Bowman wins Black Belt title at U.S. Nationals

The Daily Inter Lake

Alan Bowman, 21, of Kalispell took first place at the AAU U.S. Taekwondo Nationals held in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Bowman won four matches (8-1, 6-4, by injury defaut in the semifinals and 7-6 in the finals' in the men's Black Belt middle division.

More than 2,000 athletes were competing in the event, which took place June 29-July 4.

Bowman is a member of Big Sky Martial Arts, which had six individuals at nationals. He's been involved in taekwondo for 11 years at BSMA.

Bowman will now compete in the Team Trials in Fort Lauderdale on Sept. 11-13. Winners at the trials make the national team. Only Black Belts compete on the national squad.

Also for BSMA in Florida, Jack Waldher (13) took first place in the Red Belt division, BJ Bach (11) finished second in Red Belt and Dakota Arndt (10), Blue Belt, and Bella Walder (7), Yellow Belt, both wound up third.

Jack Waldher had a first-round bye, then won 8-1, 8-2, and 9-2 in the final.

BJ Bach won his first three matches - 14-5, 11-4 and 14-5 - but lost in the finals 17-10. Bach was competing at nationals for the first time.

Arndt lost in semis 11-10.

Danielle Smith (14), red belt, did not place, losing her first match to the winner of the 11-17 age division.