Senshi Karate-Do, the only Maryland team at the 2026 USA Karate National Championships, returned from Spokane, Washington, with 16 medals after four days of competition against athletes from across the country.

The Gaithersburg-based squad sent athletes to compete July 16-19 in both kata (forms) and kumite (sparring) across five skill divisions, from Beginner to Elite. Ten athletes medaled.

Dahlia Herron led the haul with two golds, winning both kata and kumite in the 14 Female Intermediate division. Team captain Aiden Abraham cracked the Top 8 nationally in the 14-15 Male Elite -57 kg Kumite division during the Team USA Selection Trials and added a silver in the 13 Male Advanced/Elite Team Kumite event.

Rolando Palma (14 Male Intermediate Kumite), Selene Mejia (14 Female Novice Kumite), and Abigail Velasquez (12 Female Intermediate Kumite) also won gold.

Silver medals went to Delilah Lopez in 15 Female Intermediate Kata and Kumite and to Mia Aviles in 9 Female Beginner Kumite. Bronze medalists included Kylie Neal (15 Female Advanced Kata and Kumite), Kimberly Portillo (13 Female Intermediate Kumite), Gabriela Argote (10 Female Novice Kumite), and additional bronzes for Mejia, Velasquez and Aviles in their respective kata events.

Coach Fabianna Herrera, who leads the program and competes in the women's Elite category, is ranked in the top 16 nationally in the Female 18-34 Elite Kata division, according to the team.

The coaching staff said in a statement published Friday that the results reflect "countless hours of preparation and the tremendous support of our Senshi families."