Featured Child: 

Nicalas Fernandes

As we all know, our city is called "the city of champions," and today we have the opportunity to celebrate a true champion from Brockton who will represent Cabo Verde in the Youth Olympic Games. His name is Nicalas Fernandes.

Since the age of 6 years old, Nicalas (the oldest son of Nancy DeMacedo Fernandes and Silas Fernandes) has been training Muay Thai, Kick Boxing, and Shotokan Karate in Mixed Martial Arts.  At 9 years old, Nicalas started to focus strictly on Shotokan Karate.  At just ten, he became a World Bronze Medalist in Karate/Kick Boxing in Bratislava, Slovakia at the 2012 WAKO World Championships.  Two years later at twelve, he became a World Silver Medalist in Rimini, Italy at the 2014 WAKO World Championships. He is now a Black Belt in Shotokan Karate.  

Nicalas was referred to the renowned, Cabo Verdean Grand Master Joe Pina by his Karate Sensei. He started training Taekwondo under Grand Master Pina and he has achieved his 2nd degree Black Belt.  Along this journey, he has earned and won many State, National and International Titles and Championships in Karate, Taekwondo and Weapons. 

Nicalas is the ONLY youth between the ages of 15 and 17 years old in Brockton, and in all of Plymouth County, the state, region and in all of USA that is guaranteed a spot in the Youth Olympic Games (via the wild card given by the International Olympic Committee to Cabo Verde).  This is an event that is sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).  Wild cards are given sporadically to different countries that meet economic guidelines; USA is not one of them. This gives Nicalas the unique opportunity to advance his qualifications for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo 2020.  Finally, he has been selected to represent Cabo Verde at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

In addition to being an award-winning athlete, and soon-to-be Olympian, Nicalas is an honor roll student, with AP (college level) classes. He is also a great role model to younger brother Dylan Fernandes, and an all-around well-rounded young man with strong family and traditional values.

2017 Accomplishments:

• 1st Place - 2017 AAU New Jersey State Championships in Lawrenceville, NJ, USA (TaeKwonDo & Point Fighting/Karate)
• 1st Place - 2017 New England Masters Open TaeKwonDo Championships in Canton, MA, USA (TaeKwonDo, in Both Junior and Senior Divisions)
• 1st Place - 2017 AAU New England Qualifier in Hanover, MA, USA (TaeKwonDo)
• 1st Place - 2017 AAU New York Metropolitan State Championships, Flushing Queens, NY, USA (TaeKwonDo & Point Fighting/Karate)
• 1st Place - 2017 Boston International Open Taekwondo Championship in Boston, MA, USA  (TaeKwonDo)
• 1st Place - 2017 NJ Annual Friendship Tournament in Paterson, NJ, USA (TaeKwonDo, in Both Junior & Senior Divisions)
• July 2017 - Nicalas Qualified for USA AAU National Team (Trials in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in September) ​

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Mailing Address:
​P.O. Box 2843
Brockton, MA 02305
Phone: 508.577.5646
Email: Saburainc@gmail.com