Morgan Hill was well represented at the 24th Annual United
States Junior Olympic Taekwondo Championships this July. The Junior
Olympic games were held at the Georgia Dome in the heart of
downtown Atlanta over the week of July 4.
Morgan Hill was well represented at the 24th Annual United States Junior Olympic Taekwondo Championships this July.
The Junior Olympic games were held at the Georgia Dome in the heart of downtown Atlanta over the week of July 4.
More than 5,000 kids participated in the event, including eight students from Jeff King’s Martial Arts Academy in Morgan Hill who advanced and competed in the National event.
King’s Academy students Andrew Garcia (10), Erick LeVell (13), Nicole LeVell (16), Travis LeVell (9), Marie Lewis (12), Kari Petersen (13), Michael Quintana (14), and Jonathan Yost (15), who hail from Morgan Hill, San Jose and Gilroy, all competed at the national tourney.
They all trained very hard over six months for the six-day event.
They trained under the direction of Head Instructor, and sixth degree black belt, Jeff King, and Head Junior Olympic coach Jose LeVell.
King also enlisted the help of parent and student coaches Grace LeVell, Dora Quintana and David Quintana.
This event is a pre-qualifier for Olympic-level competition in the sport of Taekwondo.
Competitors can only qualify for the Olympic national team if they are a certified black belt, in the 14-17 year old division, and win a gold medal.
There are only two Taekwondo events represented at the Junior Olympic Championships — forms and sparring.
Nicole LeVell took double golds in forms and sparring in the qualifying division.
Travis LeVell took double silvers in forms and sparring.
Micheal Quintana garnered a silver in his forms division and Marie Lewis won two bronze medals in forms and a sparring.
Erick LeVell also competed in forms and sparring and came away with a bronze medal in his forms division.
For more information about the Academy, call 779-4797.
