Hello Seibukan Team,
The summer's over and its time to start school and start training for next year's AAU Nationals in Ft. Lauderdale. However, its also a good time reflect upon our success this year and what it took to achieve it.
The United States Seibukan Karate Team, 45 athletes total, won a total of 77 medals at the 2008 AAU National Karate Championship in Albany, New York. The Seibukan Team had athletes from 3 different states and ranged in age from 7 years to 52 years old. They won 32 gold medals, 19 silver medals, and 26 bronze medals. The combined efforts of the parents, referees, coaches, and athletes paid off as this was the largest medal count to date by U.S. Seibukan.
A Special thanks to the following Senseis: Rex Everett, Charles Ray, Lisa Cohen, Janet Fraley, Phil Craig, Nikki Veillon, and Jessica Williams who served as referees at the event. Referees have the toughest job and all our Seibukan referee corps earned National Certification.
Special thanks as well to our National Team Coaches: Sensei John Suen, Sensei Abby Flinchum, Sensei Morgan Flinchum, Sensei Dylan Flinchum, Sensei Chris Reed, Barry Phillips, and Nancy Fish. They made sure our athletes had the necessary support to perform at their best. These coaches all came early to take the certification course to be able to help the Team.
I personally would also like to thank Sensei Pat Leonard and Sensei Rick Shafer for assisting in the staging area. Their hard work kept the event on schedule for the entire week!
In addition to the AAU Nationals, we had 4 U.S. Seibukan Team members compete at the Junior Olympics in Detroit, Michigan. Kyle & Chris Docherty, and Nicolette & Marcello Duong brought home a total of 4 medals: 1 gold and 3 bronze.
After the Nationals, the AAU Team Coaches assembled the best black belt athletes to compete at the WKC Junior World Championships in Slovenia. We had 10 athletes earn a spot on the USA Team. Gian Arce, Dylan Flinchum, Gunnar Flinchum, Morgan Flinchum, Emily Lunn, Chris Reed, Barack Stringer, Nicholas Veillon, and Jessica Williams all made the AAU/USA Team by winning medals in the Black Belt division for their age categories.
Congratulations to the 2008 U.S. Seibukan Team for a job well done! Remember all the hard work and sacrifice it took to achieve this year's success. Now we need to look to the future and our next goal. We have 10 athletes who have an opportunity to represent their country in a World Championship. I challenge these athletes to work hard and make the most of this opportunity. Next year, I expect more of our athletes to make the team and get their chance.
Yours in Seibukan,
Dave Roth, floridakarate@hotmail.com
U.S Seibukan Karate Association
Director of Sport Karate
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