Built to win – judo club brings home the gold

A home to students from many disciplines and walks of life, SMU Lyle has strived to be a place where students can grow in their technical expertise alongside opportunities to find community, excel academically and develop their creativity.

This year, we celebrate just one of the many communities that make our University special – the SMU Mustang Martial Arts team – for bringing home the gold in the 2025 Dallas Open and winning big at the National Collegiate Judo Championship, hosted this March in Fresno, California.

The practice of judo finds its origins in traditional Japanese jiu-jitsu, a martial arts practice developed among the samurai. Its roots were protected and refined by prominent educator Jigoro Kano into the modern art form we know today – a sacred expression founded in technique, respect and control. Under Sensei Kano’s leadership, the practice of judo grew, and since its induction into the Olympic Games in 1964, judo has developed into a global discipline represented by more than 200 nations.

Mustang Martial Arts has been a hub for judo instruction at SMU for more than three decades, founded under the enduring leadership of Coach Piotr Chelstowski. His legacy is carried on today by his longtime friend and current faculty advisor, Jim Webb, Lyle’s own clinical professor of mechanical engineering and director of the Master of Science in Manufacturing Leadership and Innovation program, a three-time national judo champion, an eighth-degree black belt in judo, a ninth-degree black belt in jiu-jitsu, and a certified international referee and coach in judo by the U.S. Olympic Committee.

Today, the program is led day to day by coaches Stephanie Davis (SMU ’14), a second-degree black belt, and Jim Riddle, a second-degree black belt in judo and a black belt in jiu-jitsu. Inspired by the team’s growing talent, Davis encouraged their students to step onto the competitive stage – first at the 2025 Dallas Open and then again at the National Collegiate Judo Championship.

“SMU Judo has always been driven by one constant: a genuine passion for judo that continues to ignite students year after year,” Head Coach Stephanie Davis said. “As head coach, my role is to honor that tradition while expanding the program’s structure, visibility and competitive opportunity on a broader scale.”

Their debut at the Dallas Open, Mustang Martial Arts’ first introduction to large-scale competition, was a rousing success. A match can be decided in just seconds – a clean throw onto an opponent’s back, a 20-second pin or a forced submission secures a victory.

Mustang Martial Arts President Ava Noelle Bohn, whose efforts won her gold in the Open and a silver medal in the National Collegiate Judo Championship, said SMU Judo encourages her to be her best self, both in and out of the classroom: “While it may be an individual sport, our judo team has pushed me to be better – the opportunity to train with my teammates has allowed me to further my love of learning and grow in my adaptability.”

And for computer science student Rahim Latreche, the impact of judo at SMU has been both a refuge and a hub for growth: “It became a weekly anchor for me, a place to learn, reset and push myself alongside people who will support one another. In the long term, it has taught me habits I know I will carry throughout my life: resilience, respect and the importance of consistent effort.”

Across Mustang Martial Arts, the experience is defined by a talented team of students with a shared commitment to growth, both in competition and in the classroom. SMU Lyle strives to build not just students and scholars, but teammates, competitors and creators with a passion for driving impact wherever they may find it.

Please join us in celebrating the students of Mustang Martial Arts, whose discipline, creativity and strength continue to carry the spirit of Lyle beyond the classroom:

Dallas Open Judo Championship (November 22, 2025): Dallas, Texas

Ava Noelle Bohn (Dedman) – gold medal
Amroo Tatari (Lyle) – 13th place
Rahim Latreche (Lyle) – seventh place
Jaryd Domine (Dedman) – fourth place

National Collegiate Judo Championships (March 28–29, 2026): Fresno, California

Ava Noelle Bohn (Dedman) – silver medal
Amroo Tatari (Lyle) – bronze medal
Rahim Latreche (Lyle) – fifth place
Jaryd Domine (Dedman) – 12th place

If the opportunity to engage in competition inspires you, we invite you to explore the growing student community of Mustang Martial Arts, which offers courses from judo to Brazilian jiu-jitsu and striking. Visit the website for more details. 

About the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering

SMU’s Lyle School of Engineering thrives on innovation that transcends traditional boundaries. We strongly believe in the power of externally funded, industry-supported research to drive progress and provide exceptional students with valuable industry insights. Our mission is to lead the way in digital transformation within engineering education, all while ensuring that every student graduates as a confident leader. Founded in 1925, SMU Lyle is one of the oldest engineering schools in the Southwest, offering undergraduate and graduate programs, including master’s and doctoral degrees.

About SMU

SMU is the nationally ranked teaching and research university in the dynamic city of Dallas, and a member of the prestigious Atlantic Coast Conference. SMU’s alumni, faculty and more than 12,000 students in eight degree-granting schools demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit as they lead change in their professions, communities and the world.