Van Mitchel
Bactista

Athlete Bio#

Height

5'9"

Age

Hometown

South Pasadena, CA

Education

South Pasadena High School

Quick Facts

Favorite books include Percy Jackson books and The Warriors series
Enjoys playing guitar and soccer
Favorite TV shows are Malcolm in the Middle and Everybody Hates Chris
Eats bananas and snack bars before competition
Favorite athlete is Usain Bolt
Favorite taekwondo athlete is Joseph Salim
Favorite quote: “It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get up.” -Vince Lombardi

Career Highlights

2018 USA Taekwondo All-American Athlete
2018 National Collegiate Championships - Sparring - Black Belt - -54kg - Gold
2018 Canada Open - Sparring - Black Belt - -54kg - Silver
2016 USAT Junior National Team Member (-51kg)
2016 USAT Junior National Team Trials (-51kg) - 1st
2016 USAT National Championships - Sparring - Black Belt - 51kg - GOLD
2016 National Collegiate Taekwondo Championships (High School) - Sparring - Black Belt - -54kg - SILVER
2016 World Taekwondo President's Cup (Bonn, Germany) - Sparring - Black Belt - -51kg - SILVER
2016 Nevada State Qualifiers - Sparring - Black Belt - -54kg - GOLD
2016 Nevada State Qualifiers - Sparring - Black Belt - -51kg - GOLD
2016 U.S. Open (Jr. -51kg): GOLD
2015 USAT Junior National Team Member (-48kg)
2015 USAT National Championships (-48kg): GOLD
2015 AAU Regional Qualifier (-51kg): GOLD
2015: California State Qualifier (-51kg): GOLD
2015: Nevada State Qualifier (-48kg): GOLD
2014: Primeros Juegos Binacionales de Taekwondo (Fly): GOLD
2014: Truescore Open (Fly): GOLD
2014: Pan Am Open (Fly): BRONZE
2014: Mexico Open (Fly): BRONZE
2014: USAT Junior National Team Member (-45kg)
2014: California State Qualifier (Jr. Fly): GOLD
2014: Golden State Open (Jr. Fin): GOLD
2014: Nevada State Qualifier (Jr. Fin): GOLD
2014: U.S. Open (Jr. Fin): BRONZE
2013: California State Open (Jr. Fin): GOLD
2013: Jimmy Kim Invitational (Cadet Bantam): GOLD
2013: Golden State Open (Jr. Fin): GOLD
2013: USAT Cadet National Team Member (Bantam)
2013: 2013 USAT National Championships (bantam): GOLD
2013: Juniors ATU Nationals (fin): GOLD ( Made Junior Team)
2013: Southern California State National Qualifiers (bantam): SILVER
2013: Nevada State National Qualifier (fly): BRONZE
2013: Juniors Golden State Open ATU National Qualifiers (fin): GOLD
2012: USAT National Championships (fly): BRONZE
2012: ATU National Championships (fin): BRONZE
2012: Southern California Sate National Qualifiers (bantam): SILVER
2012: Juniors, Golden State Open ATU National Qualifiers (fin): SILVER
2012: Northern California State National Qualifiers (fin): GOLD
2011: Pan Am Open (fin): BRONZE
2011: ATU National Championship (fin): GOLD
2011: Nevada State National Qualifiers (fin): GOLD
2009: California Sate Open Championships (fin): GOLD