Warren residents Thelonious “T” Rowley, age 17, a junior at Watchung Hills Regional High School and his sister Portia Rowley, age 14, a freshman also at Watchung Hills Regional High School, both won gold medals at the World Open Taekwondo Championship in Car La Loma, San Luis Potosi, Mexico, April 16, 2017.
T and Portia credit thier parents Zile and Malcolm for thier success. They were trained and coached by Master Israel Nava. Master Israel has been teaching and coaching Thelonious and Portia for ten years. Malcolm received certification as a Level 3 Instructor of Krav Maga, Israeli Self Defense System.
With the support and encouragement of their parents the siblings have a long list of accomplishments including:
● 2016 Canada Open in Montreal: T, Bronze; Portia, Silver;
● 2016 US American TaeKwonDo United in Atlanta Georgia: T, Gold medal
● 2016 US National Competition in Richmond Virginia: T achieved ranking; Portia took Silver
● 2016 World TaeKwonDo President’s Cup in Portland Oregon: T, Bronze; Portia, Bronze,
● 2015 Canada Open in Toronto: T, Bronze; Portia, Gold
● 2013 US National Competition in Chicago Illinois: Portia won her first National Championship Medal, a Bronze medal
● 2012 US National Competition in Dallas Texas: T won his first National Championship Medal, a Gold medal T and Portia plan to continue competing at the following events:
● June 2017: Luxembourg Open
● July 2017: US National Championship
● August 2017: Pan Am Championship
● October 2017: Canada Open
(above) Zile, Thelonious, Coach Master Israel Nava, Portia, and Malcolm.
