Catherine Tong
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OSU Hosts Record-Breaking MCTC Championship to Kick-off Season
6 months
Columbus, OH – October 25, 2025 – The Midwest Collegiate Taekwondo Conference (MCTC) held its first championship event of the 2025-2026 season, hosted by Ohio State University.
With 230 competitors, this event became the largest contested championship in MCTC history. 16 schools were represented, including familiar region rivals and newcomers to the league.
“There were moments during the day that I forgot this was an MCTC event,” remarked David Lee, MCTC Founder and Vice President of NCTA. “With so many athletes cheering and chanting their collegiate battle cries, it really felt like the NCTA Championship at times.”
MCTC held its first-ever event back in 2015. “I remember it was a challenging prospect, trying to unite a large geographic region for a cause towards collegiate competition, camaraderie, and teamwork,” recalled Coach Lee. “Now, 10 years later, through a pandemic and a reboot, our league is positioned for continuous growth. I’m really grateful to President Dan Chuang and NCTA for believing in our mission and providing support to make sure we can provide the best collegiate experience for all teams.”
The competition was as energetic and fierce as it’s ever been. Teams continued to embrace 3v3 Poomsae and Sparring formats as they vied for Division I, Division II, and Division III trophies.
“These titles mean so much to these teams,” explained Coach Lee. “Not only are they emblems for their hard work and competitive spirit, a lot of our teams rely on local competitions like MCTC to fill their schedule and secure benefits for their teams like publicity, recruiting, and even funding.”
This is just the beginning for MCTC’s season. Officials are already hard at work planning a second competition in the spring semester of 2026 (location TBD). Points earned from this fall event will carry over to the spring event to decide the Ultimate Regional Champion for the 2025-2026 season. There are even talks to hold a few local events and training camps in the Rocky Mountain and western regions of the Midwest.
“We can’t wait to keep iterating and improving on all aspects of our league. I’m personally excited for the spring event to be our best tournament yet,” Coach Lee added.
Follow @mctc.tkd on Instagram to stay up to date
Email info@mctctkd.com for any questions about future events
Tournament Results
Overall Standings
Division I
First Place: Ohio State University
Second Place: University of Colorado Boulder
Third Place: University of Michigan
Division II
First Place: Washington University
Second Place: Purdue University
Third Place: University of Wisconsin Madison
Division III
First Place: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Second Place: Northwestern University
Third Place: University of Chicago
Fourth Place and below:
Miami University OH
University of Minnesota
Michigan State University
University of Pittsburgh
University of Cincinnati
Cornell University
Kent State University
Poomsae
Poomsae A League
First Place: University of Colorado Boulder PA1
Second Place: University of Michigan PA1
Third Place: Michigan State University PA1
Third Place: Purdue University PA1
Poomsae B League
First Place: University of Colorado Boulder PB1
Second Place: Ohio State University PB2
Third Place: Ohio State University PB1
Third Place: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign PB1
Poomsae C League
First Place: Ohio State University PC1
Second Place: University of Colorado Boulder PC1
Third Place: University of Chicago PC1
Third Place: Michigan State University PC1
Sparring
Sparring Women’s A League
First Place: Washington University Women’s A1
Second Place: Ohio State University Women’s A1
Third Place: MCTC Free Agent Team Women’s A1
Third Place: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Women’s A1
Sparring Women’s B League
First Place: University of Colorado Boulder Women’s B1
Second Place: Ohio State University Women’s B1
Third Place: Miami University OH Women’s B1
Third Place: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Women’s B2
Sparring Women’s C League
First Place: University of Colorado Boulder Women’s C1
Second Place: University of Michigan Women’s C1
Third Place: Purdue University Women’s C1
Third Place: Northwestern University Women’s C1
Sparring Men’s A League
First Place: DNP
Second Place: DNP
Third Place: TIE
Ohio State University Men’s A1
University of Chicago Men’s A1
Ohio State University Men’s A2
University of Michigan Men’s A2
Sparring Men’s B League
First Place: Ohio State University Men’s B2
Second Place: Ohio State University Men’s B1
Third Place: Northwestern University Men’s B1
Third Place: University of Wisconsin Madison Men’s B1
Sparring Men’s C League
First Place: DNP
Second Place: TIE – University of Chicago Men’s C1 and Miami University OH Men’s C1
Third Place: University of Michigan Men’s C2
Third Place: University of Michigan Men’s C1
UNC Hosts Record-Breaking ACATA Tournament as NCTA Regional Leagues Continue to Thrive
6 months
Chapel Hill, NC — October 11, 2025 — The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill hosted the 2025 Atlantic Coast Alliance of Taekwondo Associations (ACATA) Tournament, welcoming 109 competitors from universities across the Mid-Atlantic. The event marked the largest UNC tournament in ACATA history and showcased the growing strength, camaraderie, and sportsmanship that define collegiate Taekwondo in the region.
