Fencing in the News

[LongBlade]

En garde! Fencing on attack
Metro high schools' best, brightest at swords' points[/b][/color]
By DIANE R. STEPP
Atlanta Journal Constitution
Atlanta, GA, USA
12/29/05

www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/northfulton/1205/29metfencing.html

Justin Kriske recalls being wide-eyed over the exploits of valiant swordsmen like Zorro, Robin Hood and the Three Musketeers.

Now the Roswell High freshman finds himself at the serious end of an epee, or fencing sword, as he advances, retreats and slashes to gain the advantage over an opponent. Kriske, a member of the school's fencing team, has taken his licks in football, basketball and tennis, but says fencing is like no other sport he's tried.

"It's a lot more mental."


Chattahoochee High's Tyler Browning prepares for battle. The school is a member of the Georgia High School Fencing League.

Roswell High started its 27-member fencing team three years ago. Teams have sprouted at Chattahoochee, Centennial, Northview and Alpharetta high schools in north Fulton and at Mill Creek High in Gwinnett. They're part of a national trend.

"We believe it may be the fastest-growing sport in the country," said Michael Massick, executive director of the U.S. Fencing Association. Membership in the Colorado Springs-based organization has tripled to 25,000 in the past decade, he said. The fastest-growing segment is under age 20, he said. Massick anticipates that the U.S. Fencing Association's Summer National Championships, June 30-July 9 at Atlanta's Georgia World Congress Center, will fuel even more local interest in the sport.

Local high school fencers and their supporters are petitioning the Georgia High School Association to sanction fencing as a sport, which would mean college scholarships.


Grant Cutler (left) and Jessica Charle practice in the cafeteria at Chattahoochee High in Alpharetta. Fencing is gaining fast as a high school sport.

So far, no Georgia college or university has offered fencing scholarships, according to Kathy Vail, owner of the Dunwoody Fencing Club. The University of Georgia does have a fencing club, according to a fencing Web site.

Vail travels from school to school in north Fulton to help develop their programs. Students compete in monthly tournaments and develop their skills in weekly after-school practice sessions under Vail's direction.

She brings along equipment — fencing mat, epees, mesh face masks, thickly padded white jackets, and gloves. The sword points are sheathed by electronic tips that signal a strike to a nearby box connected to the fencers by wires running through their sleeves through the back of the padded jackets.

Student safety is one concern of school officials, said Vail. But such worries are misplaced, she said. She cited studies showing that student injuries are higher in volleyball, not to mention football.

Roswell High senior Derek Murphy played varsity football last year, but this year he is fencing. "It's like mental chess, trying to force your opponent into a position of making a mistake," he said. Mental agility, speed and finesse keep fencers alive, he added. "If you hesitate halfway through a move, you're gone. They'll get you."

Chattahoochee High fencer Jessica Charle, who took the gold in this month's Georgia High School Fencing League tournament in the girls division, hopes to parlay three years of fencing into admission to New York University. NYU's fencing coach has asked her and other Georgia student fencers to send him applications so he can add his recommendation.

Roswell High team co-captain Stacey Silverman was hooked when she watched her father's fencing class three years ago. "It looked so neat, I wanted to try it," she said. She took up a sword and has battled men twice her size and age.

"I'm not scared of fencing boys anymore," she said with a laugh. However, boys and girls compete separately.

Last year she came in third in Georgia's high school league championship. She's hoping that will give her an edge in applying to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and fencing on its team.

Terry White, league chairman and faculty sponsor of the Roswell High team, said many of the school's brightest students have taken up the sport. "There's a big crossover between the debate team, fencing team and national honor society. These are some of our brightest kids."

Since the sport isn't sanctioned, schools don't buy their own equipment, Vail said. But fencers may on occasion borrow thick baseball uniform pants from the school locker room to protect their legs, she added. Socks in school colors help fans identify whom to cheer for, since all competitors wear white.

In recent years the national organization has targeted younger members by creating under-10, under-12 and under-14 competition categories. "We made an active decision to go out and target young people as athletes in our sport," Massick said.

