Circuit takes South Dakota competition by storm

Staff report

Drum roll, followed by applause, please. Circuit Fitness, based in Brandon, has attained the title as the No. 1 American Taekwondo Association school in South Dakota.

The honor is backed up by the 71 state titles accumulated by 27 of its students who competed in the tournament year (July to June). Finishing in a distant second was an ATA school that collected 31 titles. Circuit also earned a trio of district championships.

During the tournament year, students compete for points (based on tournament wins) to be awarded state titles. The final regional competition for district champions in the North District (North and South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa). Black Belt District champions are also eligible to compete at the ATA World Tournament July 23-25 in Phoenix, Ariz.

Kristine Wiersma, currently ranked fourth in the world in the Creative Weapon event, will compete July 24 at the ATA World Tournament in Phoenix.

Following is a summary of each student’s tournament accomplishments:

• Henry Mumm, 2nd/3rd Degree boys 11-12 years old: District champ, creative weapon; State champ, Traditional weapon, combat sparring, creative form, creative weapon.

• Kristine Wiersma, 1st degree women 40-49 years old: District champ, Creative Weapon; State champ, Traditional weapon, combat sparring, traditional sparring, creative weapon.

• Isaac Brighton, Color Belt boys 13-14 years old: District champ, Creative weapon; State champ, Traditional form, creative weapon.

• Paige Rolph, 2nd/3rd degree women 18-29 years old: State champ, Traditional weapon.

• Lucy Burau, 1st degree girls 11-12 years old: State champ, Traditional weapon, combat sparring. 

• Devyn Buseman, 1st degree girls 13/14 years old: State champ, Traditional weapon, creative weapon.

• David Thompson, 1st degree men 40-49 years old: Traditional form, traditional weapon, combat weapon, traditional sparring, creative form, creative weapon, extreme form, extreme weapon.

• Gavin Buseman, 1st degree boys 9-10 years old: Traditional form, traditional weapon, combat weapon, traditional sparring, creative weapon.

• Ella Schoolcraft, Color belt girls 11-12 years old: State champ, Traditional weapon.

• Deion Smith, Color belt boys 9-10 years old: State champ, Traditional form, combat weapon, traditional sparring.

• Chet Wiersma, Color belt boys 9-10 years old: State champ, Creative weapon.

• Logan Doss, Color belt boys 9-10 years old: State champ, Traditional weapon.

• Nevaeh Webb, Color belt girls 13-14 years old: State champ, Traditional form, traditional weapon, traditional sparring.

• Larry Halverson, Color belt men 50-59 years old: State champ, traditional form, traditional weapon, combat sparring, traditional sparring.

• Faye Fernholz, Color belt girls 8 years and under: State champ, traditional weapon, combat sparring, traditional sparring.

• Priya Rollason, Color belt girls 9-10 years old: State champ, traditional weapon, traditional sparring, creative weapon.

• Ethan MacFadden, Color belt boys 11-12 years old: State champ, traditional form, combat sparring, traditional sparring, creative weapon.

• Carter MacFadden, Color belt boys 8 years and under: State champ, combat sparring, creative weapon.

• Julian Krajca, Color belt boys 8 years and under:

• Lisa MacFadden, Color belt women 40-49 years old: State champ, traditional form, traditional weapon, combat sparring, creative sparring.

• Anna Halverson, Color belt girls 9-10 years old: State champ, traditional form.

• Jaxon Krajca, Color belt boys 8 years and under: State champ, traditional form, traditional weapon, traditional sparring.

• James Rollason, Color belt men 30-39 years old: State champ, traditional form, traditional weapon, combat sparring, traditional sparring.

• Zidan Elliott, Color belt boys 11-12 years old: State champ, traditional weapon.

• Hattie Fernholz, Color belt girls 8 years old and under: State champ, traditional form.

• Eugene Eterno, Color belt boys 8 years old and under: State champ, creative weapon.

• Johnathan Lush, Color bet boys 9-10 years old: State champ, traditional sparring.