Kicking it up a notch

It looks like the best is yet to come for Taylor Reed.

The 17-year-old Kalispell athlete earned a spot on the U.S. National taekwondo team at the Team Trials in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., earlier this month. He will compete for the first time with Team USA at the German Open in Hamburg, Germany, Feb. 27-March 1.

“He is an extremely talented taekwondo competitor, so really, the sky is the limit,” Debbie Noyes, an instructor at Big Sky Martial Arts who coaches Reed, said.

“We will always assist in pushing our athletes as far as they dream to go.”

Reed achieved his dream of making the U.S. National team on his third attempt. The past two years he finished second, last year at a lower weight class.

“Each time you don’t make it, it gives you the opportunity to refocus what your strengths and weakness are,” Noyes said.

“It should create more determination, because you can see how close you are to achieving your goal.”

Reed, a black belt, was competing as a light heavy weight (161-172 pounds) this time. He was also ranked No. 1 heading to the Team Trials. Reed backed that up by winning his three preliminary round matches by scores of 20-18, 11-4 and 11-2.

Reed then had to face the competitor with the second-best record, which was Caleb Underbakke, who he beat 20-18 in the first round.

Like the first bout, this was just as close and intense.

Reed led the rematch 4-1 after the first two-minute round.

The score tightened up after the second round with Reed holding on to a 9-8 advantage.

With two seconds left in the third round, Reed was docked a penalty point when he slid back to avoid an attack by Underbakke. That tied the bout at 16-all, forcing overtime.

This is where Reed’s experience came into play. He did not fold.

Reed blocked a kick by Underbakke, who was much taller, and followed with a scoring punch just seven seconds into the extra session to nail down the victory.

Reed never trailed in any of his bouts and was tied just twice after rounds.

“From a coach’s perspective, Taylor was clearly the most prepared player in his division, but anything can happen,” Big Sky Martial Arts Master John Paul Noyes said.

“It’s not a win ’til the day is over.

“A missed point from the referees, an injury or any miss calculation on my part as his coach, or Taylor’s part, could result in a loss,” Noyes said.

“All the athletes and coaches at Team Trials are at the very top of this game so we take every moment as it comes with a lot of attention to opportunities and any changes in strategies. You have to have total commitment and the flexibility to change it up, which is a tough balance for a lot of athletes.”

Reed demonstrated all those things to come out on top.

“I was really excited,” Reed said after claiming the decisive win in overtime.

“It was an amazing moment.”

It looks like it might also take some time for that feeling to wear off. He’s reminded of his achievement every time he practices.

“The adrenaline comes out, it all comes back,” he said.

“I’d like to say I toughed it out, but I didn’t, ” he said of his emotions after the final victory in Florida.

“I cried for a little bit. It was a little bit overwhelming. It was the pinnacle of my career so far.”

Reed devoted three months exclusively to training for the Team Trials. He’s been member of Big Sky Martial Arts, where he’s also an instructor, for 11 years.

“Coming in every day,” he said for workouts before the Florida competition.

“Everything else comes secondary.”

He was definitely prepared this time for this challenge.

“Heading into Nationals we knew that Taylor was the one to beat, but going to Team Trials is a whole different game,” John Paul Noyes said.

“Each player has fought and filmed one another so you have to be prepared to switch things up. We train all our athletes to have range. It’s a harder road, but it opens up options that other players may not have.”

“ Maturity has been helpful as well as being a teacher and a referee,” Debbie Noyes said.

“In these roles, one gets to watch others struggle and see that they can be overcome with focus and persistence. He has been watching video, conditioning more and believing in himself as an athlete and competitor.”

Next for Reed is more training and competing in as many events as possible the next few months. He will also attend the National Team Training Camp in Texas before heading to Germany.

Reed is also looking for financial sponsors as he looks to earn a global ranking with an eye on the Olympics.

“As far as I want,” he said of what lies ahead.

“As long as I train hard and list to my coaches.”

Reed is the second Big Sky Martial Arts member to make the U.S. National Taekwondo team. Chance Cole of Eureka did it in 2002.

The National team also had a member from Montana in 1994 and 1988.

“So this is a very significant accomplishment,” John Paul Noyes said.

“Taylor is the hardest working athlete we have. He has shown how much work it takes to make it to this level, and in doing so, he has provided a road map for others to follow.

“Athletes at Big Sky Martial Arts talk about making the National team and now they are training with and being taught by a National team member, some of the mystery is gone. It’s no longer that other athlete, it’s our athlete. That makes this goal of making the National team that much more reachable for others in our school and hopefully in the rest of the state. We have other athletes that are right there if they just take the extra step they too can be on the National team.”