Suburban athletes win medals at Junior karate championships in Argentina

Three students who train at Illinois Shotokan Karate Clubs at suburban Chicago area park districts earned gold, bronze and silver medals at the Junior Panamerican Karate Federation Championships held Aug. 21-27, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Magdalena Zucek, 14, of Libertyville, who trains at the Gurnee and Schaumburg Park districts, brought home a gold medal; Matthew Cihlar, 12, of Clarendon Hills, who trains at the Hoffman Estates, Naperville and Schaumburg park districts won a silver medal; and Ellora Jaggi, 19, of Oak Park, who trains at the Oak Park, Hoffman Estates and Schaumburg park districts, received a bronze medal.

"We are so extremely proud of all of our athletes, and the hard work, sweat and sometimes tears that they put in to competing," said John DiPasquale, founder of Illinois Shotokan Karate Clubs, whose headquarters are in Palatine.

"The relationships we have established with 75 park districts throughout the Chicago area have allowed us to grow karate as a sport, and help young people develop essential life skills relating to commitment and determination to reach goals."

The USA Team placed second overall in medal placement at the Junior PKF Championships.

Illinois Shotokan Karate Clubs sent a total of 12 athletes to Argentina, and DiPasquale said whether or not his students won medals, the experience is something that will stay with them for life.

"To work toward a goal and achieve it is one of the values we instill every day in our students," DiPasquale said. "Twelve of our athletes qualified to go to the championships, and that is an achievement in and of itself that they should all be very proud of."

In 2016, two ISKC students brought home medals from the championships, which were held in Ecuador. Gianna Pelzer, of Naperville, won a gold medal and Madison Malone, of Mount Prospect, received a bronze medal.

Illinois Shotokan Karate Clubs provides karate instruction programs for children and adults at 75 park districts throughout the Chicago area, as well as at their Palatine headquarters. For more information, please visit iskc.com/locations/ or call (800) 458-9797.

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