Alliance Taekwondo rolled in to the 2011 Roughrider Invitational on October 22nd this year with large contingent of competitors. The Alliance Juniors Team, captained by Jr. Black Belts Caleb and Logan Olson, was nine competitors strong; the seven underbelt competitors included Issac and Lynsey Eberle, Tanner Olson, Shawna Fairbanks, Austin Hunt, Justin Story, and Steven Weigel. The Juniors Team took home fourteen trophies and four honorable mentions in fifteen separate divisions. Four black belt competitors, Alliance instructor Devon Waldron, and assistant instructors Tammy Fairbanks, Paige McDaniel and Dale Schneibel, as well as two Alliance alumni Charles Smith and Kyle Sanford, also competed in eight separate divisions and took home nine awards and two honorable mentions.
The blackbelts started the day with forms; in four separate forms divisions Alliance competitors took home trophies. Mr. Devon Waldron and alumnus Mr. Charles Smith each took first place in their respective divisions. In team forms, Mr. Devon Waldron joined forces with two blackbelts from the Strongheart Academy, a sister-school in the Greenquist Association, and the team took home the first place medals. Mr. Devon Waldron also competed in the weapons division, and came in 2nd with a strong display of a very traditional Hapkido bo-staff pattern. Mr. Logan Olson earned the third place spot in a tough Jr. Black Belt division with the pattern Koryo.
In an unusual arrangement, blackbelt breaking was up next, and alumnus Charles Smith impressed his fellow competitors and wowed the audience with a stunning combination of power and skill to take home first place. Mr. Dale Schneibel, still not back to full strength after a surgery, took third place with a display of determination and power. Later in the day, Mr. Caleb Olson took 2nd in the Jr. Black Belt breaking division, showing excellent focus.
In underbelt forms, the Alliance Juniors team had a solid showing, with siblings Lynsey and Issac Eberle taking first and second in their division, respectively. In two separate divisions, Mr. Steven Weigel took first place, and Mr. Justin Story took third.
In underbelt breaking, Mr. Isaac Eberle took first after a long and drawn out run-off; in a separate division, Ms. Lynsey Eberle took 2nd.
The Junior Team went to town in the sparring divisons, with brothers 
Caleb and Logan taking second and third place in the ever-competitive Jr. Black Belt divisions. In the underbelt divisions, Mr. Issac fought his way very purposefully to a first place finish. Ms. Lynsey Eberle fought clean matches and finished second. In a single large division, competitors Austin Hunt, Justin Story and Steven Weigel fought
long and hard. All advanced beyond the first round, but Steven Weigel was denied an opportunity to fight for first place by teammate Austin Hunt, who scored in overtime. In the first place match, Mr. Justin Story claimed the first place spot after narrowly defeating Mr. Austin Hunt, who then finished second.
Ms. Tammy Fairbanks returned to the ring after a long hiatus, and claimed second place in her women’s sparring division. Mr. Kyle Sanford and Mr. Charles Smith fought in different 
weight classes in men’s Black Belt sparring. In a round robin, Mr. Kyle Sanford tied with two other fighters, each having only one defeat. Sanford, however, was the leader in total cumulative points, and so took home a first place win in men’s sparring at the Black Belt level. Mr. Charles Smith fought with precision and strategy; his final match only went one round due to his opponent being unable to continue, and Smith came away with a first place finish.
Alliance would like to thank the Roughrider Academy for hosting the tournament and providing these opportunities. Alliance would also like to congratulate the entire team on all the hard work, and thank the parents, instructors and coaches who have supported them. As always, our gratitude goes out to Grandmaster Eric Greenquist for his many years of dedication and instruction, and Great Grandmaster Moo Young Yun for his tireless efforts in the promotion of Korean martial arts.
