From July 2 to 4, the US Junior National Team took its game south to Padel House Galicia in Pereira, Colombia, for the second stop of the 2026 Pan American Junior Circuit. Eight American juniors, four pairs, stepped onto the court against some of the region’s toughest young talent, and what they brought back wasn’t just match experience. It was proof of the fight that defines this program.
Velasco Franco & Castro Varela Showed What Matters Most
No story from Pereira captures the spirit of this team better than Camilo Velasco Franco and Santi Castro Varela in the U18 category. After a challenging start to their group stage, the American duo didn’t fold; they answered. Once the playoff matches started, Velasco Franco and Castro Varela caught fire, reeling off three straight wins through the quarterfinal, semifinal, and all the way to a final-round victory, claiming 9th place overall. That’s the kind of composure and late tournament surge, coaches dream about: a pair that trusted their game, stayed sharp under pressure, and finished the event exactly the way every athlete wants to, on top.
Alejo Kalil, Emiliano González, Matias Vazquez, Niko Palacios, Matthew Toro, and Santi Costantini all competed hard for the USA and gained valuable international experience.
The Bigger Picture
Pereira was never going to be the finish line; it’s a checkpoint. The Pan American Junior Circuit opened in Paraguay back in April, continued in Colombia this month, and now heads to Mexico for the third stop, August 6 to 8, before the season concludes at the finals in San Diego this October at TAKTIKA Padel. Every match in Pereira, win or loss, is part of the process that prepares these athletes to compete for a spot at that final stop on home soil.
Team Delegate Paloma Varela and the coaching staff continue to build a program defined by resilience, and Colombia showed exactly that. This team doesn’t just compete; it fights back, adjusts, and finishes strong. That’s the standard for the US Junior National Team heading into Mexico.
Keep an eye out as our juniors continue their push toward the San Diego Finals this October.