Arlington Hts youth wins at state tae kwon do championship

Sean Matthews (age 9) places in top spot at Illinois state championship recently held in Vernon Hills.

Matthews, a student at Olive Mary Stitt Elementary, in Arlington Heights, took 3rd place for Sparing at the USA Taekwondo (USAT) competition and now qualifies to attend nationals.

USAT is recognized by the United States Olympic Committee as the national governing body for the sport of Tae Kwon Do in the United States. Qualifying at a state level USAT championship is the first step young competitors must achieve to what could lead them to the Junior Olympics.

Matthews has been training at the White Tiger Martial Arts Center located in Wheeling, IL and studies Tae Kwon Do under Head Master Shik Lee. “I am really proud of Sean,” stated Lee. “Winning a medal and placing in a top spot at a USAT state championship takes time, dedication, and practice.” Lee continued, “Sean still get to be a kid and do the things 9-year-olds do, but in addition, Sean has to also remain dedicated to mastering the techniques associated with martial arts and has demonstrated that through this competition.”

Competing in the Illinois State Tae Kwon Do Championship were nearly 700 athletes some traveling to IL from as far as Montana and Ohio.