Posted: 9/7/05
Three Sun Yiís students headed to national team tryouts
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Joe Drennan
Sports Editor
Tanner Gibson and Nova Schuler of Sun Yiís Traditional Tae Kwon Do in Forest Lake knew theyíd be returning to the AAU National Tae Kwon Do team tryouts, but this year Ben Carlson will be joining them.
Gibson and Schuler had automatic bids to the national team tryouts because they made the team last year, Carlson on the other hand placed third in the light heavyweight class in sparring at nationals.
The top four competitors in each age group and weight class advance to the national team tryouts. Although Schuler had an automatic bid for the national team tryout she still finished in the top four in her weight class. Schuler took second place. Gibson did not compete due to an injury.
Last year Sun Yiís sent a group to the national tournament simply to get some experience, but quickly learned they had what it took to represent their country. This year was supposed to be the year that Sun Yiís maybe had a student advance to the national team tryouts, but with their success last year, the team is trying not only to defend their two current spots on the team, but maybe add a third with Carlson.
The three are in Houston this weekend for the national team tryouts.
Leading up to the tryouts Gibson says heís trained a lot more this year as opposed to last year because he knows what to expect this time around.
ìNow that it (tryouts) are getting closer Iím watching more tapes of the kids Iíll fight,î Gibson said. ìIíll do some more sparring, but not 100-percent because I donít want to run the risk of injury.î
Schuler noted that this year she and other Sun Yiís students have tried to attend as many larger tournaments as possible to not only get the experience of fighting better competition, but to use those tournaments as training for the national team tryouts.
For Carlson this will be his first trip to the national team tryouts so heís not too sure what to expect.
ìItís kind of new for me, but I want to see how far I can go and try to get on the team,î Carlson said.
While all three want to make the team, they also realize it might not happen and are prepared for the possibility of not making the team.
ìIím going to go there and try my best,î Gibson said. ìIf you try your best and donít make the team then there are no regrets.î
Gibson and Schuler admit the pressure of attending the national team tryout wonít be as hard on them as it will be on Carlson because they know all the returning national team members since they competed as teammates this past year.
Friends thoughts
With their success on the mat, not everybody is fully away of the accomplishments of Carlson, Gibson and Schuler.
ìMost of my close friends understand, but there are groups at school that donít know but there are others that donít respect what we do,î Gibson said. ìThey think Tae Kwon Do is easy and that itís not a challenge.î
Carlson pointed out that most kids who he goes to school with are more focused on sports like football that they donít fully understand what he is doing and because they donít quite understand they donít respect the accomplishment as much.
Schuler on the other hand has a different take.
ìIím a little bit older so all my friends understand what Iím doing and respect it,î Schuler said.
Editors Note: check back to find out how Gibson, Schuler and Carlson did at the national team tryouts.
Forest Lake Times
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