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Taekwondo girls take home gold and silver medals provincial championships

Sooke Taekwondo students Presley Banys and Ella McDonald won gold in poomse, as well as a gold and a bronze in sparring.
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Ella McDonald (left) and Presley Barrys (right) with their medals.

Sooke recently had two students from Sooke’s MIJO Taekwondo compete at the Provincial Taekwondo Championships. Presley Banys (age 7, Green Stripe) and Ella McDonald (age 10, Green Stripe) both won gold in poomse, as well as a gold and a bronze in sparring.

“Both girls performed very well in their respective poomse divisions against competitors from all over BC and both scored very well with judges awarding them with excellent scores of 7’s and 8’s (out of 10),” reported Sensei Michelle Carpenter. “After watching the other competitors and waiting very patiently, they each scored the highest in their divisions and both won gold medals, BC Champions for their age group/belt level.”

After the poomse came the sparring.

“Feeling very proud and accomplished both Ella and Presley competed in sparring in their age divisions,” noted Carpenter, and provided the following sparring summaries.

Presley Banys was up first fighting an opponent who was two belt levels higher than her. She fought very well, maintaining a lead early on in the first round. With solid counter attacks and smart footwork, Presley came out on top with a score of 10-8. This meant another gold medal and second title of BC Champion for her age division in sparring. Presley was elated, and her MIJO Taekwondo instructors are extremely proud of her. She works very hard in training, and loves Taekwondo, these results are a wonderful by-product of her hard work and excellent attitude. This was Presley’s first Taekwondo competition.

Ella McDonald had an opponent who was two belt levels higher than herself, and someone who was a seasoned competitor. Ella went at both rounds with confidence and amazing movement/footwork, she fought hard and listened really well to her coach, Master Michelle Carpenter. The end result favoured the other player, but Ella was still very proud to win a bronze medal. This was her first competition and she learned a lot. Ella is an incredibly hard worker and quick learner in training, with one competition under her belt she’s looking forward to competing again, and Master Michelle is confident she will do well again.

The BC Taekwondo Championships took place on March 1, 2014 at Capilano University in North Vancouver.

Both girls, along with other MIJO Taekwondo Sooke students (and students from MIJO Taekwondo Esquimalt and Oak Bay) plan on attending their next competition in Parksville in early May. These student train with Master Michelle Carpenter of MIJO Taekwondo (MIJO Sport) at Poirier Elementary in Sooke. For inquiries please email mijofitness@gmail.com or register at SEAPARC.