GURNEE – A 16-year-old Gurnee resident has secured her spot to compete in the World Judo Championships later this year.

On April 9, Nefeli Papadakis competed in the 2015 USA National Scholastic and Collegiate Judo Championship in Dallas, Tex., and took first place in both the U17 Division and the U21 Division.

Nefeli, who has been competing for about 12 years, earned a spot on the Cadet U17 Judo Team USA with her U17 Division success in Texas. She will now compete in Sarajevo, Bosnia in August.

Taking the top spot in the U21 Division secured Nefeli's spot on the Junior U21 Judo Team USA, so she will additionally compete in the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi in October.

“I love competing,” Nefeli said. “I just have a drive to compete and win.”

Nefeli took an interest in Judo at age four. Her father, a black belt and certified USA Judo coach himself, had been working with her older brother on Judo, but Nefeli would often watch at the gym. Before long, she was able to replicate some of the moves her older brother was doing and took the mat herself.

She has been competing at the national level since 2005 and at the international level since 2010. Her ultimate goal? Earn a spot on the 2020 Olympics team.

To get there, Nefeli knows she must immerse herself in her sport, and she truly enjoys it. She spends at least four hours practicing every day and an additional one hour on strength training.

This is all on top of playing varsity basketball at Warren Township High School, participating in her church’s youth group, helping to train younger students at the gym where she trains and managing honors and AP classes.

“The greatest thing I’ve learned is self-confidence,” Nefeli said, adding that no matter the situation she is in, she knows she can defend herself. And, she’s not intimated by anyone.

To get to these two international competitions, Nefeli will need about $10,000. She currently has a Go Fund Me page to raise funds. She also designed a “Team Nefeli” T-shirt, which she is selling for $15 each. Nefeli is also working this summer, teaching private lessons at Arena Training Center in Waukegan, owned by her father Steve Papadakis.

Although he's a proud father, Steve Papadakis said he didn’t train his daughter to become a champion. He just wanted to introduce her to something other than video games and other activities that have become so popular among children.

“It just so happened Nefeli excelled at the sport,” he said. “… I would be proud of whatever she would be doing. She’s just good at the martial arts.”

For the next several weeks, Nefeli will be on a strict training schedule. For six weeks, she will undergo heavy training and push herself to the limit, even competing against people at other clubs who she isn’t familiar with. Then, she’ll have a two-week break before heading to the international competition.

“I’m planning on winning,” she said.

To donate:

If interested in purchasing a T-shirt, email papadakis5384@comcast.net. Nefeli is also hosting garage sales at her home in the 5300 block of Conifer Lane in Gurnee, June 26-28. Visit www.gofundme.com/8yk96k for more information.