The Hiwassee Bandeau Club recently completed a successful trip to Wheeling, West Virginia for the 2024 Bandeau National Championships.
Maung Gyi, founder of the American Martial Arts Association, started the national tournament to honor America's veterans, which has become one of the longest running martial arts tournaments in the United States.
The national tournament saw bandeau athletes from across North America participate.
At this year's competition, area participants brought home 24 medals: 10 gold, 9 silver and 5 bronze.
Hiwassee Bandeau Club was awarded the Maxwell Cup as the best school with the most points in the national competition.
Leading the way for local schools was Heather Hogan of Cleveland, who took first place in the women's black belt bladed weapons competition, first place in the animal competition and first place in pole weapons.
Hogan also won the Rose Marie Murphy Award as the tournament's most outstanding female player.
Maurice “Mo” Dieterle won first place in the black belt male edge weapons competition, second place in the animal competition, second place in the line form competition, and second place in the senior black belt sparring competition.
Michael Carroll placed third in the Black Belt Animal competition, Victor Gomez placed third in the Black Belt Edge Weapon competition and second in the Black Belt Lightweight Sparring competition.
Among the green belt male participants, Mason Dunlap placed first in the karate competition, first in the polearm competition, and third in the green belt heavyweight sparring competition.
Also in the green belt division, Andrew “Gutsy” Coppler took second place in the karate competition and third place in the polearm division.
Among the female green belt participants, Zoe Dunlap won first place in the karate competition, first place in the polearm competition, and second place in the green belt female sparring competition.
Casey Maynard won the white belt men's karate competition, won the polearm division and placed runner-up in the white belt super lightweight sparring competition.
Brandon Maynard placed second in the white belt men's karate competition, second in the polearm division and third in the white belt lightweight sparring competition.
The final highlight for the Hiwassee Bandeau Club was when Heather Hogan, Maurice Dieterle, Michael Carroll and Victor Gomez were promoted to the next level of achievement by Maung Gee.
The Hiwassee Bandeau Club's lead instructors are Heather Hogan, Maurice Dieterle, Michael Carroll and Victor Gomez.
