- April 16, 2024
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Reilly Opelka. Courtesy photos
The crosstown showdown will first feature girls on the court.
Christian Byrd. Courtesy photos
Remix Martial Arts Studio contestants returned from competition with a lot of hardware.
Opelka marching up ATP rankings and celebrity
Palm Coast’s Reilly Opelka has been moving up the ATP World Tour rankings, especially after reaching his first semifinal in Atlanta, where he lost to fellow American John Isner in three sets.
Opelka has gone from No. 837 to a career-high 295 in a matter of weeks. He recently beat No. 25-ranked Kevin Anderson and took No. 11-ranked Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to two tie-breaker sets before losing. Opelka joins five other American teenagers who have cracked the Top 300, which is the most of any country on the ATP World Tour.
Catch Opelka in U.S. Open qualifying draw play, which begins today.
Crosstown volleyball, first
Before the football war takes place Friday night at Matanzas, another crosstown battle – volleyball – will ensue between Flagler Palm Coast and Matanzas at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25, at FPC.
A pair of new head coaches and players returning to the court, only in different jerseys, will make for an annual exciting atmosphere.
Senior Games registration deadline approaching
For those interested in participating in the Palm Coast and Flagler Beaches Senior Games, the deadline for registering to compete is Thursday, Sept. 1.
The Games are open to men and women ages 50 and up, who compete against other athletes of the same gender and age group. Registration is $15 and includes a T-shirt and participation in one sports event; participation in each additional sports event is $5. Competition is offered in nine different age categories. To register, visit www.palmcoastgov.com/
Championship karate
Terri Arthur, who was featured in a past article, recently attended the US Open I.S.K.A. World Martial Arts Championship at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando.
Terri competed in the 11U advanced division and won three first-place 5-foot trophies for Continuous, Clash and Point Sparring. Many of the competitors traveled from South Africa, Canada, Argentina, Jamaica and other countries.
Safiya Fatal, who contended for her first time, also won three first-place trophies in the same categories in the 9U division. McKelvey Dietz placed third in Clash and Continuous Sparring in 11U. She also took fourth place in Point Sparring and XMA Forms.
Mathias Daza, advanced division, took first in XMA Weapons. He also placed second in Point Sparring and fourth in Traditional Forms. All were coached under the watchful eye of their Sensei Kevin Williams.
In another competition, Christian Byrd, a karate student of Moo Do, competed against a group of 13 in the 10-year-old male red belt division at the World Tang Soo Do Association World Championship held in Greensboro, North Carolina. Christian placed third for his weapons form, a traditional form using a five-foot wooden staff.
