MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / March 25, 2000

LAPLACE – Unified Tae Kwon Do in LaPlace made its first trip to an out- of-state competition a memorable one this weekend.

Unified took home six first place trophies, including both Grand Champion awards, from the Eighth Annual Combat Academy Nationals held in D’Iberville, Miss. Schools from across Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabamaattended the competition.

“It was a real big competition,” Master Kirt Robertson of Unified said. “Itwas our first time going out of state and we did really well. I’m proud ofthe kids.”Robertson said the out-of-state competition helped the students because they were used to competition against the same students from around the area.

“I feel the kids enjoyed it,” Robertson said. “They met a lot of differentpeople and the icing on the cake was that they took the best trophies home. It helped their confidence level. Being against somebody different,it was a big plus for them because they went above their levels in creativity and in forms to make sure they could bring home the number one trophies.”Brennon Davis, a first-degree black belt, received first places in sparring and creativity. He also had a second in weapons and a third in traditionalkatas (forms). Davis brought back one of the Grand Champion trophiesafter defeating the winners in other categories.

“It was a good experience meeting other people,” Davis said. “Thecompetition was pretty good.”Chris Costanza was also named a Grand Champion after scoring the most points in the competition. Costanza, a red belt, received first places informs, weapons and sparring.

Eric Harrison, a first-degree black belt, was first in weapons, second in creativity and third in traditional forms.

“It made a lot of difference because you are competing against people you haven’t seen before instead of the same people over and over again,” Harrison said.

Unified will be going out of state again in June when it competes in a competition in Beaumont, Texas.

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