Story & photos by Johnnie Murphy
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Bayou Regional Conference
Lafayette, Louisiana is no stranger to controversy. The first known inhabitants were the Attakapas Indians, a fierce and powerful tribe who ate their prisoner's and were not loved by any of their neighbors. Their enemy's were the Opelousas, Alabamons and Choctaws. During the 1700 's the three opposing tribes united and conquered the Attakapas. Legend has it that the last battle for domination of the region was a massive and bloody slaughter involving many thousands of warriors.

The earliest Europeans were Fur traders, trappers and a few ranchers. A 1769 census by then Spanish Governor O'Reilly indicated a population of 409 in that part of his district. Later on in its history a group of French known as Arcadians, who had been banished from Nova Scotia by the British Governor Charles Lawrence for not accepting the Anglican Church, moved to what became known as Lafayette. This group of French speaking Catholics was later allowed to settle permanently in the area by the Spanish after they took possession in 1766. The Louisiana purchase of 1803 saw a migration including the Frenchman Lafayette who eventually became the areas largest cities namesake.

Augustus Blanco and his brothers were the gracious hosts of this February’s NBL/SKIL sanctioned event. The Comeaux Center was once again the venue for this years Pro-Am tournament. As usual some of the NBL’s finest were on hand to elevate the level of competition and officiating. Competitors came from as far away as New York to participate in the tournament. Top teams were in attendance vying for the Bayou conference seeding it is the only tournament in this conference this year.

Big winners with multiple victories in the junior divisions were Sage and Colby Northcutt, Brittan Kabela, Chris Glandon, Amanda Duhon, Dela Jakus-Woods, Nick Cain, Megan Stitzlein, Charlie Davidson and Kyle Gray. Adult multiple winners were Jimmy Steger, Antonio Anderson and Johnnie Murphy. One of the most memorable showdowns of the forms competition was between Kyle Gray, Brittan Kabela and Joseph Pruiett. All went head to head in a all out show of supremacy. These guys were at it in several divisions and ended up putting on a show for everyone.

Sage Northcutt beat out a large group of junior black belt champions for his victory in the junior forms grand championship. As the event finalized, Tony Mosley, Jason Holmes, Jecobie Gilder, David Weimken, Antonio Anderson, Johnnie Johnson, Norman Roberts, Johnny Johnson and Johnnie Murphy all lined up for a chance at the prize money and men's sparring grand championship. After a series of memorable preliminary fights Jason Holmes emerged as the winner and this years Louisiana Pro-Am champion.


FORMS GRAND CHAMPIONS
Junior Contemporary
Sage Northcutt
SPARRING GRAND CHAMPIONS
Men’s
Jason Holmes

FORMS DIVISIONAL WINNERS
CONTEMPORARY
Junior Hard Creative 9-
Chris Glandon
Junior Hard Creative 10-11
Sage Northcutt
Junior Hard Creative 12-14
Demarcus Felton
Junior Hard Creative 15-17
Kyle Gray
Junior Hard Choreo Musical 11-
Sage Northcutt
Junior Hard Choreo Musical 12-17
Kyle Gray
Junior Female Hard Creative
Megan Stitzlein
Junior Female Hard Musical
Amanda Duhon
Senior Hard
Johnnie Murphy

TRADITIONAL
Junior Japanese/Okinawan 11-
Sage Northcutt
Junior Japanese/Okinawan 12-14
Colbey Northcutt
Junior Japanese/Okinawan 15-17
Kyle Gray
Junior Kenpo/Kajukenbo
Sage Northcutt
Junior Korean 11-
Sage Northcutt
Junior Korean 12-14
Colbey Northcutt
Junior Korean 15-17
Kyle Gray
Men’s Japanese/Okinawan
Trey Hammons
Men’s Korean
Johnnie Murphy
Senior Hard
Jimmy Steger

TEAM
Team Forms
Kyle Gray / Nick Cain

WEAPONS DIVISIONAL WINNERS
CONTEMPORARY
Junior Creative 11-
Sage Northcutt
Junior Creative 12-14
Nick Cain
Junior Creative 15-17
Joseph Pruiett
Junior Hard Choreo Musical 11-
Chris Glandon
Junior Hard Choreo Musical 12-14
Amanda Duhon
Junior Hard Choreo Musical 15-17
Kyle Gray
Junior Open Musical
Brittan Kabela
Junior Female Creative 12-14
Amanda Duhon
Junior Female Creative 15-17
Dela Jakub-Woods
Adult Hard Creative
Johnnie Murphy
Senior Hard
Johnnie Murphy

TRADITIONAL
Junior Hard 11-
Sage Northcutt
Junior Hard 12-14
Colbey Northcutt
Junior Hard 15-17
Dela Jakub-Woods
Adult Hard
Jimmy Steger

SELF DEFENSE DIVISIONAL WINNERS
CONTEMPORARY
Choreo Fight
Johnnie Murphy

TRADITIONAL
Traditional
Nick Cain

BREAKING DIVISIONAL WINNER
Open
Armando Parra

SPARRING DIVISIONAL WINNERS
POINT
Junior 9-
Chris Glandon
Junior 10-11
Sage Northcutt
Junior 12-13
Frankie Fernandez
Junior 14-15
Charles Ontiveros
Junior 16-17
Charlie Davidson
Junior Girls’ 11-12
Megan Stitzlein
Junior Girls’ 13-14
Colbey Northcutt
Junior Girls’ 15-17
Dela Jakub-Woods
Men’s Feather
Justin Cheramie
Men’s Light
Jason Holmes
Men’s Middle
Jecobie Gilder
Men’s Heavy
David Wiemken
Men’s Super Heavy
Antonio Anderson
Women’s
Regena Thompson
Senior Men’s Middle
Anthony Mosley
Senior Men’s Heavy
Johnny Johnson
Senior Men’s Super Heavy
Norman Roberts
Senior Men’s 45+ Light
Johnnie Murphy
Senior Men’s 45+ Heavy
Johnny Johnson

CONTINUOUS
Junior Fly
Chris Glandon
Junior Feather
Travis Rousselle
Junior Light
Marhia Laws
Junior Boys’ Heavy
Brittan Kabela
Junior Boys’ Super Heavy
Charlie Davidson
Junior Girls’ Feather
Amanda Duhon
Junior Girls’ Light
Colbey Northcutt
Men’s Middle
David Wiemken
Men’s Heavy
Antonio Anderson

TEAM
Boys’
Sage Northcutt