Mount Forest students earn medals at Ontario Winter Games
Taylor Krueger and Kennedy Ray successful at competition Feb. 19 to 22
MOUNT FOREST – Grade 9 Wellington Heights Secondary School students Taylor Krueger and Kennedy Ray have been successfully kickboxing their way across the province once again this year.
The Mount Forest teenagers were medalists in kickboxing at the recent Ontario Winter Games, held in Orillia from Feb. 19 to 22.
Krueger competed in the under-60kg girls (ages 13 to 15) division, while Ray battled in the under 50kg (13 to 15) division.
Krueger competed in several kickboxing events, including point fighting and kick fighting, winning silver medals in both events.
She also tried a new weapons event this year that involved completing a routine while holding a katana, a Japanese sword characterized by a curved, single-edged blade. Krueger finished 4th overall in the province.
She was the 2024 provincial gold medalist in kick light kickboxing and won the silver medal last May at the national championships.
She trains out of the Golden Tiger Gym in Hanover and said she was “really excited” about the upcoming national championships.
“I like being able to showcase my skill in the ring with my opponents ... and I like to see my improvement,” Krueger said.
Ray earned a gold medal in light kick kickboxing at the recent Ontario Winter Games.
Ray has been training at Rise Combat and Fitness Gym in Mount Forest for the past five years, and she credits her brother, Geron Weber, for inspiring her to take up the sport and for his ongoing support with her training.
Ray was the 2024 national bronze medalist and the 2025 national silver medalist in kickboxing in her division.
Asked why she liked kickboxing, Ray said, “It gives a different kind of feeling than other sports; an exciting rush when you’re in the ring.
“It’s a feeling that you don’t get in any other sport.”
Both athletes will be competing at the national championships at the International Centre in Mississauga from April 30 to May 3.
They will have the opportunity to try out for Team Canada’s kickboxing team March 28 to 29 in Burlington.
