Since 2009, Garland ISD’s after-school Martial Arts Knights Order (MAKO) program has provided a free, beneficial resource for students, parents and other community members. Participants not only get to experience the ancient practice of martial arts, but also receive the chance to compete in localtournaments. Six MAKO students recently took that opportunity by storm, winning eight medals and four trophies—including the coveted All School Trophy—at the MAKO Bellatores Veri Tournament in April.
“This is a tournament I plan for my students to attend to give them some very good competition experience,” said GISD network engineer and master instructor Rusty Truelock. “Finding out we won the first-place All School Trophy was overwhelming. It shows we are doing great things and our students are performing at a higher level. I am so very proud of my students. Their hard work and determination paid off.”
Truelock formed his winning team from participants who train at Freeman Elementary School—the program’s initial practice facility. After the win, the gleaming group presented the All School Trophy to Freeman Principal Kelly Garcia, thanking her for offering her campus to MAKO twice a week.
“I felt that the first-place trophy belongs to Freeman, its students, staff, families and community,” Truelock explained. “There is no better way to show our appreciation for their support than presenting a meaningful award to the school and having it displayed for everyone to enjoy.”
“It was an honor to be presented with the trophy,” Garcia added. “Supporting a program like MAKO not only gives students the ability to work on team collaboration, but it also teaches them life skills.”
After all, helping GISD’s youth learn valuable skills is what the program is all about.
“My goal is for my students to learn dignity, honesty, integrity, self-respect, courtesy, perseverance and self-control. These are all values that they will need throughout their lives,” Truelock stated. “If I can impart these ideals and values to them, then I have done my job and made a difference.”
MAKO is open to anyone in the GISD community and is currently offered at three district campuses: Abbett and Freeman elementary schools as well as Sachse High School. For more information on the program, visit the organization’s website.
Tournament honorees included:
· Cecilia Malagon – two gold medals and first-place ladies trophy
· Daniel Malagon – gold medal
· Jared Prater – gold medal and second-place boys trophy
· Josh Prater – silver medal
· Keely Herrera – silver medal and special perfect attendance trophy
· Myndy Prater – two silver medals and second-place ladies trophy