Grannum

CAMPION COLLEGE 17-year-old Tashauna Grannum will be pushed into a woman's world on November 13 when she lines up for the McKay Lady Knights against the United States at the Battle of the Bell in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Grannum, Jamaica's top female junior martial artist, will travel as an adult to the matchup for which Jamaica's female combined martial arts team got a late invitation.

She has never competed internationally as an adult and faces a baptism of fire in the world of adult competition, as the McKay Lady Knights look to preserve their unbeaten status.

Team coach Jason McKay said moving Grannum up to the adult level against the USA, which has some some of the best lightweights in the world, was a strategic decision.

"I am of the opinion she will be more successful as an adult. As a junior, because of her weight, she had to compete against taller people. At her weight, as an adult, she will be fighting lightweights within her height range," he pointed out.

Grannum said she was nervous as she awaits the competition she and teammates Sheckema Cunningham and Danielle Chang will face on short notice.

"I am a bit nervous and I kinda wished I could still fight as a junior but I have to do what my coach says," Grannum said.

"He knows better than I do. I am still a little nervous but I think it's going to be a little more challenging. These ladies are older and more experienced than I am."

However, she acknowledged that the height difference she suffered as a junior could be nullified when she competes as an adult.

"They could be around my height or a little taller. That's the problem I always have. I am kinda short for my weight class and the girls would tower over me."

Adult lightweights fight 127lb and under as lightweights whereas Grannum, as a junior middleweight, fought at 121lb and under.

McKay is satisfied Grannum's athleticism will pull her through. At Campion, she competes in football and hockey while balancing the academics, bagging six ones, a pair of twos and a three in recent external examinations.

Meanwhile, McKay has another concern which, he said, gives the USA an advantage - not having a reserve fighter for the showdown.

The Jamaican contingent includes the three fighters, coach and two travelling judges.

Costs, McKay said, prevented Jamaica from fielding a reserve.

"One must remember, unlike other sporting teams, we travel with no assistance from government. We rely on sponsors. We can't afford to carry a fighter just in case.

"If it comes down to a tiebreaker, as it did in Vietnam, there is no fighter out there heavier than lightweight, so Cunningham will have to go back out," said the team coach.