Height: 5-7
Weight: 118
Birthplace: Los Angeles, Calif.
High School: Lynwood H.S. (Lynwood, Calif.)
Year of Graduation: 2014
Coach: Gergely Salim
Dojang: Salim's TKD Center
See Deireanne's ESPNHS 18-Under-18 feature
WTF World Rankings as of 9/1/12: T-52nd (-49kg); T-128th (-53kg)
Hobbies: playing piano, shopping, listening to music, spending time with family, baking and watching the L.A. Lakers play
Family: brother, Nelson Morales Jr., won a gold medal in the USAT National Qualifier and a silver medal at the USAT Junior Olympics...younger sister, Chelsea Morales, was a blue belt gold medalist at the California State Championships.
Favorite Foods: Honduras and Italian food
Pre-Competition Meal: pasta, pizza, salad, ice cream and as much as she can eat
Favorite Athlete: Kobe Bryant
Favorite Movies: "Grease", "Forrest Gump" and "Troy"
Favorite Music: rap, pop, hip hop and anything else
Did You Know?: Deireanne has been playing piano since the age of 9...she used to do mixed martial arts (muay thai and kickboxing)...she takes G.A.T.E. (Gifted and Talented Education) classes in school...started taekwondo at the age of 5.
Quotable Deireanne Morales: "Special thanks to my brother, Nelson Jr., for always being by my side, my teammates Team X for working hard with me and all the support. Also my first Master Nery Morales and Instructor Chris at my old dojang, Morales Brothers TKD. Big thanks to my coach and trainer Tim Thackrey for guiding me, and of course I thank my parents who have supported me the day I took my first steps on the taekwondo mats."
MAJOR COMPETITION RESULTS:
2012 USAT National Championships (Sr. Bantam): SILVER
2012 USAT National Championships (Jr. Welter): GOLD
2012 World Junior Championships (Jr. Welter -55kg): Round of 16
-def. Natalee Haddad (JOR), 4-0, in Round of 64
-def. Sandra Hillergren (SWE), 3-2, in Round of 32
-lost to Tanja Rastovic (CRO), 3-2, in Round of 16
2012 U.S. Open (Jr. Welter): GOLD
-def. Frida Thorso (SWE), 10-2, in round of 32
-def. Sharon Moon (USA), 12-0, in round of 16
-def. Paulina Armeria (MEX), 5-4 (OT), in quarterfinals
-def. Alba Celia Macario Cruz (MEX), 5-0, in semifinals
-def. Maria Aneses (PUR), 4-0, in finals
2012 Junior World Championships Team Member (Jr. Welter)
2012 Junior World Championships Open Team Trials (Jr. Welter): 1st
2012 Olympic Trials - Phase 7 (-57kg): 2nd
2011 Pan Am Games (Flyweight -49kg): BRONZE
-def. Elizabeth Zamora (GUA), 6-5 (OT), in Round of 16
-def. Katia Arakaki (BRA), 10-3, in Quarterfinals
-lost to Ivett Gonda (CAN), 8-3, in Semifinals
2011 Jr. Pan Am Championships (Jr. Light): GOLD
-def. Waleska Santiago (PUR), 15-1, in quarterfinals
-def. Kenya Chung (CAN), 1-0 (OT), in semifinals
-def. Carolena Carstens (PAN), 7-3, in finals
2011 USAT Junior National Team Member (Jr. Light)
2011 USAT Junior National Team Trials (Jr. Light): 1st
2011 USAT Junior Olympics (Jr. Light): GOLD
2011 World Taekwondo Championships (Fly): Round of 32
-def. Charlotte Paik Bjelke (DEN), 6-1, in Round of 64
-lost to Lucija Zaninovic (CRO), 4-0, in Round of 32
2011 Pan Am Games Team Member (Fin/Fly)
2011 Pan Am Games Qualifier (Fin/Fly): Qualified
-def. Carola Lopez (ARG) 6-1
2011 U.S. National Team Member (Fly)
2011 U.S. National Team Trials (Sr. Fly): 1st
2010 2012 Olympic Team Trials 1 (Bantam/Feather): 7th
2010 Pan Am Games Team Trials (Fin/Flyweight): 1st
2010 USAT National Championships (Sr. Fly): GOLD
2010 USAT Junior Olympics (Jr. Feather): BRONZE
2010 California State Championships (Sr. Fly): GOLD
2010 California State Championships (Jr. Feather): GOLD
2010 Junior World Championships (Jr. Feather): Round of 16
-def. Melissa Lamb (GBR), 14-8, in Rd. of 32
-lost to Elizabeth Zamora (GUA), 3-1, in Rd. of 16
2010 U.S. Open (Jr. Feather): SILVER
2010 U.S. Junior World Team Member (Jr. Feather)
2010 Junior World Team Trials (Jr. Feather): 1st
2009 World Junior Championships Open Qualifier (Jr. Feather): 1st
2009 Jimmy Kim Invitational (14-17 feather): GOLD
2009 USAT Junior Olympics (12-13 heavy): GOLD
2009 USAT San Jose National Qualifier (12-13 heavy): GOLD
2009 California State Championships (12-13 middle): GOLD
2009 U.S. Open (12-13 middle): GOLD
2008 Jimmy Kim Invitational (12-13): GOLD
2008 USAT Junior Olympics (12-13): BRONZE
2008 USAT Fresno National Qualifier (12-13): BRONZE
2008 California State Championships (12-13): SILVER
last updated 9/13/12