Diego Esquivel is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover AZ College Prep for AZPreps365.com

Emilio Acedo is an AZ College Prep student who competed for the United States on one of the largest stages in the Western Hemisphere for young athletes.

Acedo competed for the United States in the 2025 Junior Pan American Karate Games in Asunción, Paraguay, in August and advanced to the bronze medal match against Mexico. 

The competition featured more than 4,000 athletes from 41 countries and is among the leading multi-sport events for young athletes in the Americas. Although Acedo came short of winning a medal, he made it clear that the experience reinforced in him the belief that he is among the best.

“It's an honor to represent the USA," Acedo said. "Just knowing that even a small kid like me can go out there on the biggest stage in the world for karate and go out there and be proud to represent the USA.”

The Junior Pan American Games, hosted by Panam Sports, were created to show the emerging stars of the Americas. The 2025 edition marked the second time the Games were held, following their inaugural appearance in Cali, Colombia, in 2021.

For Acedo, the journey to the Pan American stage began when he was 4 years old, when his parents enrolled him in karate classes at a dojo in his neighborhood. A decade later, he trains five or six times a week at the Chandler Martial Arts Center, a program known for developing competitors under the leadership of Chief Instructor Kelley Hutta.

Hutta’s sensei founded the school in 1976, but she’s been part of the dojo’s legacy for more than a decade. Since joining in 2011, she’s carried forward a coaching philosophy rooted in humility and lifelong learning.

“Emilio is one of the most interesting stories in our dojo right now," Hutta said. “He was the smallest, but because he was the smallest, he had to have the better footwork, and for so long, I kept saying, you guys, you need to be watching him.”

While others showed visible emotions during sparring matches, Acedo remained composed, something Hutta said was striking even when he was younger.

“He never had an expression over the win or the loss,” Hutta said. “Whether he got a good point, whether someone scored on him, or whether something cool happened, he was always responding in the most internal way, he was definitely an intrinsically motivated athlete.”

When Acedo earned a spot representing Team USA at the Junior Pan American Games, Hutta said she felt a mix of excitement and relief.

“I had been asking for him to go elite for a few years,” Hutta said. “Then he goes in and just wins in everything.”

Acedo trains at the Chandler Martial Arts Center every day but rests on Sundays. He credits Hutta and teammate Joshua Corbin, whom he describes as a big brother figure, for helping him rehabilitate from injuries and work on techniques in preparation for major tournaments.

Corbin has known Acedo since they were roughly 6 to 10 years old.

“I think we get along so well because we have similar to the same goals with competing and we both have the same humor,” Corbin said. “It makes training and just hanging out fun.”

Corbin was the first in the dojo to go elite and make it on Team USA. He said that seeing Emilio’s journey to becoming the best in the nation gives him a sense of pride.

“I feel with his accomplishments it gives everyone at Chandler Martial Arts Center a new confidence when stepping on the mats,” Corbin said.

Acedo's achievement was celebrated in the community. He said being recognized for a less mainstream sport makes all the hours of practice worthwhile.

"Knowing that I can still get recognition despite being a smaller sport, it's a good feeling," Acedo said. "It makes me feel like my work's paying off."

While Acedo said he hopes to pursue a business career, he plans to keep karate a lifelong passion. 

“It's definitely something that I would love to do on the side and continue training,” he said. “It’s really good for mentality and just helping me feel ready for the real world.”