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Local kickboxers capture medals from Nationals in Toronto

May 16, 2018 | 5:30 AM

A trio of kickboxers from Grande Prairie captured medals at Nationals in Toronto.

Taylor Wendt won a national championship over the weekend.

Teammates Peyton Rakestraw and Grey Patino both grabbed silver.

Head coach John Stanley says all three athletes received direct entries to the finals.

“In the draw, basically they got [what’s called] a bye. So, they got pushed forward to the next day and the next competitor that won, moved forward to fight them.”

He adds all three locals took on more seasoned competitors.  

“All three athletes competed against athletes that were far more experienced than they were. Two of them were novices that competed against open class athletes which means they were giving up experience of six to seven bouts. Both the boys that lost very close decisions and Taylor beat a girl that had five more bouts than she did.”

Stanley adds the kickboxing scoring system is fairly similar to that of boxing with three, two-minute rounds.

“They’re full contact matches. Its points scored for rank, control, basically whoever lands the most scoring blows and that can be kicks or punches.”

The athletes all competed in the K-1 and Low-Kick Divisions which allows for kicks to the legs and knees.