BROOKINGS – Brookings TaeKwonDo hosted its ninth annual Brookings TaeKwonDo Open Championship Tournament on April 23. Organizers report the tournament was an amazing success. Over 650 spectators came to cheer on in excess of 270 competitors from 25 midwest schools, some as far as from Illinois and Wisconsin, who came to Brookings to compete.

The tournament had competition ranging from beginner athletes to World Class Black Belts including National Team athletes. There were three featured events: Traditional Forms or Patterns Division, Weapons Division, and Sport Sparring Division.

Divisions were bracketed by age and weight with Beginner, Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, and Black Belt levels. This was a great turnout despite having a two-year hiatus due to the COVID pandemic. The entire event showcased tremendous talent and incredible sportsmanship.

The Brookings TaeKwonDo Open Championship was hosted by Master Mark and Kelli Anawski of Brookings TaeKwonDo. 

Brookings TaeKwonDo athletes faired very well given the wonderful level of competition that arrived:

• Aira Amiotte took silver in Forms. 

• Alex Langbehn took silver in Forms. 

• Amanda Ownes took bronze in Forms.

• Aryana Nelson took bronze in Forms.

• Axel Trias took fourth place in Forms.

• Bentley DeVries took gold in Forms. 

• Blythe Jones took bronze in Sport Sparring and fourth place in Forms.

• Carley Hagedorn took gold in Sport Sparring, and silver in Forms. 

• Carter Johnson took gold in Forms. 

• Carter Knutson took fourth place in Forms.

• Cassie Reese took silver in Sport Sparring, bronze in Weapons, and gold in Forms.

• Chloe Heermann took bronze in Forms. 

• Clare Overby took gold in Forms. 

• Clayton Willis took fourth place in Forms. 

• Colby Frahm took bronze in Sport Sparring.

• Colton Brown took bronze in Weapons and gold in Forms. 

• Christopher Prussman took fourth place in Forms. 

• Dana Nelson took fourth place in Forms.  

• David Owens took fourth place in Forms and Bronze in Weapons.

• David Lefdal took fifth place in Forms. 

• Drake Nuttbrock took silver in Forms.

• Dorian Kaufman took gold in Forms. 

• Eli Amiotte took fourth place in Forms. 

• Emily Hagedorn took bronze in Sport Sparring, and bilver in Forms. 

• Hailey Hagedorn took bronze in Sport Sparring.

• Harper Schwarz took silver in Sport Sparring, and bronze in Forms. 

• Hunter Mellon took silver in Forms. 

• Iver Lefdal took bronze in Weapons and bronze in Forms. 

• Garrett VanderWal took silver in Weapons and silver in Forms. 

• Grace took fourth place in Forms. 

• Jacob Lee took silver in Weapons. 

• Jackson Jeppsen took bronze in Forms.

• James Dahl took gold in Forms.

• Jasmine Anawski took gold in Forms.

• Jeff Ladegaard took gold in Forms. 

• Johnathan Scheff took fourth place in Forms. 

• Joseph Walker took silver in Forms.

• Josiah Miles took silver in Sport Sparring, and silver in Forms.

• Kain Ladegaard took bronze in Sport Sparring and gold in Forms.

• Katie Bortnem took fourth place in Sport Sparring, silver in Weapons, and silver in Forms. 

• Kiley Brown took bronze in Forms. 

• Kingston Kilber took fourth place in Forms.

• Ladd Nelson took bronze in Forms. 

• Laurissa Thomas took gold in Sport Sparring and fourth place in Forms. 

• Liam Jones took fourth place in Weapons and bronze in Forms.

• Liam McCausland took bronze in Sport Sparring and gold in Forms. 

• Mardie Ownes took silver in Forms.

• Monty Trias took fourth place in Forms.

• Miles Jeppesen-Halstead took fourth place in Forms. 

• Nolan Owens took bronze in Forms. 

• Quintin Amiotte took bronze in Forms.

• Rebella Raatz took home a “clean sweep” placing gold in Sport Sparring, gold in Weapons and gold in Forms. 

• Riham Hussien took gold in Forms. 

• Sawyer Yackley took bronze in Forms. 

• Sabastian Bui took gold in Sport Sparring, and Silver in Forms.

• Sierra Brown took fourth place in Forms.

• Stephen Anawski took fourth place in Sport Sparring, and fourth place in Forms. 

• Stephanie Lefdal took silver in Forms.

• Tagg Nelson took bronze in Forms. 

• Taylie Nelson took fourth place in Forms. 

• Trestin Johnson took silver in two different Sport Sparring Divisions, silver in Weapons and gold in Forms.

• Yanto Garmantez took bronze in Sport Sparring, and bronze in Forms.

• Zachary Scheff took fourth place in Forms.