Pictured in the front row from left are Logan Wojtalewski, Jillian Webber, Andi Hunt, Eric Markert, Roberto Scutari, Benjamin Scalfaro, Hailey Webber; second row from left are Brandon Libertone, Nicole Webber, Skylar Parkis, Sianna Avery, Nicole Brenon, Joseph Capra, John Sheridan; third row from left are Coach Ed Deaver, Anya Freedman, Masanobu Nishimura, Alyssa Crane, Conner Frigon, Kailey Brigande, Christopher Sheridan, Christian Labbate, Nicholas Labbate, Coach Larry Egnaczyk; back row from left are Head Coach Sensei Marvin Labbate, Coach Noah Usiatynski. Not pictured are Michael Lyons, Kelly Houseknecht, Seth Bingham, Carina Leblanc. (Submitted photo by Cassie Crane).
Sensei Marvin Labbate from CNY Karate and Kobudo Schools has been coaching his students in perfecting kata, weapons kata and sparring techniques in class, practice and at local and regional competitions since last fall. The team of 25 athletes was successful in bringing home 96 gold, 49 silver and 24 bronze medals up to the regional level. As a result, all 25 athletes qualified for the Amateur Athletic Union’s National Championships.
The national competition was held July 4 weekend in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and played host to nearly 2,000 athletes from all over the USA; 13 of the Syracuse competitors – ranging in age from 9 to 20 years old – traveled to compete and returned home with three gold, four silver and seven bronze medals. Athletes at AAU National Championships were: Sianna Avery, Seth Bingham, Kailey Brigande, Joseph Capra, Alyssa Crane, Conner Frigon, Andi Hunt, Christian Labbate, Nicholas Labbate, Michael Lyons, Skylar Parkis, Christopher Sheridan and John Sheridan.
Next up is the AAU Junior Olympics in Des Moines, Iowa. Two black belt competitors from Sensei Labbate’s school will travel there the first week of August to compete and, while there, they will also try out for the AAU USA National Karate Team.
Founded in 1963, CNY Karate and Kobudo Schools is the oldest karate school in the Central New York area. The school has three dojos in the area: East Syracuse, Chittenango and Camillus.