I am pleased to announce and confirm that the 22nd Annual U.S. Cup International Championship on Saturday, October 11, 2008 at Bulkeley High School in Hartford, CT.
The U.S. Cup tournament has been giving the Taekwondo athlete unique opportunities to improve since 1987.
The U.S. Cup will be selecting a team, which will travel to the City of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic to participate inthe 1st International Taekwondo Tournamet November 22nd.
This team will be made up of the winners of the U.S. Cup Team Trials and the Junior U.S. Cup Team Trials.
Over 160 elite athletes have benefited from the International experience they received by being on the U.S. Cup Team. (Not in any particular order) Lenny Bogdanos, Shawn Durden, Peter Bardatsos, Craig DeRosa, Chavela Aaron, Garth Cooley, Michael Gregatowicz, Simona Hradil, Michelle Smith, Sean Burke, Jennifer and Elizabeth Mohammed, Wayne DeRosa, Tim O’Connell, Michael Tang, Billy Petrone, Kenneth Hance, Gary Zee, Tony Graf, Kyria Gallagher, Jin Kim, Jin Suh,Kay Poe, Ani Ahn, David Wilbur, Andrea Velasquez, Josh Coleman, Anthony Mellela, Chrissy Adamo, Eui Yong Lee, Yannick Douaire, Sebastien Konan, Ilya Sergeyko, Terrance Jennings, Eleni Koutsilianos, Melody Feldman, Gregory Ciocci, Bjorn Thorleifsson and Olivier Pineau are just some of the athletes that have been part of U.S. Cup Teams that have traveled to Korea, Japan, Mexico, Hawaii (to compete with Chinese Taipei), Puerto Rico, Greece, Venezuela, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Scotland, France and Germany.
The U.S. Cup Team will depart from JFK or Miami on Nov 20th and return on Nov 23rd. The U.S. Cup will provide round trip airfare, an official U.S. Cup team Dobok and warm up suite to all Team members.
I challenge those in the Taekwondo community to renew their competitive spirit and to try out their skills and techniques by competing in as many events as they are able at this year's U.S. Cup. Through competition one may come to make new friends and rekindle old friendships. This tournament will allow us to work together toward the highest of standards as we encourage the growth and prosperity of Taekwondo and its continued advancement here in the United States.
I hope that this event, which has been such a huge part of the fabric of Sport Taekwondo in this country, will serve you well as far as giving you, your coaches and families a timely, fair and challenging day.
