Spirited competition
Athletes compete in taekwondo, judo, karate and more at local sports festival
Sunshine State Games event features action in a variety of sports.
Fort Lauderdale’s LaQuinta Allen hadn’t competed in a judo tournament since the PJC World Cup Miami in 2012.
Allen, 23, didn’t show much rust as she brought home a gold medal in the Women’s 17-29, all over 70kg Division of a judo showcase at the Palm Beach Sports Festival. The competition was part of the Sunshine State Games at the Palm Beach County Convention Center.
The festival, which featured more than 1,500 athletes from throughout the state, also included taekwondo, karate, weightlifting, fencing, powerlifting and wrestling.
“I missed ( judo) so much that I went to a tournament earlier this year just to support some friends, and I told my coach that I missed fighting,” said Allen, who competes for the Fort Lauderdalebased Onikusu Judo Club. “He said, ‘Get back in there then,’ so this was the next tournament.”
Allen, who last competed in the Sunshine State Games in 2006, was a member of the 2010 Senior World Championship and Junior Pan American Championship teams. She was ranked first in the United States in her division from 2007 to 2011.
“I still tried to make it to practice,” said Allen, who started judo at age 13. “During that time, I was working and going to school. It was a little break. I am finishing up my nursing degree at Broward College and working full-time. It was hard to balance everything at one time.”
Allen’s next big goal is to compete in the senior national judo tournament next year. In the meantime, she plans to do another regional competition in September or October.
Ghalib Carmichael, head sensei and chief instructor at Onikusu, said Allen is returning to form.
“LaQuinta is trying to get her form back and knock the rust off. She is a world-class player when she is at her best,” Carmichael said. “This (festival) was a good place to come back and see about competing and see where she is at. She did well, but we have some work to do.”
Another competitor from Onikusu, David Leiva, also came through with a gold medal in the tournament. He took top honors in the Men’s17-29, Novice 81.1-90kg Division. It was a stellar performance considering he only returned to the mat eight months ago.
The 28-year-old from Plantation recently earned his master’s degree in business from the University of Miami and returned to the sport after getting married and having three kids, ages 11, 8 and 4. Only the 4-year-old doesn’t com- pete in judo. Even his wife took up the sport.
“I got my kids (involved in judo), and then watching them I got excited and came back,” said Leiva, who won a national title when he was 8 in Venezuela and a year later moved to the United States. “It is amazing. It is a great feeling.” Leiva also has big aspirations. “I actually want to be a national champion. That’s my goal and that’s what I want to become,” Leiva said. “I know I am a little older compared to some of these guys who started younger, but I think if I train hard, focus and stay humble, I can beat those guys who have been training for a while.”
Santiago Toledo, 10, who competes for the Taekwondo Athletic Center in Coconut Creek, captured a gold medal in the 10-11
Male Black 77.0 lbs. & Under Division. It was his sixth state title in just four years.
“It is very important for me to win,” said Toledo, who lives in Boca Raton and is a fifth-grader at Sandpiper Shores Elementary School. “I work really hard, and this shows me that my hard work pays off. I feel very excited. I want to compete in the Olympics.”
Juan Catalan, owner and head coach at the Coconut Creek facility, brought 15 athletes to the competition. He said Toledo is one of his hardest workers.
“His self-esteem has increased a lot, and his confidence level (is high),” Catalan said. “At the same time, he has become such a hum- ble young man. It is wonderful to have him as an athlete.”