Clarion MMA Has Great Showing At Two Prestigious Tournaments (08/09/16)
(By Leo and Hillary LeFay)
The kids at Clarion Mixed Martial Arts have had a busy couple of months. In both July and August the team traveled to Pittsburgh to compete in two different grappling tournaments.
(Photos courtesy of Clarion MMA) Scarlet Snyder gets her hand raised in victory
While each event was run by different organizations, the goals were the same: try to take your opponent to the ground and force them to submit, or tap out, using a choke or joint lock. Each tournament offered divisions for both kids and adults.
Each competitor has the opportunity to compete in multiple events, this can lead to one person winning multiple awards. Everybody first competes in two divisions (one with a uniform and one without) against people their own age, weight, and skill level (beginner, intermediate, or expert).
Mike and Haven LeFay holding their championship belts after the NAGA tournament
Sometimes they then can enter divisions above their own to really put themselves to the test. For example, at NAGA Haven LeFay (age 12) entered both the expert youth divisions and the expert teen divisions for his weight and took home a gold medal from each. Mike LeFay (age 17) swept the expert teen divisions for his weight and moved on to take bronze in the adult division.
The Clarion MMA kids & teens team took second out of 28 teams at the North American Grappling Association (NAGA) event and first at American Grappling Challenge (AGC). Below are the individual youth results:
North American Grappling Association (NAGA) – July 16th
Haven LeFay – Gold x2, Silver x2
Mike LeFay- Gold x2, Bronze
David Horner- Gold, Silver x2
Kaiden Wyant- Silver
Reagan Wyant- Silver x2
Colin Horner – Silver x2
Quinn O’Neill- Silver x3
Robyn Stahlman- Silver x3
Scarlet Snyder also competed, but did not place.
Kaiden Wyant applying a choke to win a match at NAGA
American Grappling Challenge (AGC) – August 6th
Dane Wenner – Gold x2
Dalton Wenner – Silver x2
Darien Wenner – Gold & Silver
Scarlet Snyder – Gold & Bronze
Colin Horner – Silver & Bronze
David Horner – Silver x2
Jack Winters – Silver and Bronze
Jill Winters – Bronze
Joe Winters – Didn’t medal but put forth a great effort showcasing some great improvement.
Mike LeFay competed only in the adult divisions at this one, taking bronze in the blue belt division and silver in the advanced adult no gi division.
Mike LeFay working to escape the grips of his opponent
Of special note is Scarlet Snyder. You will find that she did not medal at the NAGA competition, in fact she didn’t win a single match. It would have been easy at this point for her to decide to quit. After watching their six year old daughter lose it would have been easy for her parents to pull her out of the program to spare her any future chance of losing. They could easily find a sport where every kid gets a trophy.
Losers lose, however, sometimes so do champions. It’s what happens after that loss that determines the difference.
Scarlet Snyder on top of her opponent as coach Hillary LeFay looks on
Even though Scarlet lost, she refused to be defeated. She trained hard and learned from the loss. She worked to improve her performance for the next tournament. Her hard work paid off and led to her hand being raised in victory and a gold medal around her neck at the AGC tournament.
Not only did Scarlet walk away with that medal, she also carries with her the knowledge that she can defend herself against a fully resisting opponent. Growing up with that knowledge and the confidence that goes with it are worth more than any trophy.
(Thanks to Leo and Hillary LeFay and Clarion MMA for this article and photos. GREAT JOB, KIDS!!!!)