(August 17, 2017) -- The National Collegiate Taekwondo Association (NCTA) is fielding 22 athletes for Team USA at the 2017 Summer World University Games (Summer Universiade) in Taipei, Taiwan. The NCTA president is Dr. Russell Ahn, who is also serving as the International Sports University Federation (FISU) delegate for taekwondo at the event. The team will participate in opening ceremonies on August 19, followed by 7 days of competition from August 20-26.
The first two days of competition will feature poomsae, or forms competition. The poomsae events will be contested according to a new format that required contestants to perform both recognized poomsae as well as freestyle poomsae in the final round. Representing Team USA in poomsae at the 2017 Summer Universiade will be Adalis "A.J." Munoz (Tarrant County College) in the female individual category, Edward Jeong (University of Bridgeport) in the male individual category, Albert Jong (San Jose State University) and Kelsey Ha (Evergreen Valley College) in the mixed pair category, Munoz, Samery Moras (Utah Valley University) and Christina Castillo (Austin Community College) in the female team category, and Jeong, Jong and Kody Han (University of California, Berkeley) in the male team category.
The first two days of competition will feature poomsae, or forms competition. The poomsae events will be contested according to a new format that required contestants to perform both recognized poomsae as well as freestyle poomsae in the final round. Representing Team USA in poomsae at the 2017 Summer Universiade will be Adalis "A.J." Munoz (Tarrant County College) in the female individual category, Edward Jeong (University of Bridgeport) in the male individual category, Albert Jong (San Jose State University) and Kelsey Ha (Evergreen Valley College) in the mixed pair category, Munoz, Samery Moras (Utah Valley University) and Christina Castillo (Austin Community College) in the female team category, and Jeong, Jong and Kody Han (University of California, Berkeley) in the male team category.
Returning poomsae members to the poomsae team are Jeong, Jong, Ha and Han. Moras was a former member of the sparring team as well.
Over the next four days, individual sparring competition will be contested, with four athletes competing each day. Individual sparring will be followed one day of male and female team sparring.
The women's sparring team for the 2017 Summer Universiade will be Alondra Venegas (-46 kg, DePaul University), Jancee Ro (-49kg, Polk State University), Aziza Chambers (-53kg, Barry University), Abbey Ardiana (-57kg, Utah Valley University), Makayla Gorka (-62kg, University of Central Oklahoma), Kendall Yount (-67kg, Centre College), Madelynn Gorman-Shore (-73kg, Arapahoe Community College), and Morgan McGarvey (+73kg, Northeast Iowa Community College).
The men's sparring team at the 2017 Summer Universiade is comprised of David J. Kim (-54kg, Pikes Peak Community College), Isaac Weintraub (-58kg, University of Central Oklahoma), (-63kg, George El-Chemali (Sierra College), William Jackson (-68kg, University of Texas, Dallas), Jaysen Ishida (-74kg, University of Hawaii, Manoa), Connor Wilson (-80kg, University of California, Los Angeles), Drew Thompson (-87kg, Washington State University), and Jonathan Healy (+87kg, Liberty University).
The men's sparring team at the 2017 Summer Universiade is comprised of David J. Kim (-54kg, Pikes Peak Community College), Isaac Weintraub (-58kg, University of Central Oklahoma), (-63kg, George El-Chemali (Sierra College), William Jackson (-68kg, University of Texas, Dallas), Jaysen Ishida (-74kg, University of Hawaii, Manoa), Connor Wilson (-80kg, University of California, Los Angeles), Drew Thompson (-87kg, Washington State University), and Jonathan Healy (+87kg, Liberty University).
Returning members to the sparring team include Chambers (2011 bronze medalist), Jackson (2015 bronze medalist), Ishida and Healy.
The USA referees appointed to work the event are Raymond Hsu and Jaime Schulte.
