MIT 2026 Tournament

Inaugural tournament of the season returned to MIT this year, growing from last year: 26 schools in attendance (up from 24 in 2025) and 647 athletes strong (+8%)!  

 

Like all ECTC events, this event could not have run smoothly without individuals stepping into unexpected roles, piecing together completed matches and lifelong memories. MIT Sport TKD club president Nilofar Ghafory gives a shoutout to the small acts contributing to tournament success: "I am thankful to be a part of such community...Something that touched my heart was when we needed two corner judges and I walked to two different black belts that I have never met before and asked if they would help. One of them was in the middle of playing frisbee with his friend. They both said yes...Something very similar happened when we were cleaning up."

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Read more of Nilofar's takeaways at the end of the article! And without further ado...onto the results:​

Overall Team Winners:

Division 1

1st - Northeastern University 

2nd - New York University

3rd - Rutgers University

Division 2

1st - University of Connecticut

2nd - Tufts University

3rd - University of Pennsylvania

Division 3

1st - Yale University

2nd - Binghamton University

3rd - University of Rochester

Poomsae Winners

A Team Poomsae

1st - Rutgers A1

2nd - Northeastern A1

3rd - UConn A1

3rd - Rutgers A2

B Team Poomsae

1st - Northeastern B1

2nd - Tufts B1

3rd - NYU B1

3rd - MIT B1

C Team Poomsae

1st - UPenn C1

2nd - Yale C1

3rd - Brown C1

3rd - Brown C2

Sparring Winners

Men's A Team Sparring

1st - NYU A1

2nd - MIT A1

3rd - Cornell A2

3rd - Cornell A1

Women's A Team Sparring

1st - NYU A1

2nd - NYU A1

3rd - Rutgers A1

3rd - U Mich A2

Men's B Team Sparring

1st - Northeastern B1

2nd - Northeastern B2

3rd - UConn B1

3rd - Northeastern B3

Women's B Team Sparring

1st - Northeastern B1

2nd - UConn B1

3rd - Harvard B2

3rd - Brown B1

Men's C Team Sparring

1st - Rutgers C1

2nd - Yale C1

3rd - NYU C2

3rd - U Albany C1

Women's C Team Sparring

1st - UVM C1

2nd - Cornell C1

3rd - Yale C1

3rd - Brown C1

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For more details on results, find it in Tournament Results

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​Lessons in Leadership

Some reflections from host school club president, Nilofar Ghafory

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"Finishing the tournament for the first time since COVID speaks to the dedication of everyone in the team which I am really proud and honored to have led."

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"I think leadership is like a stream of intentions and actions that people join and pour into. I saw many colorful streams of it when I watched the referees in the rings, the volunteers behind the computers and coordinators who move them around, the TCs trying to move the tournament forward, the coaches teaching athletes on Taekwondo and more on the spot, people being taught and go on to teach, and people joining when help is needed."

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"When I bowed us out I saw the color of my stream, strong and gentle all across the room. As a young women I cherish that moment because of its message to me, that I do have an impact that can be really strong when the leadership of others join mine."