On June 27, more than 2,000 participants, including 16 members of the Newhall Community Center’s karate team, competed at the 2010 IMAC World Martial Arts Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Competitors from as far as Canada and Mexico exhibited their martial art skill in this prestigious competition. Despite the intense competition, every participant from the team representing the City of Santa Clarita managed to place in the tournament.

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The team members who competed and took home trophies include Angie Juares, 8, Brandon Mani, 8, Isabel Osario, 9, Gizelle Hernandez, 9, Briana Acosta, 10, Yohana Neri, 11, Yareli Cervantes, 12, Jonathan Perez, 13, Araceli Bobadilla, 14, Jimmy Cardenas, 15, Kelly Cervantes, 15, Jennifer Perez, 17, Karina Ruiz, 18, Carlos Cazeres, 19, Enrique Niconar, 38, and Ruben Caldera, 45.

“The City is very proud of our Community Center kids who worked so hard and earned trophies. They bring honor to themselves and to the City of Santa Clarita,” said Mayor Laurene Weste.

Volunteer instructor, Dave Moreno, has trained the award winning team for more than five years at the Community Center. In addition to martial arts training, students in the program learn discipline, integrity, respect, and a can-do attitude that will stick with them for life.