LOS FRESNOS — Melanie Gonzales and Fernanda Camacho kicked their way to add to their school’s record-setting gold cup performance at a recent taekwondo tournament.
They are two of 14 students from Ed’s Martial Arts competition team who brought home 14 Gold Cups from the Rio Grande Valley Tae Kwon Do Championships.
The elite taekwondo competition was held in Los Fresno’s last month.
Melanie and Fernanda, both of Brownsville, won first place in their respective divisions for the second year in a row.
As victors, they earned spots to compete at the prestigious AAU National Championships competition for Olympic-style sparring in Atlanta.
“The team that we have is really strong,” said Ed Arriaga, Ed’s World Class Tae Kwon Do school owner and instructor. “We have a ton of talent, and they all feed each other.”
He said they all stay on their game.
Last year was the team’s best showing at nationals ever.
This year the team expects to be even better.
“We’re very proud of our students and the families that make their success possible,” Arriaga said.
Raul Mata Jr., 20, a UTRGV student, plans to attend the Colligate Tae Kwon Do Championships later this year and will be attending the Atlanta Games in June.
“His game has really evolved,” Arriaga said. “He has technique, he can throw kicks, he can punch, he can spin and he’s hard to fight.”
The team has been practicing its moves and getting ready to compete in Atlanta.
“They have worked so hard for this,” Arriaga said. “And it takes a lot of practice.”