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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, February 5, 2010 · 30 STRIKE A POSE: Oakville Kicks for Kids members (back row, left to right) Andrew MacKinnon, Carla Bacco, Madison Waller, (front, left to right) Ryan Hofstatter, Ana Moreno and Xavier Fuller will compete in the U.S. Open taekwondo championships that begin this weekend in Las Vegas. DANIEL PERRY / SPECIAL TO THE OAKVILLE BEAVER www. com HURRY! RECEIVE $3500 IN REBATES on high efficiency up to * Gas Furnace & Central Air Immediate Installation & Service Do not pay for 6 months* BUY NOW AND SAVE THE HST! 905-849-4998 9 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU BETTER *See dealer for details www.aireone.com 1-888-827-2665 A+ Rating Local fighters competing in U.S. Open taekwondo meet By Daniel Perry The 26-year-old Bacco will also compete at the full-contact international tournament, where a win can only come from a knockout. Five Oakville taekwondo students and She began training 21 years ago in Peru, one Oakville Kicks For Kids instructor are where she eventually battled her way onto heading to Las Vegas this week to compete the national team. in the U.S. Open taekwondo champiBacco is currently ranked 10th in Canada onships. for her fighting skills and hopes "This international black "This tournament to accumulate more points on belt tournament will have will be the the trip so she can move even teams from 42 other countries highest level of higher in the Canadian standcompeting and close to 2,500 ings. She recently represented taekwondo competitors," said Carla Bacco, Canada in several taekwondo the fourth Dan black belt competition." events and believes the Oakvilleinstructor who will be leading trained fighters will be prepared students Andrew MacKinnon, Kicks for Kids for what they'll face in Las Madison Waller, Ryan instructor Carla Bacco Vegas. Hofstatter, Ana Moreno and "Kicks For Kids is a very wellXavier Fuller into battle. "This tournament recognized club because of our sparring abilwill be the highest level of taekwondo com- ities," said Bacco. "I think our kids will have petition. Not every club goes to this event, an advantage because of the skill and experibecause of the intense level of combat. We ence that all of our instructors have. Our only signed up because we know our kids team is pretty young, but we have a lot of will be ready." See Young page 33 SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER