Allegheny Shotokan students qualify for WKC World Championships

Thirteen students from North Huntingdon’s Allegheny Shotokan Viola Karate Dojo will compete at the World Karate and Kickboxing Commission World Championships, set for Oct. 26-Nov. 1, in Albufeira, Portugal.

The group qualified at the WKC national championships June 7-8, in Detroit. Those who finished in the top four in their division advanced.

Competing for Team USA will be Cameron Klos, Gavin Bilinsky, Dryce Davis, Noelle Kravetz, Riley Evans, Aiden Johnson, Carter Griffith, Sammy Pietrzyk, Gabby Viola, Xander Eddy, Daniel Barrett, Carter Crawford and Remmington Whatule.

In addition, Viola, Eddy, Griffith and Evans will take part in the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations Junior Kickboxing event in August in Budapest, Hungary. Barret earned a spot on the USA Kickboxing Senior team that competes in Vina del Mar, Chile for the Pan-American WAKO Championships.

“We have a very busy and exciting opportunity with our students headed to Portugal, Hungary and Chile,” Sensei Bill Viola Jr. said. “These students are on an Olympic path and are role models for young people in our community. They are now in fight camp, which requires a seven-day-a-week training commitment.”