Ferguson is Golden in Gainesville

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | OCTOBER 30, 2026

Rhadi Ferguson Jr. Wins Florida Junior Pan American Cup, Defeating World No. 8 Frederique Lavigne The MASTERS athlete adds a fourth international gold to her 2026 season.

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA — Rhadi Ferguson Jr. won the women’s +78 kg title at the 2026 Florida Junior Pan American Cup, beating Canada’s Frederique Lavigne, the world’s eighth-ranked junior in the division. Ferguson competed for MASTERS (Martial Arts for Social Transformation, Ethics and Rights), High Noon Judo, and Tampa Florida Judo.

In Gainesville, Ferguson closed that gap against an opponent who has spent the season near the top of the junior rankings.

Her father, 2004 U.S. Olympian Dr. Rhadi Ferguson, coached her mat side. Dr. Christopher Round, Executive Director of MASTERS and Head Coach of High Noon Judo, handled scouting on Lavigne and worked with Ferguson remotely, meeting with her by video call before the match to set the game plan and again afterward to review the performance.

“Rhadi did the work, and she did it on the mat where it counts,” Round said. “Lavigne is a very good player. We studied how Lavigne likes to win, and Rhadi came in with a clear plan and the composure to stick to it. After the medal ceremony, we got on FaceTime and talked about what still needs fixing. A gold medal is a result. The habit of learning from every match, including the ones you win, is what keeps the results coming.”

“Chris is one of the sharpest coaches in American judo, and he’s been a real asset to Rhadi’s development,” Dr. Ferguson said. “His scouting on Lavigne was dead on. Rhadi walked out there knowing exactly what was coming and what she needed to do about it. He wasn’t even in the building, and as soon as the match was over, he was on FaceTime with her working out what comes next. That’s a coach who’s thinking about the next four years, not just the next match. Look at what he’s built at High Noon: second in the country within three years of opening, three senior national team titles. And he’s secure enough to share an athlete across club lines because it’s what’s best for her. American judo needs more leaders like him.”

Ferguson’s day-to-day training is led by her father, Dr. Rhadi Ferguson, a 2004 U.S. Olympian, four-time U.S. national champion, and Head Coach of Tampa Florida Judo. She represents both Tampa Florida Judo and High Noon Judo, and the two programs work together on her development rather than competing for credit.

“Too often in American judo, the athlete ends up serving the club instead of the other way around,” Round said. “Rhadi has an Olympian in her corner every day. Our job is to add to that, not to compete with it. That’s the whole idea behind MASTERS: put the athlete at the center and bring in whoever can help.”

Her 2026 season:

The Gainesville title adds to a season of international results across three age categories:

Gold — Florida Junior Pan American Cup, Gainesville, Florida

Gold — Junior African Cup, Johannesburg, South Africa

Gold — Cadet African Cup, Johannesburg, South Africa

Bronze — Senior African Open, Johannesburg, South Africa

Silver — Pan American Cadet Championships

Bronze — Pan American Junior Championships

7th — Cadet World Championships, Guayaquil, Ecuador

Medaling at cadet, junior, and senior level in the same year is uncommon, and it reflects how much international exposure Ferguson has had this season.

About MASTERs

MASTERS (Martial Arts for Social Transformation, Ethics and Rights) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in the DC-Maryland-Virginia region that develops competitive judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu athletes on the pathway to the 2028 Olympic Games, with an emphasis on mentorship, education, and community impact. martialartsforsocialgood.org

About High Noon Judo

High Noon Judo was founded in 2022 by Dr. Christopher Round. The club finished second in the United States in 2025 and has won three senior national team titles.

About Tampa Florida Judo

Tampa Florida Judo is led by 2004 U.S. Olympian Dr. Rhadi Ferguson and focuses on technical development, high-performance training, and long-term athlete progression.