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USANKF of Northern California triple qualifier |
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Friday, 22 May 2009 |
TRIPLE Qualifier in Northern California
USANKF of Northern California triple qualifier held May 3rd, 2009 , which featured the qualifier for the USANKF National Championships in Fort Lauderdale in July 14-19, 2009, a qualifier for the 2009 Disney Martial Arts Festival Traditional Japanese Okinawa Karate and Kobudo Finals at the Milk House at Disney's Wide World of Sports(R)Complex in Orlando, Florida in October 16-18th, 2009, and also the Filipino Martial Arts Qualifier hosted by the US Filipino Martial Arts Federation also to be held in Walt Disney World(R).
It was a great time with over 220 athletes from all over Northern California, and even a few from Washington, Chicago, Southern California who also attended the qualifier.
 We had great Referees with the presence of Sensei Chuck Sweigart current Referee Council for the Federation , and Sensei David Crockett the past Referee Council Chairman for the Federation, Mary Crawford, Jo Pledge, Mike Musto, Lenka Fell, Rassam Taherzadeh, Mari-jo Suzuki, Adam Tibon, Gino Tibon, Ronny Guzmen, Robert Lawrie, Paul Munoz, Eliza Cabanig Balanon, Justin Love, and many many more of our RSO Referees and Judges who did an excellent job managing the event with no injuries and done by 3:30pm with the Crockett and Sweigart Referee Team.
We had Dr. Stephen Lee, David LaVerne, Tess Karsevar, Gidget Boeckholt, a Cardiologist, three nurses, and the City of Stockton Fire Department EMT's assisting with any injuries that may have happened. Our professional team of Medical Staff is one of the finest in the country, they also are part of the National Federation's Medical Team from Northern California. We are very proud of their volunteer work with our RSO in Northern California, and at the Federation's events in Las Vegas and Florida.
We opened the ceremony with America's Finest the United States National Guard's Color Guard lead by one of our athletes father Rupert Espinosa Sr. who brought in his team who all recently returned from the Middle East on tour. After the National Anthem they marched off the floor to the tune of "Kid Rock's American Warrior" and received a standing ovation. Their presence really put the tournament in the mood of national patriotism.
 We also had a special award for Mrs. Gidget Boeckholt in memory of our USANKF of Northern California's past Vice President Sensei Richard Boeckholt who passed away right after the Nationals last year in Houston, Texas. Sensei Boeckholt's is very much missed as we all stood for a moment of silence to the music of "Mariah Carey singing Hero." He will be missed
 We then had a presentation of plaques to the outstanding athletes who represented the United States in International Competition last year. They were Rupert Espinosa Jr., Joane Orbon both took a gold medal in Santiago, Chile for kumite, Joey Paper a bronze medal in Santiago, Ryan Suzuki a member of the USA Team to the North American Cup, and Mina Yamazaki at the FISU University World Championships in Wroclaw, Poland. Mina Yamazaki is attending San Francisco State University and has been training in Northern California and teaching at Okaigan dojo with Sensei Mary Crawford. She also is one of our RSO coaches for our USANKF of Northern California Grassroots Youth Olympic Karate Program "YOKP" the past 6 months and has done a tremendous job with the rest of our Grassroots Coaches working with our Northern California Youth Olympic Karate Program athletes.
The tournament ended on a great note of support and applause as our Registration Team Yvonne Tibon, Liz Lawrie, and Kristine Embry issued RSO checks for a gas travel stipend to each of the Referees, Judges, and Medical Staff for their hard work, and their traveling from out of town.
By,
Gene Tibon
President
USANKF of Northern California
Approved Sports Organization for Karate
a non-profit 501(c)3 public charitable organization
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Last Updated ( Friday, 22 May 2009 )
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