Team Macho’s 2015 in Review

In the beginning of 2015, Christine Bannon-Rodrigues suggested that we bring back Team Macho, as it had been years since Macho had a team out on the circuit. With an exceptional amount of help from Bannon, a new Team Macho was formed with just three athletes for our first year. However, these three very remarkable and talented individuals were a huge success both in the USA and beyond. Thank you to team members, Dante Rodrigues, Kathryn Tian, and Ryker Weaver, as well as Coach Christine Bannon Rodrigues, for making 2015 such a success!

Dante Rodrigues had a great year competing with NASKA and the Krane circuit, winning 7 Grand Championships. He moved into the adult division in September, when he turned 18 and captured his first Adult Forms Grand Championship in November, proving himself a gifted competitor against experienced adults! He spent 2.5 weeks in the Grand Caymans teaching forms and then finished the year with a Krane National Title in Men’s Open Forms.

Kathryn Tian is a student at one of the top private high schools in the country, Harvard Westlake in California. She runs a Karate club at her high school and helps teach at her local ATA school. In addition to her commitment to studying and teaching, she also competed in NASKA and ATA tournaments this year, winning 3 ATA World Titles and 3 Grand Championships at NASKA events.


Ryker Weaver is a junior at Mountain Vista High School in Colorado. He teaches at his father’s Karate school and helps run a Hyper Demo Team of 15 members. He had a great year competing in many divisions mostly at NASKA National tournaments. He finished the year off strong as the Colorado State Champion in Forms and Weapons.


		“The three of them are very proud to be part of Team Macho,” said Christine Bannon Rodrigues, coach of Team Macho, “and they represent well, with good attitudes and sportsmanship.” We are proud of Team Macho’s many accomplishments this year and look forward to what 2016 will bring. The WILL to WIN