For the second year in a row, karate athletes from Varsity Performance Karate earned 5 gold medals at the 2019 Karate BC Provincial Championships held this past weekend (November 30th to December 1st) at The Richmond Olympic Oval position the club as the top sports karate club in Victoria. The annual Provincial Karate Championships drew over 500 competitors in both recreational and elite-competitive divisions from across the province and from Washington State.
14-year-old Olivia Brodie, 18-year-old Laszlo Torok and 20-year-old Assistance Club Coach Sofia Devlin all won gold medals in Elite Kumite (sparring) divisions that can lead toward Team BC qualification. The trio of teen athletes’ medals were joined by two additional gold medals in the Master’s divisions by Varsity Performance Karate assistant coaches Dr. Tanya Crowle and Aaron Elliott bringing the club total to 5 gold medals. Another 6 silver and bronze medals were earned by these and other athletes from the club bringing the club total to 11 medals.
Olivia Brodie took the gold in the Elite 14/15-year-old -54kg Kumite division while also earning a bronze medal in the Elite 14/15-year-old kata (forms) division. Lazlo Torok’s gold medal in the Elite U21 -67kg Kumite division was followed by a silver in the Elite Men’s -67kg Kumite division while Sofia Devlin earned her gold and bronze medals in the Elite Women’s -68kg Kumite division and in the Elite U21 -68kg Kumite divisions respectively. Club assistant coaches Aaron Elliott and Dr. Tanya Crowle’s won hard-fought gold medals in the Male and Female Masters Open Weight kumite divisions.
14-year-old Ella Crowle fought to a bronze medal finish in the 14/15-year-old +54kg Elite Girls Kumite divisions and sported a well earned 5th place finish in 14/15-year-old Elite Girls Kata. Teammates Irvine Goraya waded thru the Elite Boys 16/17-year-old Boys division to emerged with a Bronze medal while Malia Brodie also walked away with a Bronze medal in the 16/17-year-old -48kg Elite Girls kumite division.
Robin Goraya, Anika-Ocean Elliott (coming fresh off a debilitating toe injury) and Yashita Kaku all narrowly missed the podium while posting impressive Top 7 results in the very competitive Provincial Championships.
The club’s results placed them as the top competitive sports karate in Victoria for the 2nd year in a row and in 9th place overall at the Provincials Championships. “Our current club membership is only 15 students, so I am very happy with everyone’s efforts and results for such a small training group, I know that as we grow, our overall club performance will improve.” says Varsity Performance Karate’s Head Coach Kraig Devlin. “These young competitors have come a long way in this last year of training and I am super excited to help them again earn spots on the BC Provincial Team that will represent BC at the upcoming 2020 National Championships”
The athletes were supported at the event by Varsity Performance Karate Coaches Dr. Tanya Crowle, Aaron Elliott, Sofia Devlin and by Coach Pam Ross from Courtenay Shito-Ryu Karate.
