Jul 23, 2015 2 min read

Alec Colombari of McMurray finished the 2014-15 Taekwondo Association tournament season as the Pennsylvania state champion in three of four events. The 10-year-old son of Suzanne and Mike Colombari also claimed one Northeast District title and earned silver as well as bronze medals in two other events.

In the Northeast District, which encompasses 13 states from Maine to Virginia, Colombari won sparring and secured second place in traditional forms. He took third in traditional weapons and combat weapon sparring in his age group. By winning district championships in sparring, Colombari became eligible to compete in the 2015 ATA World Tournament of Champions.

In Pennsylvania, he is the state champion in traditional forms, traditional weapons and sparring. He finished second in combat weapon sparring.

A second-degree black belt, Colombari has studied for five and a half years at ATA Martial Arts Academy in McMurray. For three years, he has assisted as a junior instructor in the Tiny Tigers classes for ages 4-6.

Colombari credits his success to Stephen D. Reeve, who owns the McMurray studio, and all his instructors as well as his parents and grandparents.

The 11-year-old is a sixth-grade student at McMurray Elementary School in Peters Township. In addition to martial arts, Colombari competes in soccer, excelling for the Beadling Soccer Club as well as his township team. Colombari is also a member of the Boy Scouts and active with Troop 1393 in McMurray.