Valley karate students medal at national tournaments

Palmer Junior Middle School students Brayden and Krista Mahan earned medals in several events at the Junior Olympics and U.S. Open karate tournaments held April 22-24 in Las Vegas, Nevada. This event provided an opportunity for competitors of all ages and skill levels to test their skills in multiple events with international competitors.

Both study martial arts at Tanaka’s Martial Arts Academy in Palmer.

Brayden’s awards include:

• Junior Olympics, third place 14-year-old male intermediate kata.

• Junior Olympics, third place male intermediate 60gk kumite.

ª U.S. Open, first place 14- to 15-year-old male intermediate kata.

• U.S. Open, second place male intermediate weapons.

Krista’s awards include:

• Junior Olympics, first place in 11-year-old female intermediate kata.

• U.S. Open, third place in 10- to 11-year-old female intermediate kata.

• U.S. Open, first place in 10- to 11-year-old female intermediate weapons.