Christina Thomas (Los Angeles, Calif.) fought for the bronze medal in the women’s 48 kg class, falling to Farias Ana Luiza of Brazil. She finished her day of competition 0-3, but showed poise and strength in losing to the eventual gold and silver medalists.

“In the first fight, I thought she did well for the first two minutes,” Head Coach Raul Tamayo said of Thomas. “She hung in there as long as she could.”

Three more members of the American team will follow suit today in quest of qualifying slots to the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games. Scott Jones (Little Rock, Ark.), Scott Moore (Denver, Colo.) and Jordan Mouton (Colorado Springs, Colo.) have their minds and bodies set for the strenuous competition to come.

Moore, a three-time Paralympic medalist (gold, 2000 Sydney Games; bronze, 2004 Athens Games; bronze, 1996 Atlanta Games), is motivated to qualify for a fourth. He will battle in the men’s 73 kg class, hoping to use his wisdom on the mat to a golden victory.

“Scott Moore is a veteran and he’s been training hard,” Tamayo said. “He’s got experience behind his belt.”

Jones also has some judo seniority – he was a member of the 2004 Paralympic team in Athens – that could drive his way to the top of his men’s 81 kg class. He recently moved down from 90 kg after recovering from knee surgery earlier this year.

Although Mouton is still new to the intensity of international competition, she has the might and the athleticism to make a run at a women’s 63 kg class medal. She is moving up from her usual 57 kg class for a chance to compete at the Parapan Am Games.

“It’s good for her to come out here and get this exposure,” Tamayo said. “She’s going to have some tough matches.”

The challenging competition will continue for the U.S. team on Saturday, when Greg DeWall (Chico, Calif.), Lisa Maria Martinez (Union City, N.J.) and Myles Porter (Colorado Springs) put on their gees.

Porter will face arguably the most difficult men’s competition in Rio when he clashes with 100 kg opponents. Martinez is one of three players in the women’s 70 kg class, assuring her of at least a bronze medal.

DeWall is a men’s heavyweight class competitor improving on the mat at a furious rate. He qualified for Beijing by earning fifth place at the World Championships earlier this month in Sao Paulo, and is ready to continue that success in Rio.

“Greg is just starting to come along with competing at an international level,” Tamayo said. “I think he’s going to surprise a lot of people.”