The Lowcountry Warrior

DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. (WCBD) - Daniel Island native Mikayala Salas started karate at age 8 as a fun after school activity. Now, the sports propelling her to the biggest stage as she earned a silver medal and will now represent the US at the Junior Pan Am Championship. "I was so excited I actually jumped in the air and I felt so accomplished and all my training was all worth it," Salas said. Fueled by missing last year's cut, Salas used that disappointment as extra motivation in order to punch her ticket to Costa Rica this month. "I had made an alternate before when I was 10 and 11 years old. I really wanted to go international and represent the US team like my sister and it sounds really fun. I really felt pushed to do it and I was so motivated." Just one of two Americans who qualified, Salas told News 2 Sports, getting to represent not only the US, but her home of Charleston is the biggest honor of it all. "It means so much because there has been very little people that can even get the opportunity to do this and I'm so grateful that I can even be able to go there and represent the US team. Sensei Taylor Woods a Lowcountry native herself, told News 2 Sports, while she is excited, Salas' success is not at all a shock to anyone who has met her. "She is like a dream for any coach because she works super hard. There is never a time where she's showing up to any training where she's not giving her 100 percent effort on that day. And I think that's part of the reason she's been so successful with competitions, she puts the work in," Sensei Wood said. While karate is more of a niche sport. Salas believes it has help her mature in more ways than she could have ever imagined in her 12 years. "It gives me a good perspective of the world so if I go out to a competition and I see these other people really frustrated after they leave the mat. I feel myself, I know I'm maturing and I think it translates well to my family." Now just a few weeks away from getting to live out her dream. Salas feels her journey is one many can use as a reminder, don't ever give up. "Just know there will be bad days. There will be times when you feel like I can't do right. Why can't I figure this out? Just know that over time, you're going to get better and better and the more you practice the easier it gets. Just don't give up over the littlest thing that you get frustrated about, that's just a part of the sport," Mikayla said. The Junior Pan Am Championship begins next Monday down in Costa Rica. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.