Kman’s Martial Arts head coach Kman McEvoy said it was incredible for the nine competitors from the Cromwell and Queenstown clubs, including him, to bring home medals considering for most it was their first time competing at the national level in judo.
Winning a bronze medal in the heavily contested senior boys division was 13-year-old Jacque Pienaar, who had only been training for six months.
Sisters Megan and Emerson Douglas, aged 13 and 10 respectively, also brought home three bronze medals, Megan in the senior girls’ open division and Emerson in the junior girls’ open division.
Anika Takimoana and Matthew Norton both fought bravely in their divisions of young women and senior men and were better for the experience, McEvoy said.
All of the black belt coaches won medals, Felipe Galveira winning gold, Mark Hamilton and Kman McEvoy each taking home silver and Taiga Oshiro winning a bronze.
The club’s small team of lower graded students won medals against more experienced and higher grade competitors at the national level, which was an amazing achievement, McEvoy said.
"I am so proud of them and how they conducted themselves."
— Allied Media
