A martial arts star from Wehla is in the running to compete against the country's best at the national karate championships.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Leah McCoy, 13, hopes to represent Victoria at the 2019 Australian Karate Federation National Championships to be held in Tasmania later in the year.
McCoy - who holds a blue belt ranking and is in her debut year of elite level tournaments - is in-line to join the squad after a top-five finish at the state championships earlier in the month.
"It's a little bit nerve-racking to know I'm in the running to join the state team," McCoy said.
"I've tried so hard to get to where I am - so it's great to know that I'm achieving my goals."
McCoy started karate after she was introduced to the sport by a family friend - and it was love at first kick.
"After my first lesson I just fell in love with karate," McCoy said.
The appointment to the state squad would be the biggest triumph of McCoy's career and the Kokoro Kai Dojo product has no plans on slowing down.
In addition to McCoy, the dojo has three other athletes also training with the state squad.
The final Victorian team will be announced within the next two months.
In-line with her family's motto "if your dreams don't scare you, you're not dreaming big enough", she now has her eyes set on gaining as much elite-level tournament experience as possible.
State representative duties require McCoy to attend weekly training sessions in Melbourne where the focus is on refining kata or forms.
In kata competitions athletes perform a rehearsed karate routine that includes kicks and punches, which is then assessed and ranked by a panel of judges.
Earlier in the month McCoy was awarded first place at the National All Style State Championships where she was up against high ranked brown and black belt competitors - which has secured a spot at the NAS National Championships.
The win at the NAS State Championships was an accomplishment to remember, with McCoy going head-to-head in a "nail-biting" finale where she was required to repeat her kata after a tie with a fellow competitor.
After the repeat, McCoy ended up on top after defeating her opponent by only .06 of a point.
Most recently McCoy overcame a tough draw at the Shotokan Cup in Melbourne where she competed against the eventual tournament winner during the first round and finished within the top-five.
READ MORE: Kokoro Kai dojos join forces
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.
