Name: Jean Smith

College affiliation: Princeton University
Course of study: Molecular Biology
Degree: PhD
Year: Graduate Student
Hometown: Gainesville, FL
Collegiate Coach: Master Rex Hatfield
Weight Class: Middle
Year of Birth: 1987

 

ECTC Tournament Record:

2012 Cornell Tournament - Black Belt Forms, 2nd
2012 Cornell Tournament - A-Team Sparring, Silver
2012 MIT Tournament - Black Belt Forms, 4th
2012 MIT Tournament - A-Team Sparring, Bronze

2012 RPI Tournament - A-Team Sparring, Bronze
2012 Princeton Tournament - A-Team Sparring, Bronze
2011 Cornell Tournament - A-Team Sparring, Bronze

 

Other Tournament Record:

2011 National Collegiate Taekwondo Championships Poomsae (1st dan): Silver

More about Jean:

I have been dancing since I was three years old. I began with the basics (ballet and jazz) and throughout the years have branched out into pretty much every style of dance. I am currently a member of eXpressions dance company here at Princeton and even though it's a struggle sometimes to both dance and do taekwondo I don't think I would be complete without either of them!

 

Thoughts on the ECTC (INCTL) or Taekwondo in general:

This is my sixth year competing in the ECTC, and I continue to be amazed by what a great experience this league gives so many people. I not only love the high caliber competition aspect of tournaments but also the camaraderie between teams that has developed. Throughout the years I have had so many people help me get to where I am today and I am so grateful for every one of them. One of the aspects of collegiate programs that I love as a black belt is being able to teach and motivate beginners in the sport. There's nothing better than seeing people you've helped excel. Taekwondo and the ECTC has been a big part of my life since I began, and I'm so happy I was able to go to a graduate program with an amazing collegiate taekwondo program so that I can have this experience for that much longer!