Taekwondo

Van Mitchel Bactista

Athlete Bio#

Height

5'9"

Age

26

Hometown

South Pasadena, CA

Education

South Pasadena High School

Personal
Favorite books include Percy Jackson books and The Warriors series...Enjoys playing guitar and soccer...Favorite TV shows are Malcolm in the Middle and Everybody Hates Chris...Eats bananas and snack bars before competition...Favorite athlete is Usain Bolt...Favorite taekwondo athlete is Joseph Salim...Favorite quote: “It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get up.” -Vince Lombardi
Career Highlights
  • 2018 USA Taekwondo All-American Athlete
  • 2018 National Collegiate Championships - Sparring - Black Belt - -54kg - Gold
  • 2018 Canada Open - Sparring - Black Belt - -54kg - Silver
  • 2016 USAT Junior National Team Member (-51kg)
  • 2016 USAT Junior National Team Trials (-51kg) - 1st
  • 2016 USAT National Championships - Sparring - Black Belt - 51kg - GOLD
  • 2016 National Collegiate Taekwondo Championships (High School) - Sparring - Black Belt - -54kg - SILVER
  • 2016 World Taekwondo President's Cup (Bonn, Germany) - Sparring - Black Belt - -51kg - SILVER
  • 2016 Nevada State Qualifiers - Sparring - Black Belt - -54kg - GOLD
  • 2016 Nevada State Qualifiers - Sparring - Black Belt - -51kg - GOLD
  • 2016 U.S. Open (Jr. -51kg): GOLD
  • 2015 USAT Junior National Team Member (-48kg)
  • 2015 USAT National Championships (-48kg): GOLD
  • 2015 AAU Regional Qualifier (-51kg): GOLD
  • 2015: California State Qualifier (-51kg): GOLD
  • 2015: Nevada State Qualifier (-48kg): GOLD
  • 2014: Primeros Juegos Binacionales de Taekwondo (Fly): GOLD
  • 2014: Truescore Open (Fly): GOLD
  • 2014: Pan Am Open (Fly): BRONZE
  • 2014: Mexico Open (Fly): BRONZE
  • 2014: USAT Junior National Team Member (-45kg)
  • 2014: California State Qualifier (Jr. Fly): GOLD
  • 2014: Golden State Open (Jr. Fin): GOLD
  • 2014: Nevada State Qualifier (Jr. Fin): GOLD
  • 2014: U.S. Open (Jr. Fin): BRONZE
  • 2013: California State Open (Jr. Fin): GOLD
  • 2013: Jimmy Kim Invitational (Cadet Bantam): GOLD
  • 2013: Golden State Open (Jr. Fin): GOLD
  • 2013: USAT Cadet National Team Member (Bantam)
  • 2013: 2013  USAT National Championships (bantam): GOLD
  • 2013: Juniors ATU Nationals (fin): GOLD ( Made Junior Team)
  • 2013: Southern California State National Qualifiers (bantam): SILVER
  • 2013: Nevada State National Qualifier (fly): BRONZE
  • 2013: Juniors Golden State Open ATU National Qualifiers (fin): GOLD
  • 2012: USAT National Championships (fly): BRONZE
  • 2012: ATU National Championships (fin): BRONZE
  • 2012: Southern California Sate National Qualifiers (bantam): SILVER
  • 2012: Juniors, Golden State Open ATU National Qualifiers (fin): SILVER
  • 2012: Northern California State National Qualifiers (fin): GOLD
  • 2011: Pan Am Open (fin): BRONZE
  • 2011: ATU National Championship (fin): GOLD
  • 2011: Nevada State National Qualifiers (fin): GOLD
  • 2009: California Sate Open Championships (fin): GOLD
World Championship Experience
  • 2016 Junior World Championship - Sparring - Black Belt - -51kg - Quarterfinalist

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