Halfway Taekwondo athletes continue to impress at Alberta tournament

Athletes from the Halfway River First Nations Taekwondo program were back on the road at the end of May, travelling to Red Deer, Alberta to compete in the Champions Challenge tournament and take part in a training seminar led by a world-class coach.

Back row: Kaitlyn Gladue bronze- poomsae, silver-sparring, Zachary Souvie gold -poomsae silver-sparring Coach Brooklyn Jodoin Front row: Holden Hunter gold-sparring, Kash Hunter silver-sparring, Weston Hunter bronze-sparring, Dalton Souvie bronze-poomsae

The group spent the weekend representing their community while also participating in a two-day seminar with Master James Corbin.

According to instructors, Corbin was impressed with the progress shown by the Halfway athletes, particularly considering all of the students are currently ranked below yellow belt.

While coaches said all six competitors performed well throughout the weekend, three students were specifically recognized for their efforts: Holden Hunter, Kaitlyn Gladue and Zachary Souvie.

For Holden Hunter, the tournament marked his first time stepping into the ring. Coaches said he followed instructions closely and earned a decisive victory. Under World Taekwondo rules, a match can be stopped when a competitor gains a 12-point advantage. Hunter's performance was so dominant that neither round lasted longer than 15 seconds.

Kaitlyn Gladue also reached an important milestone, competing in sparring for the first time. In addition to showing increased confidence during poomsae competition, Gladue faced an opponent who was older, larger and ranked two belts higher. Despite the challenge, she fought hard and earned a silver medal in sparring.

Zachary Souvie also drew praise throughout the weekend, both for his performance and his conduct. Instructors said two separate Masters took the time to comment on his respectfulness and sportsmanship.

During his first match, Souvie was struck in the face by an illegal kick that knocked him off his feet. After being assessed and cleared by medical staff, he returned to competition, regained his composure and went on to win the fight.

Head instructor Ilona said she could not be more proud of the six athletes who attended the event and the progress they continue to make through the program.

She also credited assistant instructors Brooklyn Jodoin and Megan Ross for helping make the program possible.

The Halfway River First Nations Taekwondo program has continued to grow since its launch and regularly travels to tournaments throughout Alberta, giving young athletes opportunities to build confidence, develop new skills and represent their community in competition.