With more than 50 students competing, Next Level Taekwon-do school in Blyn hosted a friendly tournament training competition on Oct. 22 — the first taekwon-do tournament on the Olympic Peninsula since 2015, organizers said.

Five schools representing Region 1 of the United States Taekwon-do Federation were on hand for the event, hosted by Larry Muckley at Next Level Taekwon-do and directed by Dr. Linda Allen of the Bodystrong Academy. It saw participation from students who traveled from as far away as Oregon.

Attendees of the all-day event participated in activities including patterns, sparring and power breaking. Students ranging in age from 6 to 60, and from white belt to 4th Dan Black Belt.

Several Next Level Taekwon-do students earned top-three finishes, including: Jobe Kirner (first in sparring and breaking, second in patterns); Mia Kirner (second in sparring and breaking, third in patterns); Caleb Messinger (second in patterns); Ashton Messinger (second in patterns and sparring); Wyatt Messinger (second in sparring, breaking and patterns); Leah Hitt (first in patterns); Wyatt Estep (first in sparring and breaking); Iris Brown (first in sparring, second in patterns and breaking); Atticus Reed (third in sparring); Gunner Muckley (third in patterns, sparring and breaking), and Maverick Muckley (first in breaking, second in sparring).

Several color belt junior students from Bodystrong Taekwon-do Academy garnered medals, each of whom had no previous competition experience, instructors noted. Bodystrong black belt athletes also grabbed many medals, particularly in power breaking and sparring.

An official United States Taekwon-do Federation tournament is planned for early next year near Vancouver, Wa.

Aron Golbeck of Bodystrong Taekwon-do Academy takes part in a friendly tournament training competition in Blyn on Oct. 22.

Submitted photo / Junior athletes from Bodystrong Taekwon-do Academy participate in a friendly tournament training competition in Blyn on Oct. 22.

Henrick Bess, left, of Bodystrong Taekwon-do Academy, participates in a friendly tournament training competition in Blyn on Oct. 22.

Submitted photoS Next Level Taekwon-do school in Blyn hosts a friendly tournament/training competition on Oct. 22.