In the Nov. 5 competition at Chabot Junior College in Hayward, four Los Altans clawed first-place awards, while nine others received special honors.
The winners were: Becky Shatsky (age 11, first place in girls orange belt sparring); Olya Milenkaya (13, first in orange belt Kata); Nick Williams (15, first in boys blue belt sparring); Brian Lin (first in adult brown belt sparring); Tiny Tigers Jenna Maki, Deanna Alexander, James Hickman, John Melon and Craeme Radlos (most inspirational); Tiny Tiger Brian Gwynn (most improved); Little Dragons Maggie Drew, Scott Mattes and Tim McCrone (most inspirational).
Other locals who performed well at the competition were: chief instructor Ben Pegis, Nick Mattes, Keith Jensen, Chris Schnoor and Brian Burch. In all, 68 Los Altans - ages 4 through 48 - participated.