OpenMat Bermuda Eyeing Medals In Florida
[Written by Stephen Wright]
OpenMat Bermuda will send 14 athletes to compete at the Pan IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Kissimmee, Florida, next week.
Representing the Brazilian jiu-jitsu gym are Siraj Grant, Ryan Hopkins, Jahmali Bridgewater, Olivia Buchanan, Ramazan Ramazanov, Elijah Richardson, Noah Vieira, Reina Maypa, Sydney Mason, James Adams, Thomas Gregory, Lonnie Bascome, Aaron Dyer and Chris Regan.
Ramazanov won a gold medal and Buchanan silver at the Grappling Industries Toronto Gi & No Gi Round Robin Tournament in January.
Dyer, the OpenMat founder, believes Bascome, Regan and Hopkins could be among the medal contenders at the championship, which run from next Wednesday until Sunday.
Bascome won gold in the men’s purple lightweight division at the championship two years ago. He will compete at brown belt this time around.
“It’s always a good marker to test yourself against athletes from other parts of the world,” Dyer told Bernews.
“Several of our guys are capable of winning medals. Hopefully the whole team can do well.”
OpenMat Team
Sijaj Grant – men’s white feather
Ryan Hopkins – men’s white medium
Jahmali Bridgewater – men’s white heavy
Olivia Buchanan – women’s white feather
Ramazan Ramazanov – men’s white medium-heavy
Elijah Freeman – men’s blue medium
Noah Vieira – men’s blue medium-heavy
Reina Maypa – women’s blue light
Sydney Mason – women’s blue middle
Greg Maybury – men’s blue light
James Adams – men’s blue super-heavy
Thomas Gregory – men’s purple super-heavy
Lonnie Bascome – men’s brown light
Aaron Dyer – men’s black heavy
Chris Regan – men’s black super-heavy
