National Collegiate Taekwondo Association

07/27/2026

On the third and final day of the FISU America Games competition, the Taekwondo team concluded its record-setting run with 5🥇, 5🥈 and 1🥉 medals for a total of 11🥇, 14🥈 and 5 🥉! The results were the first-ever perfect gold sweep of all poomsae divisions by the USA at a collegiate national team event, along with historic finalist performances by our men's and women's team sparring entrants, who secured two silver medals.

Finally, USA finished first in the taekwondo standings, with Brazil second and Peru third - also the first time for a USA team at the FISU America Games. Congratulations to all athletes, staff, and to their home families, schools and coaches!

Yuri Kim, Female Recognized Poomsae - GOLD
Bomin Kim, Male Recognized Poomsae - GOLD
Allison DeGuzman, Female Freestyle Poomsae - GOLD
Landon Her, Male Freestyle Poomsae - GOLD
Gian Legaspi and Landon Her, Mixed Pair Freestyle Poomsae - GOLD

Aahana Mulchandani, Female Recognized Poomsae - SILVER
Nathan Kim, Male Recognized Poomsae - SILVER
Gian Legaspi, Female Freestyle Poomsae - SILVER
Matthew Ra, Male Freestyle Poomsae - BRONZE

Gaia Castillo, Kayla Shanahan, Christina Chimal, Maggie Shiba -Female Team Sparring - SILVER
Jordan Panotes, Justin Fredricks, William Smith, David Yehe-Nara -Male Team Sparring - SILVER

Monique Villasenor, Grace Shiba, Alena Viana, Caliana Fonseca -Female Team Sparring - QUARTERS
Prahchomvong Thay, Melvy Alvarez, Cole Noretto, Barron Mosteller - Male Team Sparring - QUARTERS

Uni-USA

07/26/2026

NCTA team extends its record setting performance on Day 2 of 2026 FISU America Games with 1🥇, 4 🥈and 3🥉 medals for a total of 6🥇, 9 🥈and 4🥉! Day 3 finishes up with poomsae and team sparring toomrrow.

USA results below:

Christina Chimal, -62kg – University of California, Riverside - GOLD

Monique Villasenor, -49kg – San Antonio College - SILVER
Kayla Shanahan, -62kg – Stony Brook University - SILVER
Sydney Merrill, -73kg – Brown University - SILVER
William Smith, -87kg – University of California, Los Angeles - SILVER

Maggie Shiba, -49kg – University of Utah - BRONZE
David Yehe-Nara, -54kg – University of Connecticut, Stamford - BRONZE
Cole Noretto, -63kg - Seattle University - BRONZE

Grace Shiba, -57kg – Weber State University - QUARTERS
Donovan James Eugenio, -63kg – University of Washington - QUARTERS
Edwind Gabriel Torres, -74kg – University of Maryland, Baltimore County - QUARTERS

Uni-USA

07/25/2026

NCTA team sets record on Day 1 of 2026 FISU America Games with 5🥇, 5 🥈and 1🥉 medals! Most medals ever for a USA team at this event on the first day of competition.

USA results below:

Caliana Fonseca, -46kg – California State University, Northridge - GOLD
Alena Viana, +73kg – University of North Carolina, Charlotte - GOLD
Melvy Alvarez, -58kg – University of Connecticut - GOLD
Barron Mosteller, -80kg – Diablo Valley College - GOLD
Abou Sow, +87kg – University of Maryland, Baltimore County - GOLD

Gaia Castillo, -53kg – University of California, Riverside - SILVER
Prahchomvong Thay, -58kg – California State University, Fresno - SILVER
Justin Fredricks, -68kg – State University of New York, Old Westbury - SILVER
Devin Cornell, -80kg – California State University, Fresno - SILVER
Marlon Perez, +87kg – Lebanon Valley College - SILVER

Yusleny Rangel, -46kg – Edmonds Community College -BRONZE

Audrey Kohlman, -53kg – Cornell University - QUARTERS
Jordan Panotes, -68kg – South Puget Sound Community College - QUARTERS

Uni-USA

07/24/2026

Our NCTA National Collegiate Taekwondo Team has arrived to the athlete village in Lima,Peru for the FISU America Games and is ready for action!

Competition begins tommorrow at the National Sports Village, catch the action at https://youtube.com/?si=E92eYFVlsWFrZOLm

Competing tomorrow, Friday 7/24 are these USA sparring athletes. Let's wish them all the best of luck!

Women’s -46kg Sparring
Caliana Fonseca – California State University, Northridge
Yusleny Rangel – Edmonds Community College

Men’s -58kg Sparring
Melvy Alvarez – University of Connecticut
Prahchomvong Thay – California State University, Fresno

Women’s -53kg Sparring
Gaia Castillo – University of California, Riverside
Audrey Kohlman – Cornell University

Men’s -68kg Sparring
Justin Fredricks – State University of New York, Old Westbury
Jordan Panotes – South Puget Sound Community College

Men’s -80kg Sparring
Barron Mosteller – Diablo Valley College
Devin Cornell – California State University, Fresno

Men’s +87kg Sparring
Abou Sow – University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Marlon Perez – Lebanon Valley College

Women’s +73kg Sparring
Alena Viana – University of North Carolina, Charlotte

07/20/2026

Today, members of the US National Collegiate Taekwondo Team will be traveling to Lima, Peru to represent the United States and the National Collegiate Taekwondo Association at the 4th FISU America Games. The FISU America Games feature 14 sports with over 3,000 participants from 19 countries across the Pan American region.

