Not many high school seniors have the bragging rights of fighting in a World Cup, but MorgAnne Thompson does.

MorgAnne returned home on Oct. 15, after fighting in her first Wushu World Cup competition. Despite her loss to a silver medalist from the Philippines who was at least nine years older than her, she said she still enjoyed the experience.

“The best part of it was seeing all the nations,” MorgAnne said. “In the opening ceremony, all the nations walked in together and it was the coolest thing to see that you were one of the 88 countries that were there.”

While traveling and fighting in the World Cup, MorgAnne created friendships with the other USA fighters.

“I got to know the USA team members a lot better,” MorgAnne said. “And I am hoping to gain friendships over time.”

 Most of the fighters were 26 years old, the prime age for sanshou fighting.  

“Our best fighter from the US has been traveling and doing sanshou for eight years,” MorgAnne said. “I’ve got to gain more experience. It takes time.”

MorgAnne plans to fight in more competitions such as the Pan-American Games in July, and the Olympics.

“I know what the best of the best are like and what my competition is like,” MorgAnne said. “Now I have goals I can reach and things I can do.”