But the sport is ageless, he added, recounting a recent phone call from an angry 91-year-old complaining that there was no over-90 category. "I told him if we could find another fencer over 90 to compete with him, we'd create one. Until then, he'd just have to compete with youngsters that are 83."

[LongBlade]

3 siblings offer points of light
Brothers guide fencing novices[/b][/color]
By David Rattigan, Globe Correspondent
Boston Globe
January 1, 2006

www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/01/01/3_siblings_offer_points_of_light/

Inspired by Zorro and ninjas, 9-year-old Daniel Gaglione said, ''I've always wanted to sword fight."

The Amesbury boy wore his protective jacket and held his wire-mesh mask and weapon in the gymnasium at the Hope Church in Newburyport on a recent Tuesday evening. He was one of about 25 fencers at the weekly session of the 3MB Fencing Club.

Daniel has been fencing since he turned 8, the club's minimum age. His dad, Tom, believes fencing is a good activity for Daniel and his older sister Alaina, 12, simply because it's fun. Alaina has her own take on the sport.

''Basically, it's about strategy," she said. ''You need to have a strategy to beat your opponent, and you need to be able to think fast."

The qualities that attracted the Gagliones to the sport are the same qualities that attracted the three Mullarkey brothers (a.k.a. 3MB) four decades ago, when they got their first lessons at the West Peabody fire station.

The perception of fencing as a niche sport for private school students from privileged backgrounds may still exist, but the reality is that the sporting landscape has changed since the days when the Mullarkey boys first picked up the foil, epee, and saber.

''There's a real mix" of participants now, said Jack Mullarkey, 53, who lives in Danvers. ''There are 33 clubs in New England, and all walks of life are covered, and all levels of income. [At tournament sites] you'll still see the Mercedes out front, but you'll also see the Dodge Caravans, like the one I drive."

The 3MB Fencing Club is helping to spread the sport's popularity. Run by brothers Jack, Ed, and Jim Mullarkey, the club offers 20 programs in 11 cities and towns, including Newburyport, Beverly, Topsfield, and Marblehead.

The brothers got their first lesson from Joe Pechinsky when Jack was 11 years old. Pechinsky is a Peabody legend who founded the Tanner City Fencing Club, introduced hundreds of local youngsters to the sport, and taught five Olympians.

One day, when the brothers went to visit their firefighter dad at his station, Pechinsky -- a fellow firefighter -- was giving a lesson to his niece. The private lesson turned into a group lesson, and three blue-collar boys were introduced to a blue-blood sport.

They followed the fire station lessons by attending Pechinsky's classes at the Salem YMCA. They stayed with Pechinsky, as fencers and later instructors, until branching out on their own in 2000.

The brothers played other sports in the backyard or playground, but fencing captured their interest in a different way.

They were aware of the class differences between them and some of the other fencers at tournaments. Some participants were dressed in uniforms when they competed against the Mullarkeys, whose first fencing jackets were stitched by their mother.

In one particular case in New Jersey, Jack recalled, ''There were some little rich kids we didn't like. Nothing was more pleasing than walking off with the trophies."

Which they and other Tanner City fencers did quite frequently.

Among the three of them, the brothers competed in 12 world championships. Jack was a member of the United States under-20 team that competed for the world championship in Spain in 1971. Both Jack and Ed, 52, are former New England champions, and Ed still competes in veterans tournaments. Ed, a Middleton resident, placed sixth in the North American Veterans Epee Tournament in Pennsylvania on Dec. 11.

Jim, 50, who lives in Scituate, was drawn to the individual aspect of the sport.

''With fencing, it's one-on-one and real simple," said Jim. ''[Your opponent is] better than you, or you're better than him."

Jack liked the physical and mental speed. ''You need to think two, three, or four moves ahead of your opponent, in the space of a few seconds," he said. Some people, he said, call fencing ''physical chess."

While fencing remains a niche sport, the barriers that supported that perception -- such as the cost of equipment or difficulty finding a teacher -- are no longer a factor. The $150 cost for a starter fencing set is affordable for many, and some clubs, such as 3MB, supply it for free. Part of Pechinsky's legacy is that there is a group of former Tanner City fencers who have founded clubs in Greater Boston and elsewhere in the country, making it easier to find instruction.

