This year’s Battle of Texas was once again held in the renowned Collage of the Mainland. This venue has been the site of countless martial arts events over the last eighteen years. Its close proximity to Galveston and Houston allow easy accessibility to gulf coast competitors in the region. Competitors from Dallas, Austin and San Antonio were also present for competition and officiating. Jessie and Cindy Benavidez promoted this March 3rd Texas AOK and SKIL BBB rated event.

Joseph Pruitt, Kyle McLean, Ashley Wood, Evelyn Mattes and C J Haywood headed up an impressive list of black belt junior Texas State champions taking home beautiful Battle of Texas awards. Other first place Junior champions in Forms competition were Jersan Kannady, Carl Thomas, Trish Burch, Traes Malbrough and Selena Peters.

The best champions of sport karate in Texas vied for the adult blackbelt weapons and forms awards. A complete samurai sword set was the prize for all adult blackbelt champions and everyone wanted one. All the divisions were full with competitors lining up in two rows across the ring for some divisions. Andrew Carrasco, Mike Palomo, Antonio Anderson, Terese Pandolph, Kari Spann, Jennifer McGreggin, Courtney Allen and Johnnie Murphy led this all star list of champions who won sword sets in forms and weapons

Blackbelt junior sparring concluded with impressive competition. After the smoke cleared C J Haywood, Selena Peters, Jersan Kannady, Felicia Haltom, Traes Malbrough and Ashley Wood emerged as this years champions. One memorable junior sparring match ended up with Charlie Davidson on top as he blasted his was through the Boys 16 and 17 year old blackbelt division.

Adult fighting was last up. Great sparring matches captured the attention of everyone as top fighters gave it all they had to overcome their opponents. In a great men’s blackbelt light weight match, Erik Weideman defeated Jamal Hassan the title and a shot for the grand championship money. Other champions in the men’s divisions were Antonio Anderson, Mike Palomo, David Patterson, Andrew Carrasco and Reggie Boseman. Female adult blackbelt champions were Cassie Hendon and Margaret Beasley.

During the men’s sparring grand championship, Antonio Anderson and Andrew Carrasco displayed their best techniques as they battled it out in a contest of big Antonio against the smaller Andrew. After some exhilarating effort on both sides Carrasco was able to edge ahead of Anderson. Carrasco ended up as the tournaments MVP winning an amazing four divisions and the men’s sparring grand championship.