Hunter Wilson/Daily News Julia Beatty (from left), 16, Rachel Stanfield, 15, and Drew DeBruhl, 15 all won medals at the National Junior Olympics held in Detroit.

For three members of the Champion Martial Arts Academy, July has been a month to remember.

Earlier this month, Warren Central’s Julia Beatty and Rachel Stanfield and Butler County’s Drew DeBruhl participated in the Junior Olympic and Elite Open competition at Ford Field in Detroit – each participant came away with a pair of medals in tae kwon do.

Beatty received gold medals in sparring and forms, Stanfield took home a silver in forms and a bronze in sparring, while DeBruhl earned a silver in forms and a bronze in sparring.

“They trained hard,” Champion owner Lyung Kim said. “They were really nervous, but they did really well for the first time. I didn’t realize how nervous they were going to be, so I was kind of worried. They did a really good job.”

For Beatty and Stanfield it was an eye-opening experience. Both had only participated in a pair of small tournaments before they were asked to compete just two months prior to the national event.

Beatty, 16, admitted she was a little overwhelmed at first.

“I was like, ‘Whoa! I don’t think I’m ready for that,’ ” Beatty said. “The competitions I’ve gone to prior to this had maybe 200 people. This one had 3,000, so I was like, ‘Wow!’ ”

She said having a pair of familiar faces experience the event helped ease the nerves.

“It really helped a lot,” Beatty said. “We got to talk to each other and it just calmed our nerves.”

Stanfield, 15, was also surprised when she was asked to compete.

“I think he should have asked a little sooner,” Stanfield said. “I was shocked.”

After agreeing to compete, Stanfield said the training was hard.

“We trained from around 10 in the morning to 8 on most days,” Stanfield said. “It was really intense.”

But Stanfield said it was all worth it.

“It felt good because it was a big tournament and I’d never done anything like that,” Stanfield said.

DeBruhl, 15, had to overcome several obstacles during his training.

He fractured his back while playing football and was off two or three months. When his training resumed, DeBruhl had to shed 16 pounds to get down to his fighting weight of 154.

“Next to my back, that was the hardest thing I had to do,” DeBruhl said.

DeBruhl’s training included daily workouts consisting of three- or four-mile runs followed by a one-mile sprint.

While the training was difficult, DeBruhl said it was worth it.

“It was a great experience,” DeBruhl said. “Not very many people get to do it. I’m one of the fortunate ones.”

Like Beatty, DeBruhl said it helped to have people he knew at the competition.

“They’re like the better side,” DeBruhl said. “I’m always serious, but they are always laughing. They really took the tension off.”

The three students might have been surprised by their success, but Kim said he wasn’t surprised.

“I’m always expecting more,” he said. “On one side, I’m expecting they all get gold, but on the other side, I knew they didn’t have much experience.”

With the Junior Olympics behind them, all three have begun preparations for next year’s event – hoping to get a little closer to earning a spot on the 2012 Olympic team.

“I’m going to go to more competitions, then go back to the Junior Olympics,” DeBruhl said. “Hopefully, I can get noticed and go on to the Olympics.”