Fifteen martial artists from Laban martial arts and fitness studio and Ironfist martial arts returned to Thompson and Nelson House with an armload of trophies from the June 6 Kees Taekwondo Tournament at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon.
"All Thompson and Nelson House competitors placed and came home with trophies," said head coach and instructor Chris Bryne, indicating his pride in the performances of his students, who collected 28 trophies at the competition.
Nine first-place finishes were recorded by the Norman martial artists, including a pair each - in board breaking and sparring - by Steven Seela and Jaden Linklater.
"Steven Seela, Jaden Linklater, Jeremy McDonald and Patrick Dumas were top-notch in the board-breaking competition," said Byrne.
McDonald picked up a first place in the board-breaking while Dumas finished second.
Other first-place finishers included Mitch Nicholas in patterns, and Dumas, Kaitlyn Carlson and Richard Tait in sparring.
"Patrick Dumas displayed ultimate perseverance, winning first place in sparring with a torn calf muscle," said his coach. "Mitch Nicholas wowed the crowd with her amazing fan fighting weapon demonstration and her flawless poomse (forms pattern)."
Byrne, McDonald, Nikolas Boychuk, Cheyenne Francois, Matthew Spence and Glendon Pronteau picked up second-place trophies in sparring, while Ticia Pronteau, Arthur Spence and Robbie Spence finished third.
"Glendon Pronteau and Richard Tait surprised their teammates and coach with their effective sparring techniques," Byrne said. "Robbie Spence, white belt with yellow stripe, showed the rest of us what bravery means. With physical impairments, this 16-year-old was pitted against a green belt teen and never backed down."
McDonald also picked up a second in weapons and a third in patterns.
"Jeremy McDonald impressed the judges with his high-flying kicks and nunchuku demonstration," said his coach.
Seela and Carlson were second in patterns.
Third-place finishers included Byrne, Francois, Linklater and Robbie Spence in patterns, as well as Nicholas in weapons.
The taekwondo team sees its next action June 20 at the Manitoba Open in Winnipeg's MTS Centre.