The success of the UNC event reflects a broader momentum building across the ACATA league, which serves as the Mid-Atlantic region’s home within the National Collegiate Taekwondo Association (NCTA) Regional League Initiative. Through ACATA, student-athletes from universities across Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, and beyond come together in a competitive yet collaborative environment that strengthens the entire collegiate Taekwondo community.
“The regional league initiative has been fantastic for our league,” said Casey Denham, ACATA President. “Not only are our competitions larger, but all of our competitors are growing from the increased competition.”
The NCTA Regional League Initiative, now in its second year, connects collegiate teams nationwide—including the Eastern Collegiate Taekwondo Conference (ECTC), Midwestern Collegiate Taekwondo Conference (MCTC), Southern Collegiate Taekwondo Conference (SCTC), Northwest Collegiate Taekwondo Conference (NWCTC), PacWest Collegiate Taekwondo Conference (PacWest), and ACATA—to expand opportunities for athletes to represent their schools and qualify for the NCTA Cup Championships each spring.
“Going into the second year of the NCTA Regional League Initiative, I am so pleased to see the most opportunities ever for collegiate athletes to participate and represent their schools in competition in their regions,” said Dan Chuang, NCTA President. “Thank you to the hard work of our regional directors, as well as to Tournament Committee Chair Tara Sarathi for their hard work to make these events a reality.”
Chuang also reflected on the continued success of the NCTA Cup, which debuted last season as the culmination of the collegiate Taekwondo year.
“The historic NCTA Cup was a resounding success, with head-to-head 3v3 poomsae and sparring formats bringing an electric atmosphere as athletes gave their all on behalf of their teammates and schools to reach the podium, and schools from the full breadth of the country represented,” said Chuang. “I am looking forward to seeing this event grow year over year and become a destination for teams at the end of a long season.”
The Chapel Hill tournament brought together athletes from UNC, Liberty University, Virginia Tech, UMBC, UVA, Georgia Tech, Drexel, and NC State, with many programs meeting on the mats for the first time this season. The event marked Drexel University and NC State’s first-ever ACATA appearances, reflecting the league’s continued growth across the Mid-Atlantic.
“It was great to have our largest UNC tournament ever, with 109 competitors and welcoming students from Drexel and NC State for the first time,” Denham added. “The energy throughout the day was incredible, and it’s inspiring to see how collegiate Taekwondo continues to grow across the region.”
From the first poomsae rounds to the final sparring matches, the atmosphere was filled with excitement and mutual respect as teams cheered each other on. The tournament underscored the values of teamwork, sportsmanship, and competitive excellence that define ACATA’s role in the NCTA framework.
