We are incredibly proud of these athletes who competed at the 2024 USA Karate Senior Team Trials over the weekend of February 2-4 at the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. They all showed grit throughout the competition and I am proud of how they prepared and how they performed. In the photo above, the Athletes pictured left to right are Brian Irr, Bryan Buka, Tom Scott, Nijuel Herschel Jr., Sahil Kasturi, Gia Mazza, Eva Alexander, and Amir Young (not pictured). The Coaches pictured are: Brody Burns, Chris Stratis, and Bryan Nixon.
While I’m proud of the whole group, special congratulations are in order for Brian Irr, Nijuel Herschel, Tom Scott, Gia Mazza and Eva Alexander for finishing in the top 2 places in their respective weight classes to earn their spot on the National Team heading to the Pan American Championships this spring. Those athletes comprise 25% of all Kumite (fighting) athletes on the Senior National Team!
Even within that outstanding group, there were a few achievements worthy of special attention:
Nijuel Herschel earned a place on the National Team in spectacular fashion. In an incredible match with an astonishing 33 total points scored, Nijuel defeated the current National Champion 18-15 to reach the Senior Team Trials finals and secure his place on the team.
This was Tom Scott’s 16th consecutive year winning the Senior Team Trials in the -75kg weight class. He has not lost a match at USA Team Trials in that division in sixteen years, including round-robin pool play and double elimination charts!
Eva Alexander earned the number one seed in the -50kg weight class for the first time. This is her third time representing USA on the Senior National Team and her first in the number one position.
Congratulations again to all of these athletes! Your hard work in preparation had you looking strong, fast, and unfazed by the altitude. Looking forward to more big things for all of you!
P.S. I told you that you’d appreciate the bikes someday!