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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1995-05-24, Page 17£PORTh Sal Vlsouvath demonstrates a flying Sidekick reverse punch over Jo Dee Grasdahl doing the splits underneath. Local Tae Kwon Do black belts try -out -for Nationals Chris Skalkos T -A staff EXETER - An Exeter Tae Kwon Do instructor and one of his pupils will be competing in the Canadian National Tae Kwon Do Trials in Halifax Nova Scotia this weekend. Sai Visouvath and Jo Dee Gras- dahl will step into the ring with some of the best martial art com- petitors across Canada for three two minute rounds of full contact sparring. If they make the National Team, they may be representing Canada in international Tae Kwon Do com- petitions such as the Pan Am Games, the world Championships, the Asian Games and the Olympics. Win or lose, Visouvath and Gras- dahl's presence at the National Trials will put Exeter on the map. Over 600 Tae Kwon Do blackbelts will be fighting for a total of six- teen division championships at the event which will he broadcast on TSN. Visouvath is the head instructor of Precious Blood school of Tae Kwon Do and Grasdahl is a student of South Huron District High School. Both are first degree blackbelts and seasoned sparring veterans. Together, they have been training extensively for the Na- tional Trials, averaging two to four hour workouts five or six days a week. Grasdahl, who is only 16 years old, will be one of the youngest competitors at the Nationals. She has already earned a blackbelt in Karate before taking up Tae Kwon Do but she said it took some effort to adjust to the changes between the two styles. "Karate uses a point system for their tournaments but Tae Kwon Do is full contact. It's more tech- nical with more kicking," she said. Grasdahl will be going into the Nationals with a personal vendetta. She will be fighting the girl she lost to at the Provincial Tournament, Ja- mie Kitchell who is five times Ca- nadian Womens Tae Kwon Do Champion. The last time these two met Gras- dahl lost by a slim margin, and she's looking forward to the re- match. SIo-pitch 95 Team Murphy's Gar's Bar Ellison Travel Inndians Big V RSD ETR Sluggers Knighthawks Strike Force Bar Flies Huron Park Exeter M This Weefc's Scores - May 15 Murphys 26 vs. RSD 8 Ellison Travel 10 vs. Strike Force 4 Big V 10 vs. Mudhens 12 Bar Flies 3 vs. Inndians 24 May 17 Huron Park 4 vs. Knighthawk 17 ETR Sluggers 29 vs. Big V 10 Inndians 4 vs. Murphys 5 RSD 13 vs. Ellison Travel 14 Standings as of May 17 W 3 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 0 0 L 0 0 2 2 2 2 2 3 F 62 32 33 50 59 55. 42 22 43 5 A 14 23 36 21 56 59 30 23 44 55 16 60 Pts. 6 4 4 4 4 4 2 2 2 0 0 Exeter Squirt 11 May 18 Exeter (II) 5 vs. Grand Bend (1) 0 Gook: Greg Thompson (3). Corey Bilcke (2) Assists: Sean Ellison (2), Justin Bender, Bilcke Next game: May 25, Exeter II vs. Exeter IV Exeter 111 Squirt 1 May 18 Exeter (111) 2 vs. Naim (1) 0 Goat: Ryan Campbell (2) Assists: Christopher Hem, Carissa Dcsjar- dine. Adam Case. Nathan Cann Next game: May 25 in Grand Bend (WM)No to May 17 Exeter 2 at Delko Bridge Lightning 3 Goats: Heather Morgan, Aimee McCann Next game: May 24 at Exeter Public School. 7:00 p.m. [Exeter (Wet)Wild, May 17 Exeter 3 at Glencoe Cyclones 0 Goals: Kristin Strang (penalty shot), Heather Davies, Kim Farquhar Next game: May 24 at Nabisco #2, Exeter Exeter (WM) EiNat May 17 Delaware Blizzard 0 at Exeter 1 Goal: Jenalyn Baker Assist: Lisa Hakvoott Play of the game: Goal by Baker Nast game: May 24 in Lambeth 4 Visouvath said his division, the flyweights, is one of the toughest. Contenders at this relatively light weight are moving "really fast." It's a round-robin tournament style, and the winner of the event would face a minimum of seven fights to earn a championship. Tae Kwon Do will be a dem- onstration sport for the Olympics next year and it is the only martial art to be classified as an official Olympic sport for the year 2000 Olympics set for Australia. Since the International Olympic Games Committee recognized Tae Kwon Do as an official sport, Vi- souvath said its popularity has