Buffalo Grove athletes win big at national taekwondo championship
The 2014 USA Taekwondo National Championship concluded this week and Buffalo Grove residents represented the village well in the 3800-athlete competition. Taking place in San Jose California, the White Tiger Martial Arts Center brought 24 students and won a total of 26 medals. "I could not be more happy with my team" stated, Buffalo Grove resident Shik Lee, Head Master and owner of the Wheeling based taekwondo school.
The White Tiger team has been training for nearly a year specifically for this competition and competitors from Buffalo Grove had the largest single showing with fourteen athletes on the team. Participating in three main events poomsae (form), sparring, and board breaking, 10 Buffalo Grove athletes earned 15 medals.
Reilly Allen, gold for poomsae
Dan Allen (Reilly's Father), silver for sparring and bronze in board breaking
Erin Driscoll, gold for poomsae
Dori Lee, gold in board breaking
Haeri Lee, silver for poomsae and bronze in board breaking
Teresa Mao, silver in board breaking
Matthias Park, silver in board breaking
Ricky Thomas, dual gold medals in board breaking and poomsae
Kyle Wemstrom, was a triple medalist with gold in board breaking and dual bronze for sparring and poomsae
Nathan Wemstrom, bronze in board breaking
Under the leadership of Lee, White Tiger athletes from around the area have earned well over a hundred state and national championship medals.