The GSPN Athlete of the Year for 2019 is being awarded to 25-year-old jiu-jitsu brown belt Anthony Cruz for his busy 2019 where he consistently found himself at the medal podium in each tournament he competed in.
Cruz, out of Carlson Gracie, came out on top all over Asia and in the local competitions wrapping up a really busy summer where he competed in the the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam in Tokyo (gold), JBJJF (double gold), Marianas Open (gold), Submit Int. and the IBJJF Asia Open (gold) all within a three-month span!
Cruz’s 2019 Accomplishments
- 3X IBJJF Asian Open Champion (2017, 2018, 2019)
- 2019 Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Tokyo 85 KG Brown Belt Champion
- 2019 JBJJF All Japan Medium Heavy Brown Belt Champion
- 2019 JBJJF All Japan Open Class Brown Belt Champion
- League Royale 12 88KG Champion
- League Royale 12 Third Place Open Class
- 2019 Together Funding Championship Medium Heavy Second Place
- 2019 Together Funding Championship Third Place Open Class
- 2019 Copa de Marianas Medium Heavy Brown Belt Champion
- 2019 Copa de Marianas Open Class Brown Belt Champion
- 2019 Marianas Pro Seoul Medium Heavy Second Place
- 2019 Marianas Pro Seoul Open Class Second Place
- 2019 Marianas Open Medium Heavy Brown Belt Champion
AOY Honorable Mentions
- Men’s Basketball Team (Pacific Games Gold Basketball)
- Frank Camacho (UFC Win)
- Joshter Andrew (Pacific Games Gold Judo)
- Wayne Blas (Guam Marathon Record)
- Ben Borja (Pacific Games Gold Basketball 5×5 and 3×3)
- J.J. Ambrose (HEX Fight Series win)
- Anthony ‘Big Tone’ Salas (Four total gold in stateside power lifting comps)
- Jay Leon Guerrero (Top 10 bowler in the WORLD)
- Jon Tuck (Bellator/Rizin debut win)
- Roque Martinez (Deep Impact win)
- Benji Shulte (Pacific Games Silver swimming)
- Jeralyn Mesa (Guam Bodybuilding Gold, 4th in Pro Comp)
- Regine Tugade (Guam record in 100m and 60m)
GSPN ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
2012 – Jon Tuck (MMA/UFC)
2013 – Zach Pangelinan (USA National Rugby)
2014 – Eddie ‘Barefoot Bandito’ Vega (101 Barefoot Marathons)
2015 – Guam Men’s Basketball Team (Pacific Games Gold)
2016 – Baby Joe Taimanglo (MMA/Bellator)
2017 – Manami Iijima (Professional Triathlete)
2018 – Alejandra Ada (D1 Rugby champion)
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