in- creased attracting more contenders to the National Trials which will consequently make the event more competitive this year. Despite the odds, Visouvath is physically and mentally prepared and he is confident he will do well. "My mind is strong. I'm not afraid to get into the ring," he said. "Second or third isn't good enough, the winner goes on, the loser goes home. There's only one survivor." Times -Advocate, May 24, 1995 Page 17 Watson sets record SHDHS student sets record in wheel- chair event with track and field team Chris Skalkos T -A staff LONDON - The SHDHS track and field team travelled to London last week to compete at the W.O.S.S.A. track and field meet at J.W. Little Stadium. The competition pitted the skills of of athletes from five confer- ences including Huron Perth SHDHS students Missy Hayter, Miranda Hayter, Danielle Miners, Christian Stuckless, Brian Hux- table and Dennis McCann com- peted well in the two day meet with some recording personal bests in their events. For senior SHDHS student Josh Watson, the meet was a personal triumph; Watson set the W.O.S.S.A. record for the 1,500 metre wheelchair event improving his time by two minutes. Watson powered his wheelchair 1,500 metres in an incredible 8 Josh Watson competes in with his specially designed highschool track and field meets racing wheelchair. minutes and 53 seconds to win the gold medal. Up until this year he had only competed in 400 me- tre races and found the longer 1,500 metre jaunt more chal- lenging. Using a Parathetic Sprint wheelchair, a very light chair spe- cially designed for track racing, Watson trains to build both strength and stamina but despite the gruelling workouts he still suffers from a little bit of sore- ness after a race. Watson started racing when he was nine but didn't get involved into serious competitions until his first year of high school. When track and field coach, Jeffrey Or- man learned that wheelchair com- petitions were being included in county meets he approached Wat- son about joining the team. Watson didn't have to think twice about the decision. "It's always been my goal to be involved in track. I really enjoy it, it gives me something to train for," said Watson who considers himself an ambassador for wheel- chair racing. Last week he was only up against one other competitor at W.O.S.S.A., but he hopes he will have more competition once more physically challenged people learn about the opportunity to compete in high school track and field. "It started to bother me that I kept beating this guy," said Wat- son about his sole competitor from Seaforth. Because there are no previous records kept Watson's time can't be compared to others and it's hard to predict how long his time will stand before it's broken. Regardless, he would gladly see his record broken if it means bringing in more wheelchair ath- letes. But even if that doesn't hap- pen, Watson admits, "it's nice to be in the record books." Exeter and Area Jr. D Hawks Hockey Club Annual Meeting Wed., May 24 Soutb Huron Rec Centre 7:30 p.m. Everyone wekome Exeter Tennis Club Inc y JE.NNIS REGISTRATION "EARLY BIRD" RATES Before After June 2,'95 June 2 '95 $35. $45. $45. $55. Single Couple Family Student Junior Over 60s $60. $30. $25. $25. $70 $40. $35. $35. Juniors - Monday 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Ladies - Tuesday 8:00 - 10:00 p.m. Men - Thursday 8:00 - 10:00 p.m. Sunday Morning 'drop in (adult) tennis 10 a.m. - noon Registration at RECREATION CENTRE 9:00 - 12:-00; 1:00 - 5:00 Monday - Friday Weekends contact Clay Murray 235-2642 ,63 Comiiteci to satisactioli EXETER CHRYSLER JEEP EAGLE 136 MAIN ST. N. EXETER .... 235-1525 Parts Excellence Award Murray Bennewles EXETER CHRYSLER is proud to have been awarded by Chrysler Canada Ltd. the following awards 1994 Parts Excellence Award For total dedication to customer satisfaction through quality products, professional staff and parts operation excellence. ®UIN•• ParE PARTS Service Excellence Award John Bilcke 1994 ServiCe�xc�ellence For service excellence and dedication to complete customer satisfaction through quality workmanship. *CHRYSLER F1111 SIM IMMO •