Maria Cortes-College Athlete of the Month

November 11, 2016-

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Maria Cortes-College Athlete of the Month

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!

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