Sports : Makinnley Dulin Earns State Champion Title in Traditional Sparring

Vinton has plenty to be proud of when it comes to young Makinnley Dulin.

Makinnley, daughter of Frankie and Jessica Dulin, granddaughter of Allan and Teresa Merchant and Conneye Dulin, and great-granddaughter to Donna Merchant and Sharron Schminke, This gal has been making quite a name for herself in the world of martial arts. 

Since May 2024, Makinnley has been training with Samurai Family Martial Arts out of Cedar Rapids. It wasn't long before her dedication and natural talent caught the eye of her instructors. By August, she was invited to join their competition team - a big step for any young martial artist.

Her first tournament took place in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, that October. Though she competed in the recreational division (which doesn't award state points), she brought home two 2nd medals and one 3rd place medal - a huge confidence boost for her debut outing.

That taste of competition lit a fire in her. Makinnley made the decision then and there: she was ready to go after state points and, ultimately, a state championship title.

Over the next several months, she poured her heart into dual training and attended in-school tournaments in Cedar Rapids, racking up more medals and working her way up through the belt ranks - earning a new level about every three months.

By January 2025, she was on the road again, this time to Eagan, Minnesota. There, she truly began to shine in traditional sparring - her strongest event. She came home with a second and third-place medal to add to her growing collection.

In March, she competed in Clear Lake, Iowa, where she pushed herself even further by adding Creative Weapons (a freestyle performance category) to her lineup, alongside her mainstay, traditional sparring. Again, she earned 2nd and 3rd place finishes. It was at that point she realized she had climbed to the top of the rankings for 9-10-year-old color belt girls in Iowa - and she was determined to hold her place at the top.

As the season wound down, Makinnley traveled to Sioux City for the Samurai Martial Arts Weekend of Champions. There, she took 2nd in Traditional Forms - a first for this season -she was preparing for her matches in sparring. She finished in 2nd place once more and secured her spot as #1 in the state!

On May 15, 2025, the final rankings were posted, and it was official: Makinnley Lynn Dulin is Iowa's State Champion in Traditional Sparring.

But she's not stopping there. With that title under her belt, Makinnley now qualifies for the 2025 North District Championship in Sioux City, Nebraska, on May 31. There, she'll face the top 10 competitors from across four states, each vying for the District Champion title. 

Her family and instructors are bursting with pride over the hard work, growth, and determination she's shown this season. And if you ask them - or anyone who's seen her train - they'll tell you this is just the beginning. Makinnley is already gearing up for the 2025-2026 ATA tournament season, ready to step back on the mat and chase new goals.

So if you see her around town, be sure to give her a high five. Vinton's Makinnley Dulin is officially a State Champion - and we couldn't be prouder.