GROTON, CT – Eight team members of Valley Karate School Tournament Club and their Sensei Steven Smith traveled 2,800 miles from Lewiston to Groton, Connecticut to compete at the National American Championships this past weekend. The students competed and earned 11 Gold Medals, 11 Silver Medals, and 5 Bronze Medals.
Kiyoshi Nishime, a world-renowned weapons expert, was also in attendance teaching a weapons seminar.
The Valley Karate School Tournament club consists of students ranging in age from 5 to 67. They practice Goju-Ryu Karate at Valley Karate School in Lewiston. After training and attending many tournaments throughout the year, the NAC is the grand finale for the LC Valley tournament team.
Valley Karate Tournament Team Results:
Eloise Brown-Hayes 1st Kata Open 2nd Blocker Sparring
Hattie Brown-Hayes 2nd Kata Open 1st Team Continuous Sparring 2nd Full contact fight
Flick Vinyard 2nd Team Sparring 1st Full contact fight
Blake Dobyns 2nd Team Continuous Sparring
Devin Minnugh 2nd Kata Traditional 2nd Continuous Sparring 2nd Team Continuous Sparring
Cameron Sotin 1st Kata Open 1st Team Continuous Sparring 2nd Kata Weapons 3rd Continuous Sparring
Gunner Seekins 3rd Kata Open 3rd Kata Traditional 1st Points Sparring 1st Continuous Sparring 1st Team Continuous Sparring 1st Full contact fight
Chase Seekins 1st Kata Open 1st Team Continuous Sparring 2nd Points Sparring 2nd Grappling
Sensei Steven Smith 3rd Kata Open 3rd Kata Traditional
