Submitted by Rob Silverman
Last weekend, Lake Monticello Karate Academy (LMKA) had 20 athletes compete at the SC Open in Greenville, S.C. The national qualifying tournament is a great measuring stick for Shihan Robert Silverman to see where his athletes are as they prepare for the USA National Championships and Team Trials in July. The SC Open is hosted by the USA Olympic Team’s head coach and draws top talent from all over with many divisions having U.S. Team members in them to battle against. LMKA’s Team Intense more than held its own and gave the coach plenty to be excited about while also finding room for improvement. The team brought home eight golds, five silvers, and 13 bronze medals.
Birthday boy Brennan Chiovaro celebrated turning 10 by earning gold in kata (forms) and kumite (sparring) in the 10-11 intermediate division. His teammate, Raiden Silverman, also brought home double golds from his 6-7 novice division. Grace Davis took first and third in 6-7 female novice. In a clean sweep of the 6-7 boys’ beginner kata division, LMKA took first, second, and third with Jacob Fisher, Mateo Achmad-Guzmán, and Grayson Ward placing at the top of their division of eight. Jacob also took bronze in sparring. Cameron Overweg and Alexia Ward both placed third in forms in the 10-11 girls’ advanced/black belt division and Alexia also took third in sparring while Mason Chiovaro won gold in kumite in its male counterpart.
In a tough field of 18 competitors, Cohen Purviance placed second in kata in the 12-13 boys’ black belt division and Diver Davis placed third in sparring against that group of boys. Also in 12-13 advanced, Alexa Lewandowski took two silvers in the girls’ group and Aidan Overweg came back to the mats after a break from competing with three strong fights placing fifth. After four rounds of kata and kumite, Sarah Day got third in forms and narrowly missed medaling in sparring in 14-15 advanced. Trinity Haynes got two thirds in the 16-17 advanced group as did Amanda Fisher in the 18-34 beginner division. Gage Silverman placed second in his 18-34 advanced weight class and James Payne took first in his advanced 18-34 weight class and bronze in the 18-34 open weight.
Many on the team came home with medals but they all are bringing back valuable experience which will help get them to their real goal of earning a National Championship and/or a spot on Team USA. Silverman has put five different athletes on the USA National Team and has had five alternates. Eight of the last nine years, a Fluvanna County schools student from LMKA has represented the United States in the Pan-American Championships. This year they will have eight athletes try out for the team: Cohen Purviance, Alexa Lewandowski, Jacob Ondek, Sarah Day, Blaise Silverman, Trinity Haynes, Gage Silverman, and James Payne.
