Despite sending a modest crew of just six athletes, the Falconbridge grouping returned with five medals.
Currently entering his third year of involvement with the sport after randomly picking it up while scanning the yellow pages, 11-year-old Jacob Lachance earned bronze in the kids green belt division.
"I'm better at forms (than sparring), but I have to remember to be sharp," Lachance said recently. "It was a relatively new form in Oakville, the sanjang, but it's one of my favourite forms."
A student at St. John's, Lachance has already started his mastery of the number six form as he looks forward to a few weeks of training, both at home and in the studio, to begin memorizing the complex movements.
Having already achieved his red belt, Noah Martin was one of two gold medallists the club produced, taking top spot in the kids blue belt division.
Like Lachance, Martin competed in the forms events at provincials, but actually prefers the sparring component of his sport.
"I like going against different opponents," Martin said. "If they're taller, you have to get in and stay in. If they're shorter, you just kick and use your long legs."
An 11-year-old student at St. Augustin, Martin has also been involved with taekwondo for roughly three years, enjoying his first chance to test himself against the best in the province.
"It was really fun, but nerve-wrecking," he said. "Just before doing my forms, I have to remember to have confidence."
Following is a breakdown of the medal winners representing the Falconbridge Dojang: Master Mike Larose - bronze (Master Black Belt Division), Jakob Donaldson - gold (Junior Black Belt Division), Noah Martin - gold (Kids Blue Belt Division), and Jacob Lachance - bronze (Kids Green Belt Division). One participant is excluded due to a privacy request.
A sixth competitor, Leah Hemmer, drew head and shoulders the toughest division, with several provincial and national medal winners in the grouping that constituted the Junior Black Belt division.
Though she did not crack the podium, Hemmer earned the recognition of her coach as the most improved athlete on the team.
"We expect her to someday be a provincial or national champion," Larose said.
The team has wasted little time getting things rolling on a new season of competition, with eight members making the trek to Conestoga College in Kitchener last month, returning north with seven medals.
More than 400 competitors attended the Tri-Star Tournament, with the following Falconbridge Dojang representatives earning top-three placings: Adam Ranger - gold for Poomsae, gold for Sparring (Black Belt), Haley Marier - gold for Poomsae (Black Belt), Cole Hoffman - gold for Poomsae, bronze for Sparring, Lexus Hoffman - bronze for Poomsae, and Samantha Thompson - bronze for Poomsae.
Other team members making the trip south and garnering valuable experience were Mercedes Marlok, David Paulins and Jakob Donaldson.
