The 13th Annual Whirlwind Classic tournament hosted by Larry Wells Sr. and his wife Denise was again an overwhelming success. East Central High School gymnasium in Tulsa, Oklahoma was the tournament site and competitors from Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Kansas and as far away as San Diego, California converged in record numbers to participate in one of the most anticipated martial arts events of the summer in Oklahoma.
An exciting opening to the days events featured a “Master's Processional and Showcase”. The “Whirlwind Classic Lifetime Achievement” Awards were presented to Jim and Elsie George of Martial Arts America in Sands Springs, Oklahoma for their years of contributions to the martial arts community and for their community service as a whole.
The atmosphere was charged with excitement as all 10 rings of competition got underway. From the under-belt to the black belt divisions, everyone gave great performances. Top winners of the blackbelt kata divisions were: 18-34 men; Joshua Watley, 35+ men; Chris Harris, 18-34, women; Kacie Malin, 35+ women; Elsie George. In the 16-17 year old blackbelt division the winner was Ilea Raglin. The weapons / open musical forms winner was Dylan Ramey. The grand champion forms winner was Chris Harris of Freestyle Martial Arts in Bixby, Oklahoma.
Top winners of the under-belt youth and junior forms divisions, ages 4-17 were Sam Wigley, Nakia Holmes, Me'Kela Henderson, Cade Evans, Cindy Mondragon, Chris Saum, Micheal Cardone, Jordan Craighead, Mitch Wells, Logan Brown, Justice Echols, Walker Hinkle, Alex Raw, Ronesha Brooks, Candace Walton, Ari Buttonl, Peter Thompson, and Marcellus Phillips. Under-belt adult forms, winners were Samantha Checotah, Brandi McElroy, Angela Howard, Francisco Gonzalez, Henry Maez, and Marcus Howard. The 35+ division winners were; Marta Young, Angela Howard, Troy Spencer, Scott McQuarters and Moshe Gershberg. Under-belt weapons and open musical winners were Rishard Carr, Hinkle Walker, and Brandon Nunley.
Under-belt sparring division winners from 4-17 were Bennett Smith, Nakia Holmes, Daniel Nightengale, Cade Evans, David Griggs, Carly Fussell, Thomas Graham, Morgan Wells, TeAndrea White, Jordyn Craighead, Luis Fernando Bustos, Raffiel Gibson, Luis Munoz, Whitney Williams, Sara Quiggins, Liana Rivera, James Tillman, Murquell Maxwell, Larry Wells II, Kesha Wilson, Samantha Collins, Aiesha Watley, Britton Dugan, Ari Buttonl, Chelsea Herd, Ilea Raglin, Buchie Cook, Peter Thompson, and Dylan Ramey. Adult sparring division winners were: Analicia Harrison, Amy Rather, Sissy Gaffen, Francisco Gonzalez, Bruce Benjamin, KeJuan Tillis, Jason Driscoll, Louis Henderson Jr., Diana Emmert, Angela Howard, Troy Springer, Moshe Gershberg, Francisco Gonzalez, Henry Maez, and Marcus Howard.
Blackbelt sparring was “hot and heavy” producing winners Courtney Wallace, Antoni K'ron West, Kellen James, and Chaplin T. Anderson.
The Grand Champion winner of the 13th Annual Whirlwind Classic Tournament of Champions was Antoni K'ron West of the hosting school. The Grand Champion Trophy will remain snug and secure until next year.
Keep on Kickin!
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