12 karate locals excel in Albertville
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, November 9, 2011
![1109 spt-Karate pic](https://www.andalusiastarnews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2011/11/1109-spt-Karate-pic.jpg)
Shown in the front row from L to R: Caleb Blackston, Taj Patel, Kyle Burgans and Garrett Blackston. Middle row from L to R: Kristin Kelley, Tyler Martin, Rexanne Butler and Seth Dooley. Back row from L to R: Mark Rudd, Alex Myrick, Thomas Rudd, Allen Butler, Kenny Blackston and Rex Butler. | Courtesy photo
Andalusia Isshinryu Karate students Allen Butler and Alex Myrick finished with three first-place awards each at the USYKA Albertville Karate Open tournament on Oct. 8.
Twelve local karate students participated in the event, where they competed in weapons, forms and fighting divisions for their age and belt rank.
Andalusia’s students came home with 18 first-place finishes, and one grand championship from Butler in youth black belt kata.
Andalusia students placed in the following:
• Allen Butler — youth black belt grand champion; first place in black belt musical kata, youth weapons and youth kata; and second place in youth fighting.
• Alex Myrick — first place in brown belt weapons, fighting and kata.
• Tyler Martin — first place in green belt weapons and fighting; and second place in green belt kata.
• Kristin Kelley — first place in green belt kata, and second place in green belt fighting.
• Rexanne Butler — second place in brown belt weapons, first place in brown belt kata and third place in brown belt fighting.
• Rex Butler — first place in senior green/brown belt kata, and third place in senior green/brown belt kata and fighting.
• Taj Patel — first place in yellow belt kata, and second place in yellow belt fighting.
• Kyle Burgans — first place in yellow belt kata and fighting.
• Caleb Blackston — second place in green belt weapons and kata, and first place in green belt fighting.
• Garrett Blackston — fourth place in green belt weapons, second place in green belt kata and first place in green belt fighting.
• Kenny Blackston — second place in brown belt weapons and fighting, and first place in brown belt kata.
• Seth Dooley — third place in beginning weapons, second place in yellow belt kata and first place in yellow belt fighting.