Support Tony Peña's Journey to Pan Am Sambo

**UPDATE** THANK YOU! THANK YOU! My son and I want to thank all of you for your donations, words of encouragement that I received to pass on to him. He has secured his spot, purchased his ticket and made his accommodations. I will keep everyone posted. Again, thank you to everyone for your generosity towards his goals.

**UPDATE**We are almost there, please share, share, share. Thank you to everyone who has sent encouraging words and for your donations.

Hi everyone, I’m setting up this GoFundMe on behalf of my son, Tony Peña, who has been selected to represent Team USA at the 2025 Pan American Sambo Championships in Guayaquil, Ecuador, taking place from June 27th–29th.

Tony will be competing in the 2025 US National Sambo Championships, representing Universal Judo under his dedicated coach, Jim Hrbek. He began training in Judo in 2022, and in just a few short years, he’s worked his way to an international level of competition.

This journey has been intense—long days, grueling training sessions, and plenty of challenges along the way. But his dedication has never wavered. In Tony’s words:

“I never imagined when I started that I’d one day get the chance to compete at a championship like this—let alone travel to another country to do so. Representing my country and my family on the international stage means the world to me.”

Tony trains six days a week, Judo and strength training four days, with conditioning the other two. He’s made sacrifices, missed time with friends and family, and has endured his share of injuries: broken fingers, dislocated shoulders, hyperextended knees, and more. But he keeps pushing.

“From the beginning, this sport has tested me... but I know the reward is worth it. The hardest battles are the ones within yourself and overcoming them is what makes this journey special.”

We are fundraising to cover the costs of travel, accommodation, and competition fees for Tony's participation in the 2025 Pan American Sambo Championships. Your support means everything. We appreciate every donation, big or small — thank you for being part of this journey with us.