Posted: Feb 23, 2020
Faiferlick Martial Arts and Iowa Central qualified all 20 athletes for the USA Taekwondo National Championships during the State of Iowa Taekwondo Championships.
The event was held in Des Moines at Kingdom Courts with over 250 competitors in action.
Faiferlick Martial Arts had 14 athletes compete and six athletes compete representing Iowa Central Community College. All athletes were coached by Justin Faiferlick.
Athletes were able to compete in two divisions - poomsae (forms) and/or free sparring.
The Tritons had six competitors win 12 medals and crowned five champions along with four runner ups and three bronze medals. Faiferlick Martial Arts had 14 athletes compete earning 18 medals with 10 champion gold medals, five silver medals, and three bronze medals.
"We are proud to host our 6th Annual State Championship," Faiferlick said. Our goal was to create a very positive experience and prepare our athletes for the National Championships. We believe our athletes and their families, coaches, and referees are the most important people to us. We strive to make their journey as pleasant as possible."
| JUSTIN | FAIFERLICK | M | Black | 46-99 Male Black 1st / Black 9th 68.1 - 80.0 kg(MIDDLE) | DNC | 1st |
| KAIAH | WILLARD | F | Black | 18-30 Female Black 1st / Black 9th All (UNDER 30) | 3rd | 2nd |
| AUSTIN | SASSMAN | M | Black | 15-17 Male Black 1st / Black 9th 73.1 - 78.0 kg(LIGHT HEAVY) | DNC | 2nd |
| JESSICA | BACHMAN | F | Black | 12-14 Female Black 1st / Black 9th 55.1 - 59.0 kg(LIGHT HEAVY) | DNC | 2nd |
| JENSON | LITWILLER | M | Red | 10-11 Male Red All (YOUTH) | 3rd | DNC |
| CHRIS | HAVICAN | M | Blue | 33-45 Male Blue Over 80.1 kg(HEAVY) | DNC | 1st |
| BRADY | TEMPLE | M | Blue | 8-9 Male Blue All (TIGER) | 3rd | 1st |
| ERIC | SABUS | M | Green | 18-30 Male Green All (UNDER 30) | 2nd | 1st |
| CAMERON | ZOLNOSKY | M | Green | 17-32 Male Green 63.1 - 68.0 kg(FEATHER) | 3rd | 1st |
| ROBIN | BUTLER | M | Green | 33-45 Male Green Over 80.1 kg(HEAVY) | DNC | 2nd |
| JEFFERY | BUTLER | M | Green | 15-17 Male Green 68.1 - 73.0 kg(MIDDLE) | DNC | 1st |
| MICHAEL | BUTLER | M | Green | 17-32 Male Green 68.1 - 74.0 kg(LIGHT) | DNC | 2nd |
| JACK | BUTLER | M | Green | 10-11 Male Green 30.1 - 35.0 kg(LIGHT) | DNC | 3rd |
| JENNIFER | LITWILLER | F | Yellow | 41-50 Female Yellow All (UNDER 50) | 1st | DNC |
| LIAM | MCCREARY | M | Yellow | 18-30 Male Yellow All (UNDER 30) | 1st | 1st |
| STEVEN | HIBBS | M | Yellow | 18-30 Male Yellow All (UNDER 30) | 2nd | 1st |
| BENNETT | HINTON | M | Yellow | 18-30 Male Yellow All (UNDER 30) | 3rd | 2nd |
| PRYA | HANKINSON-AVILA | F | Yellow | 8-9 Female Yellow All (TIGER) | 1st | 1st |
| BLAIR | FOY | M | Yellow | 8-9 Male Yellow All (TIGER) | 1st | 1st |
| ELVIS | NUNNALLY | M | Yellow | 8-9 Male Yellow All (TIGER) | 2nd | 1st |
"Our state championships bring top quality and world class athletes from Iowa, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and even Texas," Faiferlick said. "We had several referees with international status. Our Iowa competitors displayed incredible effort and sportsmanship all day. This gives our athletes an opportunity to learn what else they need to do to compete at the national championships and gives us time to make those improvements."
Upcoming tournaments include:
- Northeast Iowa Taekwondo tournament in Waterloo on Saturday March 21
- Iowa Governor's Cup in Ames on Sunday March 29
- National Collegiate Taekwondo Championships on April 3-5, 2020 at the University of California, Berkeley
- NCTA High School Championships, includes black belt Sparring and black belt poomsae (Individual, Pairs and Teams) on April 3-5, 2020 at the University of California, Berkeley
- USA Taekwondo National Championships in San Antonio, TX from July 1 - July 7, 2020.
- Iowa Games in Ames, Sunday July 19