(JULY 19) Houston's own Marlen Esparza returned home yesterday, July 18th, from Colorado Springs, Colorado with her fifth consecutive  U.S. National Championship---but this time around she moved up in weight from 106 lb. to the new olympic weight class of 112 lb., showing that she is ready to represent Team USA in the 2012 Olympics at 112 lbs.

Marlen's road to her 5th national championship was no easy task competing and beating three national champions on her way including Tyireshia Douglas, Baltimore, MD in the finals by a score of 15-7 and doing all this while still walking around near her former weight class 106 lbs and being clearly one of the smallest in the tournament at 112 lbs.

Marlen will now come home to Houston, Texas,  and take a few days off before getting back in the gym to prepare to get ready to travel to Bridgetown, Barbados, with team USA on September 06, 2010,  for the Women's World Championship.