By Erica Solvig
The Cincinnati Enquirer

At first glance, Mandisa Gamble appears to be a quiet, unassuming 15-year-old. But those who have met the tae kwon do third-degree black belt on the mat will tell you that it's only a facade.

Mandisa Gamble spars with her instructor, Joshua Baughn, at Ohio Elite Tae Kwon Do. (Gary Landers photo) | ZOOM |

"She's a quiet powerhouse," said her father Sam Gamble, who also is her coach and biggest fan. "I knew she was a champion the first time I saw that adrenaline get going. She once kicked a girl about five feet, right into her parents' arms."

Mandisa, of Colerain Township, was one of only eight teens from across the country - and the only one locally - recently chosen for the Amateur Athletic Union's national tae kwon do team. She'll be touring overseas starting with a trip to Belgium in April, as well as competing nationally.

While she's excited for the opportunity, the Northwest High sophomore's goals are even higher: the Olympics.

"It's my dream," said the 5-foot-6, 145-pound teen.

"I want to get some international fighting in, so I can make it. The more international fighting I get, the more comfortable I'll feel with all those people."

To get there, she's got to do well at the national level for the team trials in Colorado, which will be held in August.

Mandisa has been active in tae kwon do since she was 7, when her father got her involved because, he joked, he "didn't want the little boys coming around."

"At first, I had wanted to be a cheerleader, but I liked it right away," she said. "I never regretted getting involved. I love this sport."

She started competing around age 10, and eventually went on to win several state championships and a medal in the Junior Olympics.

She qualified for the AAU national team last fall in Atlanta. But before her last round of fighting, she aggravated an ankle injury and was limping.

"My right foot was swollen as big as a baseball," Mandisa said, adding with a laugh: "My dad told me we could cut it off and buy a new toe to get my mind off the pain."

While Mandisa is generally modest when talking about her accomplishments, her father proudly brags about her numerous trophies and medals displayed in their den, right next to a row of family pictures.

But the trophies didn't come easily, father and daughter agree. Mandisa spars about four times a week with other high school students and travels to Germantown each weekend to work with her instructor, Joshua Baughn, and learn new moves.

"She's very aggressive when she steps in the ring," said Baughn, of Ohio Elite Tae Kwon Do. "She's got a strong kick, like a guy. That's probably her main strength - her power. And she's got a lot of heart, too."

Mandisa, a straight-A student, also keeps in shape by riding her bike and walking her dog. This is in addition to working out in the family's living room, which has no furniture but is filled with gym equipment.

Eventually, she wants to open her own tae kwon do school and become a psychologist.

"I want to do this until I'm old and gray," she said.

"It's my life."

E-mail esolvig@enquirer.com