The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Conestoga is now accepting applications for: TUITION-FREE Pre-Apprenticeship Programs These Pre-Apprenticeship Training Programs are funded by the Government of Ontario Interested candidates must attend an information session; all sessions will include details on both programs. Registration is not required! All information sessions will begin promptly at 4:00pm. Waterloo - 4:00 pm, room 1D02, January 10 or January 25 or February 7 Guelph - 4:00 pm, room A17, January 12 or January 18 or February 2 For more information please contact: 519.885.0300 ext. 5484 (Waterloo) or 519.824.9390 ext. 5484 (Guelph) or email preapp@conestogac.on.ca Truck and Coach/Heavy Duty Equipment Technician Guelph Campus, March 2017 In-school training for 23 weeks with an 8 week paid work placement Welder/Metal Fabricator WaterlooCampus,May2017 In-school training for 25 weeks with an 8 week paid work placementLearn more about tuition-free Food Manufacturing/Millwright for Women, contact preapp@conestogac.on.ca. 18 • WATERLOO CHRONICLE • THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2017 SPORTS WATERLOO CHRONICLE Canadian pride Forty martial artists head to Panama for international competition By Adam Jackson Chronicle Sta� When Tanya Schramek signed her son up for martial arts, she never expected she would fi nd herself in a uniform. But a short while later, she's heading to an international championship. Schramek is part of the Team Canada contin- gent that will travel to Panama on Jan. 6 for the annual invitational tournament, which brings martial artists from across North America to one location for a multi-day tournament. Th e artists compete in a variety of age classes. Schramek originally brought her son, Nolan, who is now 10, to a martial arts class at Shamuon Generations Martial Arts because he was having behavioural issues. Since they were spending fi ve nights a week training, Schramek and her daughter Grace, 12, decided to join as well. All three will compete in Panama. "Martial arts was rec- ommended by my doctor," said Schramek during a team practice. Schramek said it has helped leaps and bounds with Nolan. With Grace, it has increased her confi- dence. "She used to be the girl that would hide behind my leg but if you talked to her today, no one would believe that," said Schramek. Aside from the benefi ts to both Grace and Nolan, martial arts has been a boon for the family as a whole. "It's really brought us closer together and I feel that we all have something to work towards. A common goal. It's often that the kids and I are in our bed- room practicing something," she said. "(Grace) and I are doing synchro together and we often have Nolan sitting on the bed judging us." Julian Shamuon, whose father Tom owns Shamuon Generations Martial Arts, is back competing after ACL repair surgeries on both knees. His last surgery was less than a year ago, but his recovery went well and he feels good enough to com- pete. Since his fi rst competition in 2004, Shamoun has earned triple crowns (swept the events) every year. Lexi McGann Barclay, 15, has been compet- ing with Team Canada for six years and has been in the discipline for nine years. Her first inter- national tournament was to Panama six years ago. "I know sort of where things are there," said McGann Barclay, who started martial artswhen she was fi ve years old. She originally started dancing, but didn't like it. She switched to martial arts, and aside from the early morning training sessions, she found her passion. McGann Barclay also has an added layer of diffi culty. She has diabetes, a disease that makes life challenging, especially for athletes. "Sometimes it's diffi cult. Like yesterday during class I had to stop because my blood sugar went low, so that makes it hard," said McGann Barclay. "Sometimes at tournaments, I'll have a really good day if my blood sugar is normal, but if it goes high, I get sloppy and tired more easily. So I need to get that perfect in between." "It's really brough us closer together and I feel that we all have something to work towards." Tanya Schramek on having her two children in martial arts A contingent of 40 martial artsits will travel to Panama on Jan. 6 to participate in an international event. SUBMITTED PHOTO