USA Taekwondo Initiates All-American Program

USA Taekwondo, the National Governing Body of taekwondo in the United States and a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee, is pleased to announce the formation of the USA Taekwondo All-American program for its member athletes beginning in 2010. 

The title of "USA Taekwondo All-American" will be an achievement conferred exclusively by USA Taekwondo to the most deserving taekwondo athletes who have demonstrated superior performance and the Olympic ideals. 

"It is important for USA Taekwondo to honor the very best athletes in our sport," said USAT Chief Executive Officer David Askinas. "The USA Taekwondo All-American designation has a meaning that reverberates throughout the world of sports. We are pleased to create this very meaningful program for the outstanding junior and senior athletes in our sport."  

The criteria for achieving USA Taekwondo All-American status is as follows: 

A. Hold a Kukkiwon or USAT-certified black belt at the time of the competition

B. Medalist in sparring or poomsae at the USAT National Championships or Junior Olympics (World Class sparring), and a medalist at the U.S. Open within the same calendar year, with at least one medal being gold. Both medals must be either sparring or poomsae, not mixed.

C. USAT (Jr., Sr.) national and world championship team members (including Youth Olympic Games team), sparring or poomsae, or Olympians. (Alternate or "B" team members are not eligible).

D. Represent the highest qualities of sportsmanship expected by USAT and the USOC.  

The USA Taekwondo All-American designation will be awarded to individuals who achieve A and (B or C), and also D. This applies to events beginning in 2010 and for competitors at least 14 years old in the calendar year. 

The first set of athletes to achieve the rank of USA Taekwondo All-American were the winners from this past weekend's Junior World Team Trials and the winners from last year's Youth Olympic Games Trials. They are: 

Ryan Arcaina (Brentwood, Calif.)
Jessie Bates (Redondo Beach, Calif.)
Paige Biviano (Cazenovia, N.Y.)
Amanda Bluford (Plymouth, Minn.)
Olie Burton (Alexandria, Va.)
Juanito Cajimat (Ewa Beach, Hawaii)
Gabriel Chadis (Liverpool, Texas)
Gregory English (Chicago, Ill.)
Giuliana Gil (Pasadena, Calif.)
Adrienne Ivey (Ashburn, Va.)
Haley Kong (Hillsborough, Calif.)
Cheyenne Lewis (Elk Grove, Calif.)
Troy Lunn (Carlsbad, Calif.)
Deireanne Morales (Lynwood, Calif.)
Nicole Palma (Lake Worth, Fla.)
James Samotshozo (Fairfax, Va.)
Michelle Silva (Chicago, Ill.)
Selina Tubbs (Plano, Texas)
Nicole VanCleave (Lake Tapps, Wash.)
Dess Vincecruz (Frederick, Md.)
Jeffery Williams (Blue Island, Ill.)
Seth Wolfe (Miami, Fla.)
Gene Yang (Perry Hall, Md.)
Richard Yang (Perry Hall, Md.)
Alexander Yow (Mequon, Wis.)
Nicholas Yow (Mequon, Wis.) 

You, too, can be a 2010 USA Taekwondo All-American! The next opportunity to gain medals toward USA Taekwondo All-American status is at the U.S. Open in Las Vegas, Feb. 10-14. 

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