A confident group of mostly Sterling area teens and juniors have represented the Kenai Peninsula in judo competition and continue the Club’s winning tradition.

On Oct. 24 nine members of Sterling Club competed in a state wide competition in Anchorage. When the dust settled, nine members of the Sterling Judo Club returned home wearing ten medals.

The October medalists are: Kiana Holland and Logan Hart gold medalists; Peyton Williams, Walter Haybeck, Jacob McConnell and Kaliesha Hart all silver medal winners with Kaliesha medaling in two divisions; Nicholas McConnell finished the day with a bronze medal while his sister, Sarah together with Vydell Baker placed fourth. This was Vydell’s first competition.

The second competition of the ’15-’16 season took place last Saturday, again in Anchorage. The Hart Family again produced three winners: Kaliesha and Logan came home with gold and brother Walter Haybeck, a silver medal. Orange belt, Tylin Lunstedt won her first ever gold medal in nearly three years! In their first competition beginning just last September, both Liam Way and Elijah Lee successfully finished with silver medals.

Sterling Judo swept the 8-9 light weight division: Logan Hart 1st, Elijah Lee 2nd and Charles Fairbanks completing the group sweep winning the bronze.

Sterling Judo Club was started on Feb. 14, 2012. It meets at Sterling Elementary School from 6 to 8 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday together with some special monthly Saturday sessions. New beginners can sign up anytime for seniors, youth ages 10 and up. There is a set time for 8 and 9 year old beginners to sign up in September and early January.

Club Sensei Bob Brink, 7th Dan, and three brown belts run the local judo programs. The three teaching assistants are: Bob Ermold, Clay Holland and Paul McConnell. There is a satellite club in Las Vegas, Team Micah Judo. That program is run by our student, Sensei Kati Gibler, 2nd Dan. Kati also offers one or two self-defense classes at Sterling Judo Club each year. The next self-defense class for women and girls will be offered the first week of April.

For more information see the Sterling Judo Club, Facebook page or stop by to watch a class.

— Submitted by the Sterling Judo Club

Members of the Sterling Judo Club took home medals from a recent competition in Anchorage. (Submitted photo)

Members of the Sterling Judo Club came home with medals after a competition in October. (Submitted photo)