Sunday, July 17, 2022

National Champ and Gotcha Day

 Tracy and Billy spent a FULL week in Vegas cheering on the team and working their butts of at TKD nationals (Tracy with mom stuff and Billy as an athlete)

TKD rules say that you have to compete in the age group that you'll be on 12/31 so...this was Billy's 1st year as a 18-33yo, he is going to be in this bracket for a VERY long time.  

Billy KILLED it! Despite being the youngest and smallest

Day 1 - 6:30am flight with other insane TKE families - LOTS of waiting in line to board, get registered (the system when down twice) and then ge into the hotel room. Luckily Master Ruby had a room and we all hung out there.  Busy day but did the needful.

Day 2 - Sports Pomsea - this is scored like gymnastics.  They start at 10 and deduct points. Billy did pretty good but there were 30 people in this bracket and he did not make it to the next round. Thats OK!   It was also his Gotcha Day so we all sang to him:)

Day 3 - now things are getting real. Got the tournament at 8am and Billy was one of the last to compete at 9:45pm. Yep ALL .... Day.... He did Olympic Pomsea and Open Pomsea and won bronze in each. He also took 1st in weapons - upholding his title from last year. We were all going crazy!  A gold medal at nationals as an adult. Too crazy!

Dat 4 - No one on the team competed so it was a free day. Sleeping in. Hunger Games, Vegas sign. Dancing Fountains and the HUGE ferris wheel. Needless to say, Billy did all this with friends and 1 other mom, Tracy was in the hotel room, working.

Day 5 - Tyler and Tyra sparred and were beyond amazing! They both took "true" 3rd (ie: they were beat by the 1st place winner) and now get a chance to compete for the national team at team trails in 2 weeks. SO SO SO exciting.

Day 6 - Master Corwin, Master Franklin and Billy competed.  Despite a major panic attack and extra $40 (they added a lower weight class that we didnt know about until AFTER he weighed in so there was a lot of begging and bribing to get him into the right weight class < 119lb).  He was definitely the smallest and youngest person there and he really held his own.  Master F took 2nd and Master C took 1st, securing her spot on the national team.

MN Star BROUGH IT! its a small but mighty team.

They also had so much fun, swimming, good food, video games, science tv shows, they truly made the best of the whole hot week.

Love you to the moon and back Billy. So proud of you!  You are kind, determined, committed, happy and so very zen.  You know what you want and work hard. You are gracious when you win and lose. You are the #1 supporter of your team mate and friends. 

XOXOX - Mom and Dad

(not to mention, he got home and was asked to join the select team on Friday for a rugby tournament in Green Bay - Sue got to watch!)



Master Ruby - bronze!

Hunger Games

Gold in weapons!

Don't mess with our team!

Master C and Master F- GOLD for Master C 

Billy's sport pomsea score

Bucca di Beppa



Ironing his uniforms

Gotcha!

Goofballs

Gold! He shook everyones hand and told them how well they did

Working out at the pool

Team trials here we come! 

Love this team!

Day after gold

Getting checked in

Hangin' before heading out

Masters



Getting ready to compete and repress! 

Bronze

Pool time

Medal winners 



More medals

go team! 

Souvenir from sparring 

Pool time and pizza party