February News

A full house of spectators enjoyed taekwondo kicks, forms and board breaking during Stevens Taekwondo Academy belt promotion testing at the Stevens Point YMCA recently. More than fifty color belts and five black belts displayed their improved skills and earned new belt levels.

Justin Green achieved fourth dan black belt status with an impressive demonstration of seven forms including pyongwon, advanced kick combinations and an excellent sparring round. Green also broke 4 concrete blocks with his forearm.

Mark Regnitz,, Thomas Lima, Laura Borth and Riley Drechsler earned first degree black belts in a comprehensive oral exam, advanced sparring and kick combinations and performance of koryo and four taebek forms. Regnitz, sponsored by his son second degree black belt Dylan Regnitz, used a 360 side kick for his board break. Second degree black belt Bri Tarpey sponsored Lima, who executed an impressive back spinning hook kick speed break on his board. Borth cleanly snapped her board with a 360 back spinning sidekick after her sponsorship by third degree Kyle Mealy, her most recent instructor. Drechsler broke her board with a double switching high front kick. She was sponsored by her instructor, third degree black belt Steve Decker.

Three other students were recognized for excellence in testing. High green belt Andrew Cameron won the first place trophy, yellow belt Jill Miller earned second place and new red belt Charley Neufeld took home the third place trophy.

Master instructor Dwight Stevens judged the testing, assisted by senior masters Mark Henkel and Bill Dragolovich.

Masterful Self-Defense:
Grandmaster Dwight Stevens, senior master Bill Dragolovich and master Dan Zierke presented a free self-defense class at UW-Stevens Point.

YMCA STA Class Schedule:

February 21 First class Spring session
February 23: 8 p.m. make-up testing
March 20 & 22 No classes--UW/YMCA Spring Break
April 5 Last class of Spring session
April 10 & 12 No classes
April 15 Belt promotion testing, 1 p.m. YMCA gym
April 17 First class Summer I session
May 24 Last class Summer I session
June 5 First class Summer II session
June 10 Belt promotion testing, 1 p.m., APR
July 12 Last class Summer II session
July 17 & 19 No classes
July 24 First class Summer III session
August 12 (tentative) Belt promotional testing 1 p.m. APR
August 30 Last class of Summer III session