November 11, 2016-
Name of Athlete: Maria Cortes-Sophomore
Name of University: Iowa Central Community College
Belt and or Dan: Red Belt
Are you a team officer? If so what is your position and what do you do to support the team?
Team Captain
Who was or is your primary Taekwondo instructor?
Master Justin Faiferlick
Who is your University Team Head Coach(es)?
Master Justin Faiferlick
Assistant Rob Hepperle
What influenced you to get started in Taekwondo?
My dad influenced me. He is a black belt and put me in taekwondo when I was younger.
What has kept you going?
The gym is a place to leave stress behind and work on self-improvement.
How is Taekwondo a positive influence in your academic life?
Taekwondo keeps my mind and body healthy which translates into my school work.
How is your University team special?
ICCC is the first community college to have taekwondo considered a sport. We may be small in numbers, but we are still out there winning trophies. We are not a club. We are a collegiate sport team. The college has scholarships for Taekwondo and pays for all uniforms, equipment, gear, tournament entry fees, training, travel, hotels, etc. We have extremely talented, experienced, and caring coaches.
How do your team members support each other?
We are a very welcoming team. We realize that everyone has something special they bring to the team.
How has Taekwondo been a positive influence to your university or university community?
We represent ICCC very well when we go to tournaments and when we host tournaments. The community can see ICCC students are hardworking and respectful.
What are your goals for after graduation?
I plan on pursuing a career in the Accounting field. I want to continue to travel as well.
What are your goals for Taekwondo?
Some of my goals are to become a black belt and to win gold at Collegiate Nationals AGAIN!
