A 14-year-old Hawaii prodigy takes to the mat in Panama
HONOLULU — You’ll understand if Thomas and Laura Obuhanych don’t exactly squeal every time their daughter Chloe, all doe eyes and shy smiles, plants some larger, stronger girl like a ficus into the mat, or outmaneuvers a more experienced judoka for a winning ippon, or maybe forces some poor unsuspecting young man to submit with a perfectly executed rear naked choke hold.
For the lay observer, watching the champion judo player and nationally ranked wrestler display her abilities to trophy-raising success is jaw-dropping stuff. For the Obuhanyches, it’s another Saturday afternoon in Hawaii. Or Texas. Or — this week — Panama.
Chloe and her Team Hawaii teammates are in Panama City for the Pan American Judo Championships. Chloe will compete in the 15U division starting on Friday.
On the Facebook posts he obligingly composes to keep far-flung family apprised of Chloe’s latest exploits, Thomas devotes much space to expressing thanks for organizers, fellow competitors and their clubs, and Chloe’s coaches and teammates. Of Chloe’s performances, victories are simply “good” days. No fire emojis. No exclamation points. Losses (“not what we had hoped for”) are reported with the same lack of hyperbole, just opportunities for learning and improving.
