ZAPOPAN, Jalisco, September 7, 2025. – Evan Cory and Derek Bradford of the United States clinched the gold medal at the seventh stop of the 2025 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour, defeating home favorites José Cardenas and Jorman Osuna of Mexico 2-0 (21-17, 21-19) in a thrilling final at the Conjunto Santander de Artes Escénicas in Zapopan, Jalisco.
This victory marks Cory/Bradford’s first medal together as a team and Bradford’s first-ever NORCECA gold medal. Cory, a seasoned competitor, previously claimed two gold medals in Mexico in 2022 (La Paz and Aguascalientes), as well as a silver and a bronze in the Dominican Republic in 2024.
Speaking after the win, Cory said: “As professional athletes, we work so hard for this moment every time we play, and it doesn’t happen often. So, this is amazing and special. Doing it against a really strong Mexican team and in front of their home crowd was really fun.”
Bradford added: “It’s fantastic. This tournament was amazing. Mexico is a great host, the venue was set up perfectly, and the crowd was incredible.”
For Cardenas and Osuna, the silver medal is their first of the 2025 season after taking gold just last week in Manzanillo. Osuna also won a gold medal from Juan Dolio earlier this year, along with two bronzes from Puerto Cortés and Tamaulipas.
The bronze medal went to Cuba’s Damian Gomez and Eblis Verane, who prevailed over Canada’s Cameron Chadwick and Robert Kemp 2-0 (21-14, 23-21). This is Gomez/Veranes second bronze medal of the season, following their podium finish in Varadero.
In the semifinals USA’s Cory/Bradford beat Cuban Gomez/Veranes 2-0 (21-18, 21-14) and Mexico’s Cardenas/Osuna defeated Chadwick/Kemp (CAN) 2-0 (21-12, 21-13).
Venezuelans Jualiangel Zaid/Esynser Delgado won a three-set battle recovering from losing the first set over Ines Vargas/Carlos Andrés Ayala of Mexico 2-1 (21-23, 21-15, 15-11) to finish in fifth place.
In the battle for seventh place, between two Central American duos, Mora/Lopez of Nicaragua beat Guardado twins of El Salvador in three sets 2-1 (21-17, 20-22, 17-15).
Gannett/Rivest of Canada finished ninth place with a 2-0 victory (21-16, 21-13) against Izaguirre/Maldonado of Guatemala.
Butcher/Enile of Trinidad and Tobago took eleventh place with a know show of Puerto Rico’s Rivera/Rosich due to an injury.
Venezuelan duo Harrison/Hernandez took position thirteen over Encarnacion/Pacheco of Puerto Rico 2-1 (15-21, 23-21, 15-13). Finally, D. Dyner/Varela of Costa Rica finished in position fifteen.
Classification Matches:
C 5/8: Lares/Carlos Andres MEX d Guardado C./Guardado Y. ESA 2-0 (21-13, 22-20); Esyenser/Juliangel VEN d Mora/Lopez NCA 2-0 (21-17, 25-23).
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