ONTARIO, CA, AUGUST 20, 2016 –
Nearly 800 competitors showed up for the Kids World Championships in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at Citizens Business Bank Arena this past weekend. Representing Montana was a group of 8 kids from Straight Blast Gym in Kalispell and Whitefish.
Each competitor earned a medal and in some cases two. The Gorilla Booster Club, or GBC, a nonprofit that assists competitors with travel expenses, helped send the team and coaches to California.
Head coach and owner of Straight Blast Gym in Kalispell, Travis Davison, said:
“What an incredible opportunity for growth and learning for the coaches, athletes and parents of SBG. The sportsmanship displayed in both victory and defeat by our child athletes was admirable. I couldn’t be happier about the effort made by our competitors, the poise and support shown by our parents and the sacrifices made by our coaches. SBG once again made waves on Jiu Jitsu’s biggest stage. None of this would be possible without the support of the GBC and its volunteers and donors.”
Kristin Downing, one of the parents of the competitors, reflects on her trip:
“Going to the Worlds Jiu Jitsu Tournament in California was a great experience for both my daughter and myself. Walking into such a large arena with so many competitors can be a little overwhelming. Luckily, we have very supportive fellow parents and knowledgeable coaches so the nervousness quickly subsided. Not only did these great coaches take time out of their lives to coach my daughter, they also assisted me with my uneasiness. All in all, we would not have had this opportunity if it weren’t for the help of the GBC”.
Team Results: Name: Medal in Gi and/or Nogi – Division
Joe Davison: 2nd place Gi – Orange Belt/Light Feather
Ricky Davison: 1st place Gi; 1st place Nogi – Orange Belt/Feather
Stella Davison: 2nd place Gi, 2nd place Nogi – Orange Belt/Feather
Isabella Downing: 2nd place in Gi – Grey Belt/Feather
Kalijah Wieczorek: 3rd place in Nogi, 2nd Place in Gi – Grey Belt/Feather
Cayden Wieczorek: 3rd place in Gi, 3rd place in Nogi – Grey Belt/Feather
Colton Wieczorek: 3rd place in Gi; 2nd Place in Nogi – Teen Grey Belt/Light Feather
Lakoda Wieczorek: 2nd place in Gi, 1st place in Nogi – Grey Belt/Light Feather
Picture above:
Back Row (left to right): Kisa Davison, Joe Davison, Ricky Davison, Travis Davison, Colton Wieczorek, Stella Davison, and Anthony Mead.
Front Row (left to right): Kalijah Wieczorek, Cayden Wieczorek, Isabella Downing, and Lakoda Wieczorek.