The 2016 season went so well for Chris Welbon Karate Clubs' competitive team, few thought the then-record mark of 235 medals would fall. Head coach Brian Warren was in that group, he said Monday night, until this year happened.
After a strong performance at the AAU Karate National Championships at the end of June, the Plant City club learned it beat the old record by almost 100 medals in Fort Lauderdale.
The total of 33 won at AAU Nationals brought the final 2018 count up to 332, an accomplishment the team celebrated Monday night in the Mobley Street dojo. Six gold, 16 silver and 11 bronze medals came home with the CWKC team and, in a moment of "girl power," four girls won six national championships in sparring, weapons and forms. All this came against what Warren called "by far the best and toughest competition we have ever faced."
Warren and Welbon said this season was a product of just about everything that could go right going right, other than some injuries. Team chemistry and discipline, as well as parent involvement, were excellent, the coaches said, and that was a major reason why the team was able to go well past its goal.
"Our team motto for 2018 was 'Care about the details and don’t beat yourself,'” Warren said. "Our team motto for 2019 is going to be, 'If you want something you have never had, you have to do something you have never done.'”
The competitive team will now take a short break until August when they'll start a new offseason training program to keep in shape before the 2019 season begins.
"As iron sharpens iron, we will continue to raise our skill level as well," Warren said.
NATIONAL TEAM
Cody Barnes (Male 14yr old Beginner): Silver – Kobudo (Weapon Forms), Kata (Forms); Bronze – Sanbon (3 point) Kumite (Sparring)
Layla Coffey (Female 13yr old Novice): Gold – Kobudo (Weapons) and Sanbon (3 point) Kumite (Sparring); Bronze – Kata (Forms)
Bennett Cruse (Male 15yr old Intermediate): Bronze – Sanbon (3 point) Kumite (Sparring)
Chloe Dawson (Female 9yr old Novice): Silver – Team (Weapon Forms) and Team Kumite (Sparring); Bronze – Sanbon (3 point) Kumite (Sparring)
Jordan Dyer (Female 10yr old Novice): Silver – Kobudo (Weapon Forms), Team Kobudo (Weapon Forms) and Team Kumite (Sparring); Gold – Sanbon (3 point) Kumite (Sparring)
Cadence Fortson (Female 11yr old Beginner): Gold – Kata (Forms); Silver – Sanbon (3 point) Kumite (Sparring)
Trinity Goodson (Female 10yr old Beginner): Bronze – Sanbon (3 point) Kumite (Sparring)
Devan Jefferson (Male 10yr old Novice): Bronze – Weapons (Weapons Forms) and Silver – Kata (Forms)
Julie Karlson (Female 15yr old Advance): Silver – Sanbon (3 point) Kumite (Sparring); Bronze – Rotational Team Kumite (Sparring)
Jose Martinez (Male 13yr old Beginner): Bronze – Sanbon (3 point) Kumite (Sparring)
McKenna Mays (Female 16yr old Intermediate): Gold – Kobudo (Weapons Form) and Kata (Forms); Silver – Sanbon (3 point) Kumite (Sparring)
Catilin Rice (Female 13yr old Novice): Silver: Kata (Forms) and Sanbon (3 point) Kumite (Sparring)
Paul Rice (Male 15yr old Intermediate): Silver – Sanbon (3 point) Kumite (Sparring)
Sydney Swartman (Female 16yr old Advanced): Bronze – Rotational Team Kumite (Sparring)
Nikolai Townsend (Male 12yr old Novice): Bronze – Kata (Forms) and Sanbon (3 point) Kumite (Sparring)
Emma Vick (Female 9yr old Novice): Silver – Team Kobudo (Weapon Forms) and Team Kumite (Sparring)
Grady Coffey (Male 11yr old Novice)
Levi DeGraaf (Male 11yr old Intermediate)
Alexander Gutierrez (Male 11yr old Beginner)
April McCollum (Female 8yr old Beginner)
Jose Rodriquez (Male 13yr old Intermediate)
Fred Tomlin (Male 8yr old Beginner)
Emma Vick (Female 9yr old Novice)
Darius Way (Male 18-34 Advanced)
Elijah West (Male 11Yr old Intermediate)