Russellville teen wins world title

By Staff
aScot Beard
RUSSELLVILLE – Tara McKelvey began taking Tang Soo Do lessons in 2005 and became a regional champion a few months later.
She also finished first in the forms discipline and second in the weapons discipline at the 2006 world championships in Anaheim, Calif.
The Russellville High School freshman added another gold medal to her trophy case earlier this month when she took first place in forms at the world championships in Orlando, Fla.
"It's not just the class time that makes her so successful," said her instructor, Ricky Young. "She spends extra time in addition to regular training that makes the difference in her success."
McKelvey was participating in band camp and was unavailable for comment.
When she started Tang Soo Do, she thought her specialty would be sparring. Before her first world championships, she spent most of her time working on those skills, but did not place.
As it turns out, she has the most success in forms, finishing first in the discipline at all regional and world tournaments she has participated in since she began.
The competitors she faced in Orlando were tough. She finished tied with another competitor and had to perform in a tiebreaker.
McKelvey prevailed in a close decision – her final score was only one-tenth of a point higher than the other participant.
She has shown a knack for Tang Soo Do since she began, winning five regional titles – three in forms, one in weapons and one in sparring – a second-place regional finish in weapons and a third-place regional finish in sparring during the last three years.
McKelvey earned her black belt in April and was awarded the best-test trophy for her exceptional demonstration of the skills she has learned.
While McKelvey spends quite a bit of time perfecting her Tang Soo Do technique, she is also involved in several activities at Russellville.
She is a member of the band and she also played tennis and volleyball.