Bulletin staff reports
Alyssa Simonich Oliver of Ripon captured two gold medals in the Kids World Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Championships on July 25.
The Ripona School seventh grader was one of two entrants representing Oakdale Mixed Martial Arts Academy. The two-person team placed 50th on points. More than 150 schools participated.
Oliver competed in the 2003 medium heavyweight division for yellow belt gi competition and was in the 2002 middleweight class for no-gi. More than 1,100 young martial artists from around the world entered the event held at Citizen’s Business Bank Arena in Ontario
Oliver is coached by Vasilios “Bill” Theofanopoulos from Oakdale MMA. She started in martial arts three years ago with Schaffer’s Tae Kwon Do in Ripon. She is the daughter of Michael and Megan Oliver and has supportive grandparents in Tom and Caroline Oliver, Tricia Morris and Greg Simonich.