Vernon Hills Park District student, Magdalena Zucek, won a Gold Medal at the 2018 Junior Pan-American Karate Championships this past month. Sixteen year old Zucek, a student of Illinois Shotokan Karate Club, traveled to Rio de Janiero, Brazil and represented the United States in Kumite (sparring). Magdalena fought in the 14-15 Year Old Female +54 kg Kumite division and is the Pan American Champion for her age.

Magdalena lives in Libertyville and trains weekly at the Vernon Hills Park District with Illinois Shotokan Karate Club (ISKC). With over 40 years of experience, Illinois Shotokan Karate teaches karate at the at the Vernon Hills District and 70 other Chicagoland locations. ISKC offers classes for children and adults to work on fitness, confidence and self-defense.