Bryce Tencza took up taekwondo after his appendix burst when he was 6 years old. While Tencza initially started practicing to gain flexibility after his injury, the respect and techniques he’s learned are showing on the gridiron.

Now a senior offensive lineman at Providence , Tencza is a third-degree black belt who attributed his improved hands and feet to his years of experience in taekwondo.

The 6-foot-3, 290-pounder has become one of the top tackles in the Chicago Catholic League/East Suburban Catholic Conference, having recently earned the CCL/ESCC Orange Division’s Lineman of the Year honor.

“Taekwondo helps with my hand movement, so I’m able to strike hard and see the placement before it even happens,” Tencza said. “I’m able to move my feet quicker... I started taekwondo to gain

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