AAU-USA TAKES 1ST OVERALL AT GERMAN OPEN

Hamburg, Germany

• 755 competitors
• 47 different nations represented
• 46 AAU-USA athletes from 14 different states

April 7-8 to test their skills at the German Taekwondo Open Championships. Their first team workout was held inside the Sporthalle venue giving them a glimpse of what might lay ahead. Nervous jitters, traveling fatigue and awkwardness of meeting new team members was quickly put on hold to focus on the task at hand - preparing to fight.

Parents buzzed with excitement with hugs and handshakes were exchanged with those they haven’t seen and those they had never met. It was apparent from the beginning that this would be, a special team.

Competition day began with a quick breakfast and a short bus ride to the venue.  It looked different then it did the night before.  Rings were finished, officials were gathering, scoreboards were being powered up and competitors were starting to arrive… Turkey, Great Britian, Croatia, Austria, Spain, Kazakistan… some places they’d never heard of before. We proudly hung our flag to identify us and to claim our space. Throughout the day, there were some wins and some losses, but spirits were good, momentum never failed and athletes gravitated toward each other, cheering and counseling, scouting and critiquing.  We finished the day and tied for 6th place.  With the anticipation of tomorrows Nutella crepes and more competition we called it a day.

“The coaches are extremely proud of how our athletes conducted themselves at the German Open, despite having a short timezone adjustment period. It's amazing that they were able to fight their hearts out against elite athletes from around the world and come out on top in the overall team ranking. Keep it up Team AAU!” said Regional Coach, Thac Nguyen.

Day Two, started like day one with breakfast and a bus ride but the venue was more familiar and smiles were exchanged with some of those competitors from some of those places they had never heard of. Focus was good and friendships were budding. The medal count was high!

As our last fighter finished and parents and team members started looking for the bus, we were told we were in the running for an overall award. So we waited…3rd place announced, 2nd place announced…then us…we had won it…the overall! 

Watching the cheers and high-fives there was a sense of, YES, we had won overall and not just with the team award! 

The day ended with a Team dinner at a cozy neighborhood restaurant and a mad-dog game of miniature ping-pong in the hotel lobby.

Overall Medal Count

• Joshua Brown-Cadet-Silver
• Andru Darden-Cadet-Bronze
• Saniya Carrillo-Cadet-Gold
• Natalie Velazquez-Cadet-Gold
• Makayla Greenwood-Junior-Gold
• Skylar Farrell-Junior-Silver
• Brian Lee-Junior-Gold
• Noah Kim-Junior-Bronze
• Kiana Chai Chong-Junior-Bronze
• Trinitee Stykes-Junior-Bronze
• Kyle Choi-Junior-Bronze
• Aaron Tran-Junior-Bronze
• Cassie Tubbs-Senior-Silver
• Yosvel Perez-Senior- Silver