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Island Top Team takes top honours

Nanaimo's Island Top Team jiu-jitsu came out on top again with athletes medalling at two recent tournaments.

Island Top Team jiu-jitsu came out on top again.

At the North American Grappling Association Seattle championship Oct. 3, Shane Malone won gold in purple belt gi and expert no gi and Robert Biernacki won gold in gi. Biernacki managed to set up a jumping triangle choke with 30 seconds left in the match.

"Shane's excellent corner advice … worked brilliantly as my opponent tapped out with five seconds left," said Biernacki in a press release.

At Victoria’s BeFirst tourney the same day, Jer Kornelsen won in blue-belt gi and gi open, while Phil Oweis took silver in open no gi.

Biernacki called the medal haul "an unbelievable weekend" for Island Top Team.

"This was another phenomenal highlight for our club, easily one of our best performances ever," he said.