Webmaster

The National Collegiate Taekwondo Association held the 43rd National Collegiate Taekwondo Championship and 5th National High School Championship at American University on April 7 and 8, 2018. The NCTA president is Dr. Russell Ahn, the tournament host was Richard-Duane Chambers of American University, and the tournament committee chair was Tara Sarathi. The championship was the largest in the history of the NCTA, with over 600 athletes registered.

Dr. Ahn commented, “On behalf of the NCTA, I would like to congratulate the organizing committee, executive staff and the tournament committee for hosting these largest national collegiate championships. I would also like to thank our national referees, athletes and coaches for executing a fair and an excellent Collegiate Championship. We will continue to grow our Championship to be bigger and fairer in future years.”

Added Chambers, “The tournament was a success thanks in great part not only to the American University team but also to the many individuals, schools, and organizations that contributed to running it, including NCTA leaders, volunteer referees and medical staff, and the Eastern Collegiate Taekwondo Conference and Atlantic Collegiate Alliance of Taekwondo.”

The first day of competition on April 7 featured the black belt collegiate poomsae team trials division. The black belt team trials poomsae divisions were contested according the latest FISU format that required contestants to perform both recognized poomsae as well as freestyle poomsae. Winning these poomsae divisions were Kelsey Ha (Evergreen Valley College) in the Female Individual category, Edward Jeong (University of Bridgeport) in the Male Individual Category, Ha and Jeong in the Mixed Pair Category, Cindy Asano (University of California, Berkeley), Ha and Chrixy Lam (University of California, Berkeley) in the Female Team category, and Kody Han (University of California, Berkeley), Jeong and Alex Lee (Stanford University) in the Male Team category.

The black belt collegiate sparring divisions were contested on the second day of competition, April 8. The winners in the female division were Samery Moras (-46 kg, Utah Valley University), Kyra Duong (-49kg, University of California, San Diego), Jordan Dodson (-53kg, Missouri Western State University), Anna Bradjic (-57kg, Adelphi University), Danica Deaton (-62kg, University of Texas, Austin), Vivian Weinman (-67kg, Texas Christian University), Alexis Mize (-73kg, Arizona State University), and Amanda West (+73kg, University of Michigan). The men’s winners were Van Mitchel Bactista (-54kg, Pasadena City College), Isaac Weintraub (-58kg, University of Central Oklahoma), Vincent Meng (-63kg, (University of Dayton), Adan Rivas (-68kg, University of Texas, Austin), Andrew Snow (-74kg, George Mason University), Connor Wilson (-80kg, University of California, Los Angeles), Nathan Putney (-87kg, Northlake College), and Richard Zirkle (+87kg, United States Naval Academy).

Special recognition was given to Alex Lee of Stanford University, who earned Freshman of the year, Anna Bradjic of Adelphi University, who earned Female Athlete of the Year, and Edward Jeong of the University of Bridgeport, who earned Male Athlete of the Year. Coach Oren Gautreaux was named Coach of the Year.

Team awards were given based on the total number of gold, silver and bronze medals earned. In the Championship Division (black belts), first place went in a tie to both Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley. Tied for third place in the Championship Division was the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Texas, Austin. In the Combined Division (black belts and color belts), first place was earned by the University of Texas, Austin, with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in second place and a tie between Brown University and University of California, Davis for third place. In the Novice Division (color belts), first place was again earned by the University of Texas, Austin, with Brown University taking second and University of California, Davis in third place.

This year featured increased participation in the high school divisions, with athletes competing for the title of high school national champion. In poomsae the high school champions were Aabia Hasan (Shrewsbury High School) in the individual female division, Mo Re Kim (Westborough High School) in individual male poomsae, and Hasan and Kim in mixed pair poomsae.

Female high school sparring champions included Jada Stowe (-46kg, Old Mill High), Christine Gin (-49kg, Stuyvesant High), Mollie Miller (-52kg, North Stafford High), Jaylin Salter (-55kg, Norwell High), McKenna Wolak (-59kg, C. Milton Wright High), Portia Rowley (-63kg, Watchung Hills High), and Rebecca Adams (+68kg, Isaac Davis Academy). The male high school sparring champions were Tyler Balestracci (-51kg, Norwell High), Christopher Guzman-Lopez (-55kg, Information Technology High), Leonardo Chang (-59kg, Stone Bridge High), Robert Gerhardt (-63kg, Stephen T. Badin High), Robert Mar (-68kg, Arlington Heights High), Matthew Schmidt (-73kg, Farquier High), Carson Freeman (-78kg, Fallston High), and Zachary Conroy (+78kg, North Plainfield High).

For full results, please click here. Press release written by Dan Chuang, NCTA Secretary General.