Local students named to AAU karate team

Hoping to attend Slovenian tournament in October
   HILLSBOROUGH — Five students of the Japanese Karate Center on Amwell Road are making travel plans to compete in the 2008 World Karate Confederation Junior World Championships in Novo Mesto, Slovenia, next month.
   Danielle Deretchin, 16, Tina Forsythe, 17, Chris Deretchin, 18, Eva Lewandowski, 18, and Jack Molesko, 19, have been invited to participate in the six-day tournament Oct. 21 to 27 as part of the WKC/USA Karate Junior Team, based on their achievements in national tryouts. Each of the students placed in the top three of the 14- to 20-year-old Kata and/or Kumite advanced divisions.
   The competitors are all students of Sensei Frank Bouchonville, director of New Jersey Genbu-Kai, and chief instructor of The Japanese Karate Center in Hillsborough. Sensei Bouchonville has over 30 years of karate experience and is himself a former state, regional, national and international champion, as well as a former member of the USA karate team.
   The cost per person for this trip is $3,900, and the students are hoping to obtain donations from local sponsors to help pay for the trip. Donations need to be collected by Sept. 30 and will be pooled by the five competitors.
   All donations are tax deductible and should be made out to the American Athletic Union Karate. In the note area, write in “Genbu – Kai NJ travel cost.” The non-profit status for the AAU is a 501(c)3.
   For further information about traditional and sport karate contact Frank Bouchonville at The Japanese Karate Center in Hillsborough at 359-3600.