Island Top Team grabs 11 medals at West Coast Combat Championships
NANAIMO — Athletes from Island Top Team took home 11 medals at the West Coast Combat Championships on Sunday.
It was the the first time that the mixed martial arts event had been held in Nanaimo with about 60 athletes making their way to Cilaire Elementary School for the competition.
I-T-T captured seven gold medals, two silver, and two bronze on the the day.
Adam McGuire won the men’s advanced gi, Jamie Gow finished first in men’s novice gi and nogi, and Titus Rae took gold in gi novice.
Teens gi and nogi novice were both won by Quaid Harrison, and Azia Deal won the kids novice gi division.
She (Deal) was competing in a combined boys and girls category.
Also during the weekend Island Top Team’s Shane Malone won a superfight in Victoria at the Fury 4 Fight Night event.
He was able to submit his opponent within two minutes with a rear naked choke.
On Saturday I-T-T instructor Rob Biernacki was invited as one of three guest instructors for ‘Tap Cancer Out’ in Maple Ridge.
Tap Cancer Out is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu event that moves around North America in support of pancreatic cancer research.
There was over ten thousand dollars raised for cancer research at Saturday’s event with over 200 people attending seminars throughout the day.
Island Top Team has consistently seen their students win competitions at all levels throughout BC and North America.
In June I-T-T joined the Ciao Terra Association, which consists of many top Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu schools.
It’s headed by Ciao Terra who is an 11 time B-J-J world champion.
dan@nanaimonewsnow.com
On twitter: @danmarshall77