Naples, Italy – (July 6, 2019) The USA Taekwondo Team, consisting of 18 athletes and 10 staff have arrived at the 30th Summer World Universiade to battle it out with the world’s best collegiate athletes.

Representing USA Team in poomsae are Adalis “AJ” Munoz (University of Texas, Arlington), Christy Quintanilla (Johns Hopkins University), and Titania Thao (Gustavus Adolphus College). Munoz will represent in individual poomsae, and the three female athletes will represent in female team poomsae. The male poomsae athletes selected are Kody Han (Foothill College), Edward Jeong (University of Bridgeport), and Sean Wallace (Santa Clara University). Similarly, Jeong will represent in individual poomsae, and the three male athletes will represent in team poomsae.

12 athletes will represent in female sparring. The female sparring athletes are Lizette Salas (-49kg, California State University, Northridge), Logan Weber (-53kg, Johnson County Community College), Starla Santana (-57kg, Miami Dade Community College), Amanda Bluford (-62kg, De Vry University), Cheyenne Lewis (-67kg, University of California, Berkeley), and Makayla Gorka (-73kg, University of Central Oklahoma).

Representing in the male sparring divisions are Alejandro Bravo (-58kg, Miami Dade Community College), George El-Chemali (-63kg, University of Southern California), Charles Buset (-68kg, American Military University), Matthew Klein (-74kg, University of Dayton), Connor Wilson (-80kg, University of California, Los Angeles) and Abdul Rahman (-87kg, College of Southern Maryland).

Competition begins tomorrow with the male and female individual poomsae divisions, when Jeong and Munoz will take the mat to open the competition for USA Team. These are the third Games for Jeong and second Games for Munoz. Both are defending medalists from the 2017 World University Games with Jeong having earned a silver medal and Munoz a bronze medal at those games in individual poomsae.

Supporting the athletes are NCTA President and Head of Team, Dan Chuang (Cambridge, MA), Director, Sung C. Kim (Rochester, NY), Manager, Justin Faiferlick (Fort Dodge, Iowa), Doctor, Sherri Lashomb (Buffalo, NY), Head Poomsae Coach, Huy Nguyen (San Jose, CA), Poomsae Coach, Haksung Kim (Irvine, CA), Head Sparring Coach, Richard Lee (Los Angeles, CA), Sparring Coach, Dongyoung Kim (Newark, CA), Sparring Coach, Toby Oliver (Fort Myers, FL) and Sparring Coach, Adrian Zambrano (Sylmar, CA).

Said President Chuang, “I’m very pleased with the selflessness and team chemistry displayed by all of the athletes at the start of this trip. The athletes have been training hard and seem relaxed, focused and ready going into the start of the competition. I’m also very grateful for the hard works and efforts of all of the staff and organizing committee to realize this trip!”

Team