Bak Shaolin Eagle Claw at "Tribute to the Arts"
On June 10, 2000, The Evergreen State College Bak Shaolin Eagle Claw Kung Fu Competition Team visited the town of Rainier, Washington to compete in the Tribute to the Arts Tournament hosted by Master Archibeque's Gun Fu school. National Coach Sifu Dana G. Daniels led the eleven member team, including Regional Coach (and Evergreen alumnus), Sam Haskin. Four members of the team graduated the day before from TESC, and so, had double cause to celebrate by the end of the day: Bachelor's Degrees and overwhelming success at martial competition. Many of the students' parents, in town for graduation, also attended the event, marking the first time Team Evergreen enjoyed the presence of so large a group of parents and grandparents cheering them on.
The tournament opened with form divisions. Team Evergreen had competitors in all levels: beginner, intermediate, advanced and black belt. The Team's victories included a Grand Championship won by Catherine McLaine; five1st place trophies taken by John Eastlake, Catherine McLaine, Loa Arnoth, Sam Haskin, and Shasta Smith; four 2nd place trophies won by Catherine McLaine, Scott Kimak, Sam Haskin, and Jessie Smith; and two 3rd place trophies taken by John Eastlake, and Owen O'Keefe. The Team was consistently powerful in all divisions, sweeping Advanced Creative Musical, dominating Women's Open Hard Black Belt forms with Loa Arnoth and Jessie Smith taking 1st and 2nd respectively, and sending a total of five competitors onto the Grand Championships. The Team is extremely proud of Catherine McLaine's victory in the Advanced Grand Championship. Catherine just graduated from Evergreen, receiving her B.A. and will be attending the Naropa Institute for graduate studies in Buddhism and Eastern Philosophy. The Team's hard work in training showed itself in the form of trophies won.
Much later in the day, fighting divisions began, and once again Team Evergreen made their mark at all levels. Their rough and ready style of kung fu was apparent from the moment they stepped into the ring. Despite receiving three disqualifications for excessive contact, the Team still took an array of trophies: 1st in Black Belt Middleweight by Jesse Harter, 2nd in Black Belt Heavyweight by Sam Haskin, 2nd and 3rd in Black Belt Women's by Jesse Smith and Loa Arnoth respectively, and 3rd in Advanced Women's by Catherine McLaine. Jesse Harter, Team Captain, after dominating the Middleweight division, showed his prowess in the fight for Grand Champion versus champion point fighter, The Godfather, who wins more than 70% of all his fights in his weight class on the West Coast. Jesse continually took the fight to the Godfather, dominating him with both skill and force. In a testimony to the fierceness of the fighting, Master Archibeque felt compelled to interrupt the fighting a number of times to warn all the competitors against use of excessive force. Sam Haskin, fighting heavyweight, came up against local favorite Sensei Smith. It was solid kung fu power against years of solid point fighting in a match that had the audience captivated. Sensei Smith expressed admiration for both Sam's skill and power in the ring and for the coaching that developed that skill and power. By the end of the day, Team Evergreen had fought hard and impressed both parents and opponents alike.
Team Evergreen thanks Grandmaster Fu Leung, Sifu Dana G. Daniels, parents, friends, and family for their training, coaching, and support. Many special thanks to the parents in attendance who supported the Team with their presence and enthusiasm, and also in the form of food and drink during the long drawn out tournament. The support of parents and friends has always been part of Team Evergreen's success.