Saber Light Knights shine IN Nashville, Tennessee!

Saberstrong 2025
Five members of the Saber Light Knights traveled to Nashville, Tennessee last month to compete in the 4th annual Saberstrong event. Hosted at Mount Juliet Taekwondo, a regional powerhouse, the tournament featured over forty fighters from across the country. The beautiful facility provided a fair and fun competition environment, as always.
Master’s Division (50+)
Michael Sprague and David Graham represented Saber Light Knights in the Masters division. In a tough match between teammates, Michael bested David in pool play and advanced to the semifinals. There, he faced Mikael Pfeiffer of Chattanooga, Tennessee. With his trademark patience and precision, Michael claimed the victory. In the finals, he met Vince Toscano of West Virginia. Despite a valiant effort, Sprague couldn’t find an answer to Vince’s explosive attacks and secured a well-earned second place.
Women’s Division
Em Watson competed in the women’s round-robin tournament, where each fighter faced every other in the division. Em displayed poise and her signature superhero stances throughout the day. She finished with a 2-3 record, earning fourth place. The division was won by Natascha Silva of Nashville, followed by Nikki Figgins of Rebel Sabers in second and newcomer Katriel Litvin of West Virginia in third.
Exotics Division
The exotics division boasted a stacked field. Headmaster Ryan McKenna took on Vince DelVecchio of SLK Virginia Beach in an intense clash of pike masters. Ryan’s experience and precision earned him the win. He next faced Clayton Baggett of Nashville, a former world #1 in mixed weapons. In a thrilling match of range and speed vs intelligence and precision, McKenna prevailed again.
Ryan’s next challenge came from reigning World Champion Bobby Zavala. In a highly technical bout, Ryan edged out a 3-2 win. The final match pitted him against Vince Toscano, where Ryan’s superior timing and distance control proved decisive. Dodging Vince’s aggressive strikes, McKenna countered effectively and claimed 1st place in the division.
Redemption Bracket
Em Watson and David Graham entered the redemption bracket for another shot at glory. Em faced rising star Katriel Litvin in a fierce match where Katriel’s athleticism narrowly edged Em’s precision, 7-6.
David Graham, buoyed by coaching from Sprague and McKenna, found his rhythm. With quick footwork and deep experience, he defeated Adam Tucker, James Knox, and Enrique Rodriguez. However, like Em, his run ended at the hands of Katriel Litvin in another nail-biter, with Katriel winning 6-5.
Standard Division (Main Event)
Michael Sprague, Vince DelVecchio, and Ryan McKenna competed in the standard division. Vince started strong against Aaron Nichols of Kentucky, using speed and range to secure the win. He then faced World Champion Bobby Zavala but couldn’t overcome Bobby’s formidable defense.
Sprague opened against Isaiah Pajares, a HEMA fighter from Chattanooga known for lightning speed and acrobatic attacks. Michael countered with calm precision and took the win. In his next match, he faced Nashville’s own Nathan England. Despite a strong performance, Sprague couldn’t surpass England’s precision, and Nathan advanced.
McKenna opened against Zachary Topping of Kentucky. Despite Zachary’s aggressive style, Ryan’s patience paid off. He then faced Vince Toscano, whose powerful offense once again clashed with McKenna’s tactical defense. Ryan triumphed, advancing to the semifinals.
However, Bobby Zavala ended McKenna’s championship run with characteristic control and technique. McKenna then faced Nathan England in the third-place match. This time, Ryan’s defense held strong, securing the win and third place.
Championship Match
In one of the day’s most exciting matchups, Andy Cameron of Wisconsin faced Bobby Zavala in the championship. Andy’s relentless two-handed attacks tested Bobby’s signature defense. The match was fast-paced and featured numerous simultaneous hits. In the end, Bobby edged out Andy 5-4 to take the championship title.