Wakefield, MA (May 12, 2010)  The Americal Civic Center was filled with students, family, friends, instructors, and supporters of Defensive Edge Martial Arts Academy for a fun-filled celebration and awards banquet.  This is the school’s annual event that recognizes character traits so valued in the world of martial arts:  excellence, spirit, sharing, family, leadership and perseverance.

Shannon Drager of Wakefield was named the Student of the Year for 2009 and the Instructor of the Year was Michele Penta of Wakefield, who joined forces with Defensive Edge Founder and Head Instructor Rick Alford in 2009 to develop the Unleashed Energy Fitness Kickboxing class which became an instant success by attracting women of all fitness levels and ages.

“Shannon is a true competitor who puts her heart and soul not only into training and competing, but in sharing and helping to teach the younger students. She is a true inspiration to our students and represents the values of our school to everyone she touches,” says Alford.  “I want to add that our school would not be as a successful and welcoming place to train without our instructors.  I am particularly please to recognize Michele Penta as our Instructor of the Year for her work in encouraging and empowering women through her Fitness Kickboxing Class.”

In addition, Alford presented the Defensive Edge Fighting System Black Belt to instructors John Johnson of Lynnfield, Jon Warnock of Salem and Manny Cuevas of Peabody.  This unique black belt represents the proficient completion of the cross training curriculum offered by Defensive Edge in these martial arts arenas: Small Circle Jujitsu (Modern Self Protection), Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Submission Wrestling),  and Muay Thai (Thai Kick Boxing).  “Learning all of these martial arts disciplines and being able to use them in a variety of situations from self protection to competitive fighting is a real challenge. I am extremely proud of these students for their perseverance and skill.”

Participants at the Defensive Edge Annual Awards Banquet also collected food for the Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry.  “We continue with our tradition at this event to ask all attendees to share their good fortune with our neighbors in need through donations to the Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry,” Alford explains.

Additional Award Winners include:

Lil Dragons (Ages 4-5)

• Liam Duggan, Malden, Kokua - Sharing
• Fin O'Leary, Reading,  Most Improved
• Jason Pino, Melrose, Ohana - Family
• Will Simpson, Wakefield, Ohana  - Family
• Johnnie D'Alessandro, Wakefield, Professor Castoldi - Spirit
• Charlie Shvetz, Wakefield, Professor Castoldi - Spirit
• Brendan Campea, Wakefield, Professor Wally Jay - Perseverance
• Alexandra Baldwin, Wakefield, Rookie of the Year
• Paul Mannke, Stoneham, Sensei Ed Melaugh - Excellence

Golden Eagle (Ages 6-8)

• Neil Smith, Wakefield, Kokua - Sharing
• Liam Bry, Wakefield, Ohana - Family
• Jack Ross, Lynnfield, Professor Castoldi - Spirit
• Jaden Alford, Burlington, Professor Castoldi - Spirit
• Brian Golia, Wakefield, Professor Okazaki - Leadership
• Steve Lafferty, Peabody, Professor Okazaki - Leadership
• Adam Fleet, Wakefield,                Professor Wally Jay - Perseverance
• Hannah Canavan, Wakefield, Rookie of the Year
• Nathan Hendriks, Wakefield, Sensei Ed Melaugh - Excellence
• Tyler Howe, Wakefield,                 Sensei Ed Melaugh - Excellence

Super Samurai (Ages 9-12)

• Sam Simpson, Wakefield, Kokua - Sharing
• Brett Butler, Wakefield, Kokua - Sharing
• Brett Senders, Reading,                Kokua - Sharing
• Dalton Spillane, Wakefield, Most Improved
• Julia Morton, Wakefield,  Ohana - Family
• Patrick Krol, Reading, Ohana - Family
• Shamus Foley, Wakefield,  Ohana - Family
• Barry Richter Jr.                , Reading, Professor Castoldi - Spirit
• Jake Levine, Wakefield,                Professor Castoldi - Spirit
• Tommy Buston, Lynnfield, Professor Castoldi - Spirit
• Daviana Alford, Burlington, Professor Okazaki - Leadership
• Matthew Cook, Wakefield,  Professor Okazaki - Leadership
• Ashley Sullivan, Wakefield,  Professor Wally Jay - Perseverance
• Sam Valenti, Wakfield, Professor Wally Jay - Perseverance
• Samantha Hartman, Wakefield,                 Professor Wally Jay - Perseverance
• Dante Bucci, Wakefield,  Rookie of the Year
• Robbie Boyle, Wakefield,  Sensei Ed Melaugh - Excellence
• T.J. Kelley, Reading, Sensei Ed Melaugh - Excellence

Shogun Warriors  (9-12 Advanced; TEENS)

• David Lee, Wakefield,  Kokua - Sharing
• Isaac Smith-Kawah, Melrose,  Kokua - Sharing
• Elia Leblanc-Royer, Wakefield, Most Improved
• Joseph Penta, Wakefield, Most Improved
• Katherine Maloney, Wakefield,                 Professor Castoldi - Spirit
• Jessica Barbera, Wakefield, Professor Okazaki - Leadership
• Joseph DeBenedictis, Wakefield, Professor Wally Jay - Perseverance
• Shane Dean, Stoneham, Professor Wally Jay - Perseverance
• Kelly Golia, Wakefield, Rookie of the Year
• Luke Hendriks, Wakefield, Sensei Ed Melaugh – Excellence

Youth Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Mixed Martial Arts

• Christopher (C.J.) Boyce               , Saugus, Carlson Gracie Award
• Kyleigh McMaster, Saugus, Ohana - Family
• Michael Moran, Wakefield,  Professor Castoldi - Spirit
• Matthew Flanagan, Wakefield, Professor Okazaki - Leadership
• Patrick Almeida, Wakefield,  Professor Okazaki - Leadership
• Violet Sullivan, Wakefield, Professor Wally Jay - Perseverance
• Mikayla White, Wakefield, Sensei Ed Melaugh - Excellence
• Kevin McMaster, Saugus, MMA Fighter of Year
• Troy Burditt, Reading, MMA Fighter of Year

Muay Thai (ADULT)

• Ben Martignetti, Peabody, Muay Thai Fighter of the Year
• Tucker Keon, Wakefield,  Most Improved
• Steve Lafferty, Peabody, Most Improved
• John Gerrin, Reading,  Perseverance  Award
• Christopher Taylor, Saugus,  Spirit Award

Small Circle Jujitsu (ADULT)

• Dean Taylor, Lowell, Kokua - Sharing
• Jason Donoghue, Wakefield, Kokua - Sharing
• Steve Garten, Danvers, Most Improved
• Connor Lynch, Lynnfield, Ohana - Family
• Derek Mellino, Burlington,  Ohana - Family
• Paul Chanley, Wakefield, Professor Okazaki - Leadership
• Chris Lynch, Lynnfield, Professor Wally Jay - Perseverance
• Lisa Dean, Stoneham,  Professor Wally Jay - Perseverance
• Matthew Brandolini, Revere,  Rookie of the Year
• Robert Barnes, Ipswich,                Sensei Ed Melaugh - Excellence

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts (ADULT)

• Josh Mannke, Stoneham, BJJ Rookie of the Year
• Ivan Sanchez, Lawrence,  Grappler of the Year
• Wilfredo Santiago, Haverhill, MMA Fighter of the Year
• Bob Burton, Wakefield,                 MMA Rookie of the Year
• Christopher Taylor, Saugus, Technical Grappler of the Year

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