Fists of fury in Las Vegas

Steve Guiremand

Wednesday, July 10, 2002 | 10 a.m.

John Paul Obena was a few weeks late with a birthday present for his father, Nelson. But considering the circumstances, it was more than worth the wait.

"He promised his dad that he would win him a gold medal," mother Divina Averilla-Obena said. "And then he went out and made good on that promise."

The 7-year-old Obena was one of two Las Vegans from the Desert Sun Tae Kwon Do studio to win gold medals at last week's U.S. Junior Olympic Tae Kwan Do Championships at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. He won his in the blue belt sparring division for 55 to 60 pounders.

Also bringing home a national title was 14-year-old Alma Vargas, a second-degree black belt from Centennial HighSchool. She won her gold medal in forms, a pattern of Tae Kwon Do moves consisting of blocks, strikes and kicks intended to fight off imaginary opponents attacking from multiple directions.

Vargas, a 1999 national champ in sparring, also finished fourth in that event despite competing against girls as old as 17 in the heavyweight division. In one of her preliminary matches, she knocked her opponent cold with a kick to the jaw.

"It's the premier event in our sport," said Master Michael Evans, who has owned and operated his Desert Sun studio on the corner of Rainbow Drive and Oakey Boulevard for seven years. "We sent 11 kids back there and five of them came back with medals. I'll take it."

Especially considering that 6,800 competitors took part in the six-day competition.

Eighteen rings were set up on the floor of the Metrodome, home of the Minnesota Twins and Vikings.

"My gosh, it was just huge," Averilla-Obena said. "It was just unbelievable to see all those kids performing out there. And then for John Paul to go out and win ... I'm just so proud of him."

Other medal winners from Desert Sun included 10-year-old Adam Knaff, who won a silver medal, and 8-year-old Jordan Pilkington and 13-year-old Sarah Jung, who won bronze medals.

Six other members of Team Desert Sun competed in Minneapolis after qualifying with medals in the Nevada State Championships. They were Karlyn Cambridge, Cody Cameron, Tara Choisser, Jordan Greenberg, Jack Guior and Jacob Sinchak.

This was the first time since 1999, when the Junior Olympics were held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, that the Desert Sun Studio participated in the big event. That year 54 students took part and brought home 20 medals.

Other Nevada medal winners included Rochelle Cariaga (silver, 10-11 female forms, silver in sparring), Shawn Botti (bronze, 10-11 male forms), Jesse Kabanov (gold, 14-15 male forms, bronze in sparring), Travis Sherman (gold, 14-17 male forms), Leslie Marlow (gold, 18 female forms). I'll take it."