Evan Medell (2nd from right) and Corbin Stacey (left) on the podium at the Oceania Para Taekwondo Open 

(May 18, 2017) -- Evan Medell (Grand Haven, Mich.) defeated world #1 Ivan Mikulic of Croatia, 24-19, in the finals of the 3rd Oceania Para Taekwondo Open on May 14 in Auckland, New Zealand, to claim the gold medal in the men's K44 +75kg division. Corbin Stacey (Cleveland Heights, Ohio), who lost to Medell, 2-0, in the semi-final round, earned a bronze medal.

Elsewhere, Felix Sabates (Cooper City, Fla.) earned the silver medal in the men's K44 -75kg class. He lost in the final to France's Alain Akakpo, 22-11. The U.S. team was coached by Stacey, Brad DeMinck (Grand Haven, Mich.) and Johnny Birch (Deland, Fla.), who also competed and placed fifth in the men's K44 +75kg division. Birch was coached by Stacey.