Herndon Brothers Grab Gold Medals at Junior Olympics

• By Clarice Nassif Ransom

Herndon brothers Blake Rodgers, 10, and Cooper Rodgers, 6, won gold medals and earned National Champion titles in their respective age divisions for sparring at the 2011 USA Taekwondo Junior Olympics at the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, CA, June 28-July 1. 

“Earning a gold medal at Junior Olympics means you are the best of the best,” said their mother, Vicky Rodgers. “I am proud of the boys because they worked so incredibly hard.”

Nearly 5,000 of the country’s best taekwondo athletes ranging in ages from 6-17 competed in the four-day competition. Each athlete had to win a state or regional qualifying tournament to be eligible to compete in Junior Olympics. Blake and Cooper each won both Virginia and Pennsylvania’s State Championships.

“They are doing something I never have done,” said their father Brian Rodgers. “Their athletic ability is unbelievable. I am just really proud to watch them do what they do. I hope they stick with it. I want them to be able to go to the next level.”

Over the course of incredibly long 12-hour days at Junior Olympics, Blake defeated a division of 21 boys and Cooper defeated a division of 17 boys.

Brian, who could not attend the tournament in person because he was recovering from back surgery, waited on pins and needles to hear the results of the boys’ competition.

“I was nervous,” said Brian. “Blake was the National Champion in 2009, so I was expecting he would do well. With Cooper, I was hoping he would come home with at least a medal. Cooper winning the Gold Medal was a total surprise. Vicky would text me to tell me what was going on. I kept pacing, waiting for the next text to come. That’s what I do at tournaments, pace around and videotape. Thank goodness she was texting me—and another parent was videotaping. It was the next best thing to being there in person.”

Blake began competing when he was 6, won the Gold Medal at the Junior Olympics in 2009 at age 8, and then was defeated in 2010, ranking number four in the nation in his age group. But this did not deflate Blake’s spirit. It inspired him to become more disciplined in his training efforts.

“When we left for California to attend Junior Olympics, Blake declared, ‘I am reclaiming my title,’” said Vicky. “And he did just that. He is getting stronger not only physically, but mentally too. He is able to recognize how his hard work is paying off through being focused and disciplined. These kids have incredible courage. They look across the mat and know their opponent’s sole purpose is to defeat them. And they face that challenge.”

This is Cooper’s first year competing, and he has gained more confidence in himself throughout the whole process, not only by training and competing, but also by watching his older brother.

“The confidence level that Copper has developed is phenomenal,” said Brian. “We were not expecting him to be a gold medal winner—especially when you think of where he was last fall.”

Before Cooper’s first tournament last year, he was visibly upset as he was led onto the mat to compete and he lost badly. 

“We didn’t know when he walked off the mat if he was going to leave the sport or continue,” said Vicky. “But, Cooper faced down his demons. He never quit, and he got better and better with each tournament, which fueled his fire.”

At Junior Olympics, Cooper was upset and emotional before his first competition. But, to his mother’s surprise, when Cooper came out to the floor, he was calm and collected.

“When I asked him what changed, Cooper told me, ‘I just decided that yes I could beat everyone in my division, so I did,’” said Vicky. “My boys are my inspiration. I find that I pull from their strength at times when I want to walk away from something that appears to be too difficult. Whether its an excise program, a diet, or a tough work situation, their faces pop up in my mind, and I remember how hard they work—four-hour long training sessions, never giving up even when they have been defeated—and that gets me going again.”

The next big goal is to get Blake on the USA taekwondo cadets team and eventually to the Olympics.

“I would love to see the Rodgers’ boys on the Olympic team together representing the United States,” said Vicky.

Finding the Right Coaches

Vicky searched for just the right coach for her boys for over a year.  Blake had received an excellent start to his taekwondo career at HK Lee TKD of Herndon.

It was his first Master, JC Thomas, who introduced Vicky to the Virginia state coaches one of which was Jason Yoo. At the 2009 Junior Olympics in Austin, TX, Jason piqued Vicky’s interest. Jason impressed her with his close relationship with his athletes. After attending a series of joint Warrior training camps before the 2010 Junior Olympics conducted by Team Yoo and Team Park (Norfolk, VA) she knew Team Yoo was with whom she wanted her boys to train. 

The Yoo siblings, Jason, Joy and Jon, bring a unique approach to their coaching. The brothers not only competed on a local level but on an international level as well. They have won more than their fair share of tournaments and Jason was named 1995 Athlete of the Year. Jason has not only competed for his own spot on the USA Olympic team but has coached Mara Persheid to the 2008 Olympic Team. The siblings expect their players to work hard with intense focus while maintaining a respect for their coaches, themselves, their teammates, their opponents and their parents.

“It has given me a peace of mind that not only do my boys have the skills to take care of themselves, but it has helped me in raising boys that have strong morals, an incredible work ethic, a respect for their peers, their opponents, their parents, their teachers and it has shown them how to be good sportsmen,” said Vicky. “Not only can they win, as they did this time, but they have learned how to lose, as well.”

Vicky and Brian acknowledge that there is a pride involved when you hear their teammates and other parents screaming for their children.  

“The taekwondo network is an incredible support system—like family,” said Vicky. “I have lasting friendships that have developed…as has Brian.”

Vicky said it would be a disappointing day if her children chose a different main sport to participate in.

“I believe you get more out of taekwondo than other sports," Vicky said. "For instance, when you are a teenager going through those various peer pressures you can be on a traditional sport team with peers your own age who are challenged with those same pressures. But, the difference with taekwondo is the make up of your team. You have little kids looking up to you for guidance, older kids that have been through your challenges, and coaches who treat you like a sibling. That kind of support system makes going through all of that teenage nonsense not nearly as difficult.

"It is not just about winning a trophy or a medal. Taekwondo is about building a solid foundation—morals, respect for self and the people around you. The temptations are the same but the way they handle them are just much stronger because of the support network you build.”

Editor's Note: This article was contributed to Herndon Patch by Clarice Nassif Ransom and Victoria Rodgers.