These 32 taekwondo athletes from the United States will compete in both poomsae and sparring sub-disciplines and hail from 30 different colleges and universities across the United States. Each team member is a student athlete that has split their time between their studies and their preparation for the Games.

NCTA President Dan Chuang said, “Each year, the FISU America Games become more and more competitive, and these student athletes have been working hard to represent USA at a high level. We look forward to seeing strong athletes across the board from the Pan American Region. Thank you to our generous hosts here in Peru for putting on a Games of this scale. We look forward to enjoying the athlete village and the competition venue.

05/11/2026

Congratulations to Sunghyun Eric Gun on being named the first recipient of the Male Student-Athlete of the Year award as part of our inaugural Gary Cunningham Award series. Eric delivered a standout performance at the FISU World University Summer Games, representing UniUSA with excellence in Taekwondo. Beyond the podium, he set the standard with his leadership, consistency, and competitive excellence — inspiring teammates and elevating the Taekwondo community on the global stage.

The Student-Athlete of the Year award honors one female and one male student-athlete who demonstrate exceptional athletic performance during FISU competition — whether at the Summer, Winter, or FISU America Games. This recognition highlights record-breaking achievements, medal-winning efforts, and athletes who exemplify personal growth, competitive excellence, and the pursuit of athletic achievement on the world stage.

“This award means a lot not just to me, but to the UniUSA team as well as the NCTA. It reflects the hard work, dedication, and sacrifices that our entire staff and team have put in together. Representing UniUSA at the Summer World University Games was an incredible experience, and I’m proud of what we were able to accomplish as a group.”

05/08/2026

Wrapping up 2026 NCTA Championships! Over 600 athletes competed on site over three thrilling days April 24-26 at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, including the exciting 3v3 format for poomsae and sparring at the NCTA Cup on the last day.

2026 NCTA National Collegiate Taekwondo Championships

Championship Division
1) University of Texas at Austin
2) Brown University
3) Northeastern University

Black Belt Division
1) University of California, Berkeley
2) University of Washington
3) Northeastern University

Color Belt Division
1) University of Texas at Austin
2) Brown University
3 - tie) University of Colorado Boulder
3 - tie) Northeastern University

NCTA Cup - 3v3 Team Format Championship
1) University of Texas at Austin
2) Brown University
3 - tie) The Ohio State University
3 - tie) University of Washington

04/27/2026

Huge CONGRATULATIONS to NCTA Medical Adviser, Dr. Sherri Lashomb, on being recognized by Uni-USA for her many years of service to the athletes! We are so proud of her.

We’re proud to announce Dr. Sherri LaShomb as the first female recipient of the Spirit of Sport award as part of our inaugural Gary Cunningham Award series. Sherri brought experience, integrity, and commitment to UniUSA’s mission at the FISU World University Games. Her impact was felt across the entire delegation.

The Gary Cunningham Spirit of Sport Award is presented to individuals who embody dedication, resilience, and excellence through service and leadership during the World University Games. This award honors those whose impact reaches beyond the field of play — celebrating integrity, sportsmanship, and global citizenship while upholding the values Gary Cunningham championed.

“I am incredibly honored and extremely humbled to receive the inaugural Gary Cunningham Spirit of Sport Award. This award means a great deal to me  because of what the award represents. The level of dedication and commitment to collegiate sports that Mr. Cunningham has demonstrated is something to aspire to. To be associated with such an icon of selfless volunteerism is an amazing privilege. I am so proud to be a part of this community and can only hope to be a small part of the continued success of collegiate sports.  

I am so grateful to UniUSA and the National Collegiate Taekwondo Association for the continued opportunity to work with our USA Collegiate Taekwondo Team, and the extraordinary support I have received from the athletes, their families, our coaches, and the rest of the USA Team staff. I would be remiss if I didn’t also thank my husband, Carlos Pena, for his ongoing continued support of my love of providing medical care to athletes and my time away from home.“ - Dr. LaShomb

04/27/2026

Thank you to the NCTA Tournament Committee for executing an amazing event this past weekend at the 2026 National Collegiate and High School Taekwondo Championships at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill! The team is led by TC Chair Tara Sarathi, TC Vice-Chair Viet Nguyen and Technology Chair Will Estey.

These passionate current and former athletes all participated in collegiate taekwondo programs, and in our regional leagues, and are giving back to the next generation of athletes by working long days and nights executing the event, and developing cutting edge tools and software to run the event. Many thanks!

04/27/2026

Thanks to the incredible Medical Staff at the 2026 NCTA Championships at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill this past weekend April 24-26, led by Dr. Sherri Lashomb.

With the most sparring matches ever processed in one day by the NCTA, we were so grateful to have such a caring, competent and proactive medical staff on site. Thank you on behalf of all of the athletes, coaches, referees and officers!