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2006 Junior Olympic Team members:
Back Row Left to Right: Aaron Jansen, Tyler Nichols, Rachel
Rodgers, Shaun Barrett, Kelsey Rodgers, Jonathan Siefkes.
Front Row, left to right: Darren Ackerly, Reilly Barrett,
Daulton Heineman, Dillon Ackerly, Austin Finley
11 Competitors bring home 20 medals!
Omaha Elite Taekwondo had 11 students compete with 3700
athletes at the annual USAT Junior Olympics in Atlanta,
GA. The Taekwondo Junior Olympics Tournament is a national
tournament for competitors ages 6-17. Participants competed
in two events: sparring “Gyorugi” and forms “Poomsae”. A
relatively inexperienced team of 9 green belts lead by returning
veterans Jonathan Siefkes (Black Belt 3-time bronze medallist),
Darren Ackerly (Blue Belt) and Shaun Barret (Green Belt
2-time gold medallist) returned with a total of 20 medals
out of a possible 24: 9 Gold medals, 5 Silver medals and
6 Bronze medals.
Girl Power!
All three female competitors Shaun Barrett, Kelsey Rodgers
and Rachel Rodgers, earned solid gold in both forms and
sparring for their respective divisions! Additionally, both
Rachel and Shaun went on to fight additional matches in
the World Class Division and they both earned silver medals.
The Training!
Omaha Elite Taekwondo began it’s Junior Olympic Training
season in January with 20 participants broken into 2 teams.
Weekend practices were held for 4-hours each Saturday for
6 months. During the six months participants competed in
5 regional tournaments and 2 local meets. The final two
months of training were reserved exclusively for the 11
students competing in Atlanta. All 11 Team-A competitors
received video analysis, along with written and conditioning
homework each week.
A Successful Season!
Not only was the Junior Olympic Tournament an outstanding
success but so was the entire tournament season! In a total
of five tournaments the A and B teams combined earned 112
out of a possible 124 medals. These students truly represent
the heart of Omaha Elite Taekwondo. Way to go team!
Junior Olympic Team-A Members & Junior Olympic Medals (Competed
in Atlanta):
Darren Ackerly (3rd & 3rd),
Dillon Ackerly (1st & 3rd), Reilly Barrett, Shaun Barrett
(1st, 1st& 2nd), Austin Finley (3rd & 3rd), Daulton Heineman
(1st & 2nd), Aaron Jansen( 2nd & 2nd), Tyler Nichols (1st
& 3rd), Kelsey Rodgers (1st & 1st), Rachel Rodgers (1st,
1st & 2nd), Jonathan Siefkes
Coaches: Scott Stevens, Mark Dungan
Junior Olympic Team-B Members:
Aaron Bittner, Tyler Calder,
Trystin Gorecki, Roman Haynatzki, Ahmed Kahn, Alex LeRouge,
Jacque Lerouge, Jonah Sayre, Annabelle Sok, Gue Soo Yoe
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