Kinol family wins 2nd gold medal at USA Karate national championships

Pennsylvania Shotokan Karate Club athletes Cristiano, Santino and Mila Kinol competed during the USA National Karate Championships and Team USA Trials from Sept. 1-5, in Chicago.

The Kinols, ages 8, 9 and 11, won their second straight gold medal in the family team synchronized Kata. Kata is a series of moves in a set pattern.

Mila, who is the youngest, also earned bronze in individual Kata and Kumite, which is the fighting portion of the competition.

Team PSKC, composed of 10 athletes, won six gold, three silver and six bronze for a total of 15 medals. Along with the Kinol’s success, PSKC had three athletes make Team USA in Kumite.

Jared Smith took silver after losing a close match to Tom Scott, who is recently back from the Tokyo Olympics. Riley Smith and Zach Kushnir both won gold in the 18-20 during the Junior Team USA Kumite Trials. Other standouts were Alejandro Voisin, who won gold in Kata and bronze in Kumite. Also, Kyle Campbell earned silver in Kumite and bronze in Kata, and Ryan Starr took bronze in Kumite.

All athletes are taught and coached by Dustin Baldis, owner of the Pennsylvania Shotokan Karate Club in Sewickley and a USA national team coach.