explains, “This was our most competitive and largest nationals to date. We are confident in our junior athletes headed to Budapest in August and our senior athletes competing in Chile [Vina del Mar] in October. Tatami champions from Chile will earn a slot in the prestigious World Games in Chengdu, China [August 2025].”
Viola continues, “I always get asked, what does this all mean? The answer is simple, we inch one step closer to an Olympic birth.” USA Kickboxing is the only U.S. organization in the sport of kickboxing to have IOC (International Olympic Committee) & AOC (American Olympic Committee) recognition. The athletes compete at the highest of levels, qualifying in our National Championship Tournaments to earn their spots on the team to compete internationally at the Pan-American Championships, World Games and the World Combat Games. WAKO USA serves as the gateway to the Olympics. The World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO) the National Governing Body for the sport under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee.
The league alternates with Junior and Senior World Championships every other year. In 2023 The 2023 Senior Worlds was represented with 70 countries and 1,670 athletes. The United States sent 49 entries and 23 coaches 13 medals, 5 being gold. America was able to claim one of the most sought after titles.
Announcing The 2024 USA Kickboxing Junior Team
Ring Sports (K1, Low Kick, Full Contact Rules)
Samir Abidov: -51kg, 17-18, K1, Florida
Lionel Aguilar: -86kg, 17-18, FCR, Florida
Victor Aguilar: -54kg, 17-18, K1, California
Drighten Collins: -71kg, 15-16, LK, Missouri
Preston Csoka: -63.5kg, 17-18, LK, Virginia
Ryden Dela Cruz: -51kg, 15-16, K1, Hawaii
James Hancock: -60kg, 17-18, LK, Arkansas
Darrin Horton: - 63.5kg, 15-16, LK, Missouri
Alexander Kimball: -75kg, 17-18, LK, Arkansas
Annikka Kimball: +60kg, 15-16, LK, Arkansas
Aidan Lambert: -67kg, 17-18, K1, Massachusetts
Caleb Lewis: -91kg, 17-18, FCR, Texas
Parker Nassar: -65kg, 15-16, FCR, Florida
Ethan Schlauch: -60kg, 17-18, K1, Ohio
Mekenna Vanyo: +70kg, 17-18, K1, Ohio
Zarek Yiu Lin: -51kg, 15-16, LK, Hawaii
Tatami Sports (Point Fighting, Light Contact, Kick Light, Weapons):
Ibrahim Abdul-Qadir: -57kg, 16-18, PF, New York
Cesar Aguilar: +69kg, 13-15, PF, LC, Florida
Jacky Aguilar: +47kg, 10-12, PF, CF, Texas
Sammy Aguilar: -30kg, 7-9, PF, MF, Texas
Olivia Almanza: -24kg, 7-9, PF, Texas
Lino Almanza: -24kg, 7-9, PF, Texas
Matias Camarena Rodriguez: -21kg, 7-9, PF, CF, Texas
Raymundo Camarena Rodriguez: -37kg, 10-12, PF, MF, CF, Texas
Armando Cardenas: -42kg, 10-12, PF, Florida
Lukas Drevinskas: 10-12, MF, CF, MW, CW, Florida
Xander Eddy: -63kg, 13-15, PF, KL, LC, Pennsylvania
Randy Enrique: -57kg, 13-15, PF, Florida
Riley Evans: -55kg, 16-18, PF, LC, Pennsylvania
James Fernandez: -52kg, 13-15, PF, LC, Florida
Vanessa Gomez: -37kg, 10-12, PF, CF, Texas
Vivian Gomez: +47kg, 10-12, PF, MF, Texas
Ariana Gonzalez: +65kg, 13-15, PF, Florida
Carter Griffith: -37kg, 10-12, PF, Pennsylvania
Madelyn Heacock: 13-15, CW, Florida
Erik Hermosillo: -24kg, 7-9, PF, Texas
Everth Hermosillo: -47kg, 10-12, PF, Texas
Brayan Hernandez: -69kg, 13-15, PF, California
Jaydon Holland: -74kg, 16-18, PF, LC, California
Tony Homsani: -42kg, 13-15, PF, Florida
Victoria Homsani: -55kg, 13-15, PF, Florida
Tyler Johnson: -69kg, 16-18, PF, Florida
Joshua Lawrence: -63kg, 13-15, KL, Texas
Camden Lehmann: -55kg, 16-18, PF, Florida
Ricardo Madrinan: -52kg, 10-12, PF, Florida
Emily Molinar: -46kg, 13-15, PF, KL, LC, MF, CF, Texas
Danny Oliva: -74kg, 16-18, PF, Florida
Benjamin Olivares: -47kg, 13-15, LC, California
William Olivares: -69kg, 13-15, PF, California
Jayson Perez: -69kg, 16-18, PF, LC, Florida
Edwin Rivera: -/+69kg, 13-15, PF, LC, Texas
Luis Rivera: -63kg, 13-15, PF, LC, Texas
Axel Rodriguez: -57kg, 13-15, KL, LC, Texas
Sofia Florez-Rodriguez: -70kg, 16-18, PF, Florida
Luis Spencer: -52kg, 13-15, PF, LC, MF, Texas
Reuben Spencer: -32kg, 7-9, PF, MW, CW, Texas
Alyssa Thomas: -32kg, 10-12, PF, MF, Texas
Gabby Viola: -55kg, 13-15, PF, KL, MW, Pennsylvania
Heraclio K Villanueva: -33kg, 7-9, PF, MF, CF, MW, CW, Texas
Santos R Villanueva: -27kg, 7-9, PF, CW, Texas
Alexandra White: 16-18, MW, Florida
Coaches:
El Java Abdul-Qadir Tatami, New York
David Bybee Ring, Florida
Bill Viola Tatami, Pennsylvania
Dawn Roffey, Florida
Davon Emil Clark Tatami, California
Aaron Kimball Ring, Arkansas
Annette Poteet Ring/Tatami, Texas
Damian Rodriguez Tatami, Florida
Mark Vanyo Ring, Ohio
Laco Villanueva Tatami, Texas.