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Juniors: Seven Gold Medals
By Bill Kellick // USA Taekwondo // October 9, 2007
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - A dominating performance was turned in by the U.S. Junior National Team on Saturday at the 4th Pan American Taekwondo Championships at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Fla. All eight American fighters reached the finals with seven winning gold medals.
"I'm feeling complete pride and jubilation," said U.S. National Team Coach Jean Lopez. "We've always talked about the U.S. being the best and dominating, and our juniors are doing that. These juniors are our future and our future looks bright."
Saturday's winners were male flyweight Jayme Cajimat (Ewa Beach, Hawaii), male featherweight Bernard Posey (Greensboro, N.C.), male middleweight John Hansel (Ashburn, Va.), male light heavyweight Cody Thongtavee (Alexandria, Va.), female flyweight Kristen Frisch (Avon Lake, Ohio), female middleweight Jade Lopez (Union City, Calif.) and female light heavyweight Paige McPherson (Sturgis, S.D.). Female featherweight Nicole Palma (Lake Worth, Fla.) captured the silver medal.
The Pan American Junior Championships wrap up on Sunday with action in the fin, welter and heavyweight divisions.
"Even though the Pan Ams are in the U.S., by no means do we have a home-court advantage," added Jean Lopez. "These kids prevailed due to their hard work and effort. Congratulations to all of our champions and to the coaching staff. We have one day left and want to finish in a dominant fashion."
So far, all 14 U.S. fighters have medaled, garnering 10 gold, two silver and two bronze medals through the first two days of competition.
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