YOUR AD HERE »

Karate team has solid tourney

Submitted by Court Klekas,

On May 8 and 9, the semi-annual Bobby Lawrence Karate Tournament and Black Belt Test were held at the Utah Valley University events center in Orem. There were more than 600 tournament competitors, including more than 80 from the Park City studio.

The results from each tournament competitor who place first, second or third were added to each school’s total score. Out of the 17 Bobby Lawrence schools, Park City placed second, falling short of first place by only 13 points, or about four first-place medals.

More than 75 students were present at the black belt test, testing for various degrees of black belt, according to Cole and Court Klekas, the heads of the Park City school. Special guests were in attendance, such as Dennis Conatser, founder of the International Kenpo Karate Organization and two other karate masters.

The Park City studio had 19 students testing for black belt or higher, one of the biggest groups of testing students in its history.

Junior black belts included Jack Harper, Cameron Iacobelli, Alex Lovell and Isabell Parada. Junior first-degree black belts were Ben Hale and Payson Hawkins. Junior second-degree black belts were Ian Sundahl and Denali Fitlow.

Black belts included brothers Matt and Mark Gustafson. First-degree black belts were Tony Mason, Jeff Pack and Michael Wasser. Second-degree black belts were Emma Sundahl, Shannon Mellin and Roni Miller. Third-degree black belts were earned by Lyndsey Butler and the father/daughter combo of Eric and Kasey Janes.

Bobby Lawrence Karate is known for the way it instills discipline and respect in its students. It is an eclectic martial art, originated from Kenpo, that incorporates shotokan, sport karate, kickboxing, jiu-jitsu and weapon training into its system.

Bobby Lawrence Karate has been teaching in the Park City community since 1989, where the Klekas family has been running the studio for over 15 years.


Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

Readers around Park City and Summit County make the Park Record's work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.

Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.

Each donation will be used exclusively for the development and creation of increased news coverage.