Naperville resident Emily Pearn competed at the Dutch Open in Eindhoven, Netherlands on Saturday, March 21st. Pearn represented the US on the Amateur Athlete Union’s Junior National Team. There were a total of thirteen competitors in the Bantam Weight Division and Emily’s first match was against Marina Usanovic, from the Croatian National Team and the eventual Silver medalist. Her coach, Alfonso Qahhaar of Al’s Black Belt Club in Lombard, is incredibly proud of his first National Team Member and looks forward to many more of his students competing for Team USA!
ABBC: How did you prepare for the Dutch Open? Training regimen?
Pearn: I’m pretty much on a ‘sleep-school-training’ schedule. My dad picks me up from school and drives me straight to the gym to run off all the weight for about 2 hours. I then go train at ABBC 3-4 days a week, on top of kicking and conditioning in my basement every night.
ABBC: What was your biggest challenge?
Pearn: Weight was definitely the hardest part for me. Since I made the team at Bantam weight in September, I grew and had to lose about 13 pounds in a week and a half. I could only eat an apple a day and for the last few days, I couldn’t have more than a couple sips of water. I was dizzy and starting to get unmotivated, but my team, coaches, friends and family all kept me going. My mom and sister hung signs on the refrigerator and pantry reminding me not to eat. The new electronic scoring system was tough too; none of the US competitors had any experience with it while all the European teams have been training with it for three years.
ABBC: What is your fondest memory of Eindhoven?
Pearn: THE EXPERIENCE! I fought a girl from Croatia, who is the European Union Champion; she had an awkward style, which was something I needed to see. I also got to know my fellow teammates that are from all across the US and will be friends with for a long time; we were a party group. We ate over 200 candy bars and 90 Euro’s worth of pizza in one night, after we made weight!
ABBC: What is your next goal?
Pearn: Since I can no longer hold my bantam weight (97lbs- to 101.2lbs), I’m hoping to be able to make the 2010 AAU Junior National Team again at feather (101.3lbs -107.9lbs) or light weight (108lbs-114.4lbs), which are the next higher weight divisions. I also would like to make the USAT Junior National Team this year and maybe the Senior National Team in the near future.
ABBC: Describe how it felt to represent the United States on the AAU Junior National Team.
Pearn: It was a crazy feeling, but it also came with a little pressure. You want to do well just for personal satisfaction, but also to represent your country well. I still don’t think I will ever forget fighting in a different country with the whole USA team cheering for me. It’s one of those things where I have to pinch myself to make sure I’m still awake. I will remember this for the rest of my life!
Junior Division: Female Bantam Weight
1st Place – Germany
2nd Place – Croatia
3rd Place – Belgium
4th Place – Netherlands
