George Madumba may have started Judo just five years ago, but the 16-year-old is now on his way to nationals next month in Calgary.
“Without everyone here, I wouldn’t be able to go,” said Madumba.
His sensei, Chris Townsend, says Madumba is certainly up for the challenge.
“I expect him to medal up there,” said Townsend.
“George is a thoroughbred.”
Mudumba has had lots of success in the past few months, winning the Ontario open, coming second in Quebec and second at Elite Eights, an invitation-only competition where the top eight fighters in the country are pitted against each other. Madumba is currently second in the under-18 category.
Madumba, who also won gold at Atlantics in Summerside last month, said he has nationals in his sights.
“I want to medal at nationals,” he said.
Townsend was pleased with how his club performed at Atlantics and noted a couple surprises as well.
“We had a blue belt beat a black belt and one girl completed all three of her matches in 32 seconds,” said Townsend.
Another strong performer at Atlantics, which were held at Credit Union Place on March 30 and 31, was Paige Walfield, who won gold in the under-14 division. It wasn’t her first time on the podium.
“I got bronze at the Ontario open,” said Paige.
“It was nerve-racking.”
Walfield and Madumba were just two of 14 medallists at Atlantics from the Toshidokan Judo Club. Walfield is too young to attend nationals.
“I would say 60 per cent of people are here for recreation, which is fine, and 40 per cent are here to compete and there’s a lot of potential here.”
Six Toshidokan members are part of Team P.E.I., with four of them heading to nationals.