Tournament Results
Poomsae
Men’s White/Yellow
🥇 Eric Chen (UNC)
🥈 Ricardo Huezo (Liberty University)
🥉 Nathan Norton (Liberty University), Christian Caldwell (Liberty University)
Men’s Green/Orange
🥇 Matthew Yun (UNC)
🥈 Christian DeVicent (Liberty University)
🥉 Krish Uppal (UMBC), Vidur Shah (UNC)
Men’s Blue/Purple
🥇 Arya Venkatesan (UNC)
🥈 Brian Tse (UMBC)
Men’s Red
🥇 Colin Franco (UNC)
🥈 Nathan Butler (UNC)
🥉 Paul Bearchell (Liberty University), Praise Apanisile (UNC)
Men’s Black
🥇 David Kim (UVA)
🥈 Krish Parimi (UNC)
🥉 Jaden Jo (UVA), Samuel Kim (UVA)
Women’s White/Yellow
🥇 Katrina McMillen (Liberty University)
🥈 Sofiia Khalik (UNC)
🥉 Adrijaa Paul (UNC)
Women’s Green/Orange
🥇 Emily Cumaco (UMBC)
🥈 Dagan Newsome (UNC)
🥉 Sarah Hoell (Liberty University), Clara Mellows (UNC)
Women’s Blue/Purple
🥇 Emily Sloane (Liberty University)
🥈 Khara Pastean (Liberty University)
🥉 Eunji Lee (UNC)
Women’s Red
🥇 Alexis Goetz (UMBC)
🥈 Zoe Anderson (UNC)
🥉 Rachel Moody (UNC), Marynna McLean (UNC)
Women’s Black
🥇 Anika Tsutsumi (Virginia Tech)
🥈 Astrid De Guzman (Georgia Tech)
🥉 Hanah You (UMBC), Emma Davis (Drexel)
Sparring
Beginner Men’s Light
🥇 Nicholas Schmitz (UMBC)
🥈 Matthew Knowles (Liberty University)
🥉 Krish Uppal (UMBC), Eric Chen (UNC)
Beginner Men’s Middle
🥇 Light Oyediran (UMBC)
🥈 Ricardo Huezo (Liberty University)
🥉 Nathan Norton (Liberty University), Christian Caldwell (Liberty University)
Beginner Men’s Heavy
🥇 James Agbam (UMBC)
🥈 Christian DeVicent (Liberty University)
Beginner Women’s Light
🥇 Katrina McMillen (Liberty University)
🥈 Dagan Newsome (UNC)
🥉 Samhitha Sridhar (UNC)
Beginner Women’s Heavy
🥇 Clara Mellows (UNC)
🥈 Sarah Hoell (Liberty University)
Intermediate Men’s Light
🥇 Nathan Butler (UNC)
🥈 Brian Tse (UMBC)
Intermediate Men’s Middle
🥇 Colin Franco (UNC)
🥈 Praise Apanisile (UNC)
🥉 Nathan Le (UMBC), Aarya Paduru (UNC)
Intermediate Men’s Heavy
🥇 Paul Bearchell (Liberty University)
Intermediate Women’s Light
🥇 Zoe Anderson (UNC)
Intermediate Women’s Middle
🥇 Khara Pastean (Liberty University)
🥈 Marynna McLean (UNC)
🥉 Emily Sloane (Liberty University), Rachel Moody (UNC)
Elite Men’s Light
🥇 Daniel Yoon (UNC)
🥈 Codrin Rau (Georgia Tech)
🥉 Yoonseo Myung (UVA), Hans Gagan (Virginia Tech)
Elite Men’s Middle
🥇 Dave-Manuel Djachechi (UMBC)
🥈 Jaden Jo (UVA)
🥉 David Kim (UVA), Samuel Kim (UVA)
Elite Men’s Heavy
🥇 Abou Sow (UMBC)
🥈 Mason Mines (UNC)
🥉 Joseph Kim (Liberty University), James Kang (Virginia Tech)
Elite Women’s Light
🥇 Evelyn Gazzola (Virginia Tech)
Elite Women’s Middle (standings corrected Nov. 12, 2025)
🥇 Elizabeth Nitz (NC State)
🥈 Kaitlyn Hansen (UNC)
🥉 Ash Jeong (Virginia Tech), Ruth Cho (Virginia Tech)
Elite Women’s Heavy
🥇 Maia Paulitz (UVA)
🥈 Habiba Morsy (UVA)
🥉 Julia Eesley (Liberty University), Katherine Halick (Virginia Tech)
The next ACATA event will take place at the University of Pennsylvania on Saturday, November 15, 2025, featuring a 3v3 team competition format. Teams across the Mid-Atlantic are already preparing for another exciting display of collegiate Taekwondo as the NCTA Regional League season continues.
