Local kickboxer competing in Pan American Championships
Drighten Collins, a local Team USA athlete and Farmington High School soccer player is preparing to participate in next month’s kickboxing championships at the Pan American Championships in Brazil.
Drighten Collins is preparing to compete in kickboxing at next month’s Pan American Championships in Brazil. He’s hoping to earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team. Submitted photo
His father and coach at Victory Mixed Martial Arts in Farmington, Aaron Collins, said his son recently won the national championship in kickboxing, and now that kickboxing and Muay Thai have been allowed in the Olympics, Drighten is ready to take the next step.
“Drighten won nationals and then fought in Puerto Rico and won the gold medal there,” Collins said. “Now he has been asked to fight in Brazil Dec. 4-11 for the Pan American Championships. They will select the U.S. Olympic team from the winners.”
While Collins is very proud of Drighten’s accomplishments in kickboxing, he admits to feeling a little uncomfortable whenever he watches his son compete.
“I hate it every time he gets in the ring because it’s nothing like watching your own kid get beat up,” he said. “But when they get their hand raised, and they win gold medals on a national and international stage, it’s really incredible.”
Because travel to Brazil is in the thousands of dollars, Buffalo Wild Wings, 615 Maple Valley Drive in Farmington, is donating 20% of customers’ bills from 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday — not including tax, gratuity or professional discounts — to help with Drighten’s expenses. The community is invited to enjoy a good meal and help a young athlete raise the funds he needs to complete in Brazil.
