Nickname: "Zach-man"
Height: 5-7
Weight: 105 lbs.
Birthplace: Maple Grove, Minn.
School: Maple Grove Junior High (Maple Grove, Minn.)
Coach: Grandmaster Eui Lee
Dojang: World Taekwondo Academy (Maple Grove, Minn.)
Hobbies: reading, fishing, biking and playing soccer with his sister in the backyard...also loves kayaking
Favorite Foods: all Asian foods (must be eaten with chopsticks), Buffalo wings, seafood, and fruits & veggies
Pre-Competition Meal: The night before a competition he likes to eat fettuccine with seafood, chicken and veggies -- NO sauce. The morning of the tournament he eats a good breakfast including cereal, waffles and a banana. Between poomsae and sparring (if competing on the same day) he eats a light sandwich with apples and veggies, and always has a protein bar and lots of water on hand.
Favorite Athletes: Besides his PEAK Team Coaches -- Antony Graf
Favorite Movies: "Avatar" and "G.I. Joe - Rise of the Cobra"
Favorite Music: classic rock including Queen, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bon Jovi and Def Leppard
Favorite Country Visited for Competition: Canada
Did You Know?: Zachery has been playing string bass and electric bass since 5th grade. In the summer of 2010 he went to "Sonic Blast", a rock band camp where he and five other boys learned five pop songs (including Green Day's Holiday) and wrote an original piece titled "Unsung Heroes". He considers playing in orchestra -- and jazz band next year -- a lot of fun when he is not training.
Quotable Zachery Budde: "I started Taekwondo in first grade (2003), one year AFTER telling everyone, "I am going to be a Black Belt!" I then earned my Poom Belt on December 16, 2006, and 1st Degree Black Belt on June 24, 2007, followed by my 2nd Degree Black Belt on June 28, 2009, and my Kukkiwon Certificate on May 6, 2010. I have never once questioned if this is the sport for me. I know that whether teaching, training, volunteering, or competing, I will always have a home with Taekwondo."
MAJOR COMPETITION RESULTS:
2012 World Junior Championships (Jr. Fly -48kg): Quarterfinals
-def. Santiago de Jesus Nino Perez (MEX), 5-1, in Round of 32
-def. Panagiotis Chagias (GRE), 7-0, in Round of 16
-lost to Almuatasembellah Abuzaid (JOR), 12-6, in Quarterfinals
2012 Junior World Championships Team Member (Jr. Fly)
2012 Junior World Championships Open Team Trials (Jr. Fly): 1st
2010 USAT Junior Prep National Team Member (Light)
2010 USAT Junior Olympics (12-13 Light): GOLD
2010 USAT Minnesota State Championships (Light): GOLD
2009 Manitoba Open (Light): GOLD
2009 USAT Buffalo National Qualifier (Light): BRONZE
2008 Toronto Open (Light): GOLD
2008 USAT Junior Olympics (Light): SILVER
2008 Manitoba Open (Light): BRONZE
2008 USAT Des Moines National Qualifier (Light)
2007 Manitoba Open (Light): SILVER
2007 Toronto Open (Light): GOLD
2007 USAT Dallas National Qualifier (90.1-102 lbs.): GOLD
2006 USAT Rochester National Qualifier (80.1-92.0 lbs.): SILVER
last updated 5/7/12