TOP EFFORT: Back, Regan Stuart (left), Tuteonerangi Nicholson, James Tanner, Manauri Wilson, Kayne Gilmour (assistant coach). Front, Lakshya Dhillon (left), Mahinarangi Wirihana, Maiamarie Gauld, Blake Ward, Hohepa Kokiri. Absent: Isaac Morgan, Faith Waterman, Orion Thomas, Jim Thomas (assistant coach). PHOTO/SUPPLIED
Following the Bay Open tournament five weeks earlier, Aotearoa Taekwondo Te Puke entered a team of seven fighters into the Morrinsville Cadet Under-14 tournament and won five gold, two silver medals and valuable experience.
Hard work and consistent training were the key to the success and attitude adjustments were corrected,
giving them the edge over their opponents.
Other teams representing Aotearoa Taekwondo travelled from North Harbour, Auckland to the East Coast Tikitiki/Ruatoria, bringing the team total to 22 fighters and a medal haul of 15 gold, six silver and a bronze.
Before each tournament, it has been said in the past to our fighters "when you are on a winning streak win well, when you are on a losing streak lose well". Ultimately sportsmanship is the name of the game, and now a selection process to represent Aotearoa is under way for next year's Cadet World Championship development team.
"As a national and Korean Open champion, Senior World Games competitor, and a Master Coach at the Junior World Games 2004, knowing what's best for my fighters is paramount," said Master Wilson, who has more than 30 years' experience of what works and what doesn't, and also not taking valuable knowledge and experience for granted.
