Special to The Citizen

CATO #- For 9-year-old Cassidy Green, karate has nearly been a lifelong passion.

“My brother (Dakota) started taking karate about four years ago,” Green said. “And when I was watching him I wanted to try it too and I've been doing it ever since.”

Ever since Green has studied at the Karate Dojo in Baldwinsville with sensei Barbara Cruz, already earning her green belt.

“She is very dedicated,” said Sharon Green, Cassidy's grandmother, who has also taken up karate since seeing her grandchildren get involved. “I think that is one of the great things about this style of karate it is very disciplined, which I think is really good for the kids. But she has been able to advance really quickly; I think she'll be on to her junior black belt.”

Green's dedication has already paid off with two consecutive visits to the Junior Olympics.

After competing in the regional qualifier, Green secured a spot last year at the games in Virginia.

“We just thought we'd go and have fun,” Sharon said. “We told her there was nothing to be ashamed of no matter what happened and she ended up bringing home two medals.”

Green won her first medals - a silver for her weapons work with a bo and a bronze for her kata.

“That felt really cool,” Green said. “I was really excited and it made me feel really good the first year.”

For the past year, Green has been hard at work sharpening her skills in the dojo at least a couple of times a week.

So it was no surprise when she found out that she had qualified for the chance to go to this summer's games in Knoxville, Tenn. on July 28 and 29.

“It was marvelous,” Sharon said. “She, all of us, were so excited. We drove down and it was a nice trip and the whole thing was very exciting for her.”

Once she found out she had qualified, Green increased her time at the dojo, going three to four times a week.

“I did a lot of work to get ready,” Green said. “I spent a lot of time working on my kata and my grandma would help too after we got home we'd work on it a little more to fix the things I was doing wrong, but I tried really hard to get ready.”

This year Green expanded her repertoire, competing in weapons, kata and sparring.

“I'd sparred with people before,” Green said. “And I really wanted to do that this time at the games.”

Her first year at the games, Green said that while she wasn't nervous she didn't really know what to expect. This year she had a much better idea of what the games and the competition would be like.

“It was a little different from last year,” Green said. “But I knew what was going to happen a little more. And I felt like I knew what I was doing with the bo and my kata and sparring, so I felt pretty good.”

Her hard work and determination paid off again this year with Green bringing home three medals.

She earned a bronze in the kata, silver in weapons and a bronze in sparring.

“I was so excited,” Green said. “It made me feel really good how I did and to win the medals, I was really happy about it.”

There is also something to be said for the overall experience as well.

“I think the whole thing has been really good for her,” Sharon said. “It is pretty competitive, but when they aren't competing all the kids are talking and she met a lot of knew people and she had been able to travel a little. I think the whole thing has been really good for her to be part of.”

Green has every intention of being at the games next summer and she has her sights set beyond.

“I'll definitely be there next year,” Green said. “I want to go to nationals. They are going to be in Albany next year and I really want to go there and see how I do.”