High Noon Judo and MASTERs Celebrate Back to Back National Titles at the 2025 USA Judo Senior National Championships
The team after securing its second senior national team title
High Noon Judo and the Martial Arts for Social Transformation, Equity, and Rights (MASTERs) program celebrated a major moment in Birmingham, Alabama with a second consecutive Senior National Championship Team Title at the 2025 USA Judo Senior National Championships. The national event brought together many of the strongest competitors in the United States. High Noon Judo, representing the training arm of the MASTERs nonprofit, delivered one of the most dominant team performances in the country.
In only its third year, High Noon Judo finished the tournament with 15,250 points. This placed the team far ahead of the next closest academy which earned 5,700 points. The victory marks the continuation of a program that has been growing quickly in both competitive strength and national recognition.
Sensei Alex Painter coordinating with Nakapan Phungephorn as Nakapan competed across 14 matches.
A Young Program With National Results
Fourteen High Noon athletes competed across 26 divisions and brought home 31 medals. The medal count included 16 golds, 11 silvers, and 4 bronzes from a roster that ranged in age from 17 to 64. Athletes came from a mix of competitive backgrounds which created one of the most balanced and productive teams at the event. Hobbyist competitors and senior elite athletes contributed to the team’s success together which reflects the inclusive training model that MASTERs promotes.
Several athletes produced standout performances. Ekaterina Petri competed in five divisions and earned two gold and three silver medals. Nakapan Phungephorn fought fourteen matches in four divisions and finished with three golds and one bronze. Emma Bragg entered four divisions and captured three gold medals and one silver and also became the program’s first black belt division national champion. Each of these athletes scored enough points to place among the top academies in the country if scored individually.
High Noon athletes advanced to the medal rounds in five of the senior elite weight categories. These included the women’s 63 kilogram, 70 kilogram, and 78 kilogram divisions along with both the men’s and women’s open weight categories. The senior divisions are considered the most competitive at the United States National Championships.
Junior World Team Member Chloe Williams throwing Brinley Jackson en route to the medal rounds in the Senior 70kg weight class.
Coaching Structure and Leadership
High Noon Judo operates inside High Noon BJJ and Fitness in Alexandria, Virginia. The program was founded by Dr. Christopher Round, together with owner Tim Dawson and early partners Jordan Stone and Heidi Holz. The academy is the applied training arm of the MASTERs nonprofit and uses a developmental model built around community support, technical excellence, and athlete centered coaching.
Dr. Round is a fourth degree judo black belt and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt who brings more than fifteen years of experience across government, nonprofit, and corporate work. He has trained under world class coaches including Jimmy Pedro, Dr. Rhadi Ferguson, and Ryan Hall. His academic background, project management experience, and technical expertise form the foundation for MASTERs’ high performance training approach.
This structure was visible throughout the national championships. MASTERs coordinated on site coaching, distance support from Olympians Lauren Meece and Dr. Rhadi Ferguson, and real time tactical guidance through match analysis and video review. Dr. Ferguson described the integration of these systems as comparable to professional sports operations. He noted the level of organization, the use of scouting reports, and the coordination of training staff that made the team’s performance possible.
Assistant coaches Jordan Stone, Heidi Holz, Liam Donovan, Alex Painter, Nathan Whitney, and Brendan Raedy contributed to both coaching and competition. Holz, Painter, and Donovan competed in their own divisions while also supporting the rest of the team. Their dual role reflects the leadership pipeline MASTERs is building through its fellows and athlete development programs.
Tim Spriggs prepares to step onto the mat before the Senior Open Weight class finals
MASTERs Fellows and Olympic Hopefuls
MASTERs fellows played a central role in High Noon’s championship results. The fellows program provides competition funding, high-level technical coaching, individualized analytics, and whole-athlete support. Fellows Emma Bragg, Chloe Williams, EJ Lynch, and Tim Spriggs each contributed to the medal total.
Bragg earned two golds and one silver during the weekend in addition to winning a black belt senior national title. Seventeen year old Chloe Williams won gold in her age and weight category and placed inside the top five in the senior division. Williams is one of the youngest athletes in the country competing at this level. She credited MASTERs with helping her pursue long term Olympic development.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu world champion Tim Spriggs continued his transition into competitive judo with several divisional medals including a silver in the senior open weight category. His willingness to compete in judo at the national level after a decorated career in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has provided an example for other cross-discipline athletes who want to contribute to American judo-
MASTERs has also been active in supporting female athletes across multiple age divisions. Junior Pan American Games team member Rhadi Ferguson Jr and two-time United States Senior National finalist Madeline Solis are among the athletes the program is developing for international competition.
Head coach Dr. Christopher Round in the chair. Dr. Round developed a team of on and off site experts to provide up to date support for every student regardless of age, rank or division. Live scouting was provided to each student before their match. This ensured High Noon bring home medals in novice, brown belt, senior, and veterans divisions.
A Program Focused on Community and Long Term Athlete Development
MASTERs was created to combine competitive excellence with community impact. The organization grounds its work in the judo principle of Jita Kyoei which translates to mutual benefit and well being. The nonprofit supports athletes with financial assistance, performance analysis, mentorship, and access to professional resources. It also provides community programming that promotes confidence, connection, and positive development through martial arts.
Dr. Round emphasized that the team’s success reflects more than medal count. He described the program’s commitment to supporting recreational athletes with the same care given to elite competitors. He noted that hobbyists contributed more than seven thousand points at the national championships which demonstrates the strength of the program across its entire membership.
The academy was also recognized as the Best Judo Academy in the region in the 2025 Evergreen Awards for the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. This honor highlights the quality of instruction in judo, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, wrestling, striking, and supplementary programs such as yoga that support athlete wellness.
Sensei Heidi Holz takes the mat. Coaches playing dual roles of competitor and coach played a key role in the win.
Looking Ahead
With back to back national titles, High Noon Judo and MASTERs have established themselves as leaders in American judo. The organization will continue preparing its younger athletes and Olympic track competitors for the cadet and junior world trials at the Junior Olympics in June. MASTERs plans to expand its fellowship programs, community outreach, and regional partnerships. Additional announcements will be made later in the year.
High Noon Judo’s rapid growth reflects a combination of technical coaching, structured leadership, athlete mentorship, and a commitment to community building. The 2025 USA Judo Senior National Championships offered a clear example of what this model can achieve. MASTERs and High Noon Judo will continue developing athletes who strive for excellence while contributing to the broader community through martial arts. You can support MASTERs mission here.
MASTERs fellow Emma Bragg competing with teammate Ekaterina Petri en route to her first Senior National Championship in the open weight division.
