Nickel's Sparring Turns Him to Gold

An Avon second-grader is one of 17 at Olympic Taekwondo Academy in Unionville to qualify for USA Taekwondo Junior National Championships.

Dylan Nickel, 8, won a gold medal for sparring and form at the 2012 Connecticut State Taekwondo Championship on March 17. Teams from all over New England were there, his mother, Kelly Nickel wrote in an email. He also earned a silver medal for board breaking.

"I was very proud, happy, and excited when I won," Nickel wrote in an email to Patch. "I had to be very focused and do my best, there were a lot of kids there. During the events I do what I've been practicing with Master Cho and Master Sunmi and it goes by very fast. I mostly remember waiting my turn and then getting the medals in front of everyone. I was so surprised!"

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The championship qualifies him for nationals in Texas this summer, also known as Junior Olympics because it is affiliated with the U.S. Olympic Committee, Kelly Nickel said.

"I've never been to the nationals before but think it will be fun to go on a vacation with my family there," Dylan Nickel said. "I'm most excited for the sparring event because I think I'll do good. I'd like to win a medal if I can."

Earlier this year, Nickel won a silver medal in sparring and a bronze medal in forms at the New York State Championship.

Nickel started training with Olympic Taekwondo Academy in the fall on the Junior Olympic team, but he has done the sport for two years. He's also a baseball, basketball and soccer player.

"I like taekwondo because it helps your self confidence, it's fun, and I have a lot of energy," Nickel said. "The most important thing I learned from taekwondo is self control and to always respect your parents and teachers."

After watching his brother take classes as a toddler, Nickel grew interested in Taekwondo, Kelly Nickel said.

"Once he started taking classes, Taekwondo came naturally to him and Master Cho asked him to be part of the team," Nickel said. "We are glad to support Dylan with this opportunity. He's a great kid and we are very proud of him."

Nickel is a student at in Avon.

His teammate Neahashirii Rajendran, 10, of Avon, also placed first for for form, as well as breaking.

The following Avon athletes also placed.

• Darby Comas, 14, won gold in sparring and a silver in breaking.
• David Shi, 7, took home a silver medal for sparring.
• Alan Vinarsky, 10, was the champion in his age group for sparring and got two bronze medals in form and breaking.

The five boys were among the 17 at the academy who have qualified for USA Taekwondo Junior National Championships.

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