Local Tae Kwon Do students recognized by City Hall

The Olympic School of Tae Kwon Do traveled north over 1, 700 miles for the Junior Olympics and came back home with shiny souvenirs.

All nine local fighters came off their plane wearing medals earned at the Tae Kwon Do Junior Olympics in Detroit, Michigan In-dependence Day weekend.

The group of young determined fighters marched up to the motor city grabbing four gold medals, two silver and three bronzes July 3-6 at Ford Field.

"This group started from the beginning with us," instructor Jose A. Rodriguez said. "Our goal is to take two or three kids to the Junior Olympics. We're proud of the way they went to battle and handled all the pressure of the crowd and people screaming their names."

Earning gold were 13-year-old Kayla Gracia, Juan Leija (10), Gerardo Gonzalez (9) and Samantha Perez (9). Taking silver medals were eight-year-old Dante Gracia and Bryton Cantu (11). Seven-year-old Michael A. Moreno, Daniel Villagomez (8) and Jr.Gracia (8) took home the bronze respectively.

"It made me very, very happy and excited," Perez said. "I think (everyone) did very good and we practiced everyday, even on Saturdays."

16 participants qualified for the competition in Detroit but only nine were able to make the trip. Instructor Eduardo Rodriguez brother of Jose who started the school last January said the support of the families were a tremendous help to get as many partici-pants as possible to the tournament.

"The parents have been supporting these kids since the beginning," he said. "Taking them to tournaments, helping fund raise to travel and it makes everyone feel like they are a united group."

The city of Brownsville recognized the efforts of the nine participants Tuesday during its bi-monthly meeting at City Hall.

Gabriela Lozano, mother of bronze medallist Moreno said she was proud of her son and praised the teachings of the Rodriguez brothers.

"My son has been in this sport for a year," she said. "I'm extremely happy what he was able to do at just seven-years-old. The (Rodriguez) instructors really know what they are doing. They did an excellent job with the kids."