Name: Mary Ann Thomas 

Location: Houston, TX 

Email: 1kidfit@prodigy.net 

Instructor: Master Jim Pongrass, Jr 

Rank: 2nd Dan 

Years in Training: 8 years 

AAU National Championship experience:
            1997 - 3rd in forms, 1st in Olympic, 1st in point
            1998 - 3rd in forms, 1st in Olympic, 2nd in point
            1999 - 1st in forms, 1st in Olympic, 2nd in point
            2000 - 1st in forms, 2nd in Olympic, 2nd in point
            2001 - 1st in forms, 1st in Olympic, 2nd in point
            2002 - 2nd in forms, 1st in Olympic, 1st in point
            2003 - Gold 

AAU JO Games Experience:

            1996 - 2nd in forms, 1st in Olympic, 1st in point
            1997 - 3rd in forms, 2nd in Olympic, 1st in point
            1998 - 3rd in forms, 2nd in Olympic, 1st in point
            1999 - 2nd in forms, 1st in Olympic, 3rd in point
            2000 - 2nd in forms, 1st in Olympic, 1st in point
            2001 - 2rd in forms, 1st in Olympic, 1st in point
            2002 - 3rd in forms, 1st in Olympic, 2nd in point 

About me:

I graduate May of 2003. I am a 2-year member of the varsity softball team at my High School. I enjoy most sport-related activities. I hope to attend Texas A&M and become a veterinarian, and continue to teach Tae Kwon Do. My most enjoyable activity is Tae Kwon Do. Training and being coached by my Dad, Jim Pongrass, gives me a special relationship with him as well as sharing his true feeling of love for the martial arts. For the past 6 years I have received many awards from my organization including Most Outstanding, Best Technique, Black Belt Excellence, and the AAU Competitor of the Year. In 2001 I traveled to Korea and competed in a forms only competition and placed gold, and competed at the US Open as a Nation Team member and placed 3rd in Olympic sparring. In 2001 I received the Joel Ferrel Award by the AAU Committee. My most prestigious honor is being a 2 year member of the AAU National team.