The 3MB programs are offered in rented gym space or presented as an offering from the town's recreation program. The closest thing to a home site is in Beverly, where the club runs three nights a week at the Waring School, a private school for grades 6 through 12.

While the sport hasn't ''boomed," it is growing in popularity, said Linda Merritt, president of the Waltham-based Boston Fencing Club and secretary of the United States Fencing Association.

''There's been steady growth for quite a few years, but it's still under the radar," Merritt said.

David Casey, 52, of Newburyport, started fencing a year ago as a way to share an activity with his son Carter, 12. His daughter Emma, 10, also started recently.

''It was really just something to have some fun with," Casey said. ''It's intriguing, and humbling, which comes with being whipped by a 16-year-old."

The cost of one-hour classes varies depending on the overhead at each site, and can run from $8.50 to $15 per person.

The brothers are hoping to develop competitors at the top levels. Some have shown promise, including Jack's 17-year-old son, Jake, who has fenced in the Junior World Cup Championship tournament, and 15-year-old twins Dan and Dave Smith of Wakefield.

Right now, the brothers still hold their day jobs -- Jack as a salesman for Moynihan Lumber in Beverly, Ed as an electrical engineer, and Jim as a bus driver.

They would like to own a fencing facility some day, and have talked about arranging exchange programs with fencers from foreign countries. ''Our next step is to expand on all horizons," Jack said.

[LongBlade]

Art of the duel
By Kimberly Kunkle
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
January 1, 2006

pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/trib/westmoreland/s_408334.html

One way to tell what's important to kids, once they go off to college, is where they choose to spend the little time they have at home for Thanksgiving.

The turnout at the Ligonier Fencing Club's annual "Turkey Shoot" party the night before Thanksgiving made it pretty obvious that the fencing group is truly important to some members who are now off at college.

It should be noted that this event doesn't involve any damage to turkeys at the Ligonier YMCA.

It's a group game for which fencers don bright-colored balloons situated to give a slight resemblance to turkeys, including a top crest, then engage in a free-for-all effort to break one another's balloons and protect their own, with the last person with an intact balloon winning the round.

Many of the fencers are adept at producing realistic or comic turkey sounds, or "gobbles," while leaping, parrying and lunging.

Fencers visiting from college say that protecting oneself while fencing is at least as crucial as inflicting "damage" upon opponents -- and that this has historical roots in the days when fencing was a part of battle.

"Remember," said Dennis Kraft, "that the wound from an epee or foil would be deep, maybe 4 to 5 inches, because the weapon is so small around and sharp, and would go in with a strong thrust; that would have often been fatal in those times, or at least someone who was wounded would know he'd probably lose a limb. So to 'parry' is important, to keep someone from hitting you when you hit them."

Fencing and the Ligonier fencing team have been even more important for Kraft than for most. They brought him a scholarship to Penn State University, where he fenced as part of the school's team in his first year.

Kraft, of Rector, chose to apply to Penn State because "I wanted to see a top fencing school, and Penn State was tops." He ended up landing a fencing scholarship there.

It took Kraft a lot of determination to get to that point.

"Dennis worked very hard to get where he is," Ligonier fencing coach Norm Flam said. "He was 14 when he started, and he had no talent whatsoever. I have never seen anyone with less aptitude for anything, but he worked hard -- and there he is, tops."

Flam starts on a list of competitions Kraft has won, including being the Pennsylvania junior and senior men's epee champion this year, and placing third in men's epee at the Junior Olympics last year.

Fencers have gradients through which they advance by placing at larger meets.

"It's difficult, and meant to be," Flam said. "Over 90 percent of all fencers in the U.S. are unrated."

Kraft is one of only about 100 "A"-rated epee fencers.

Kraft, now a sophomore at Penn State, fenced with the Ligonier group for four years, ever since a good friend, George Hilf, told him about the fencing club during his freshman year in high school. He still competes as a member of the Ligonier club during the summer.

"I still consider Ligonier my home club," Kraft said.

He's fenced for Penn State in five NCAA competitions this year, and "six national competitions, to get ready for those."

Reflecting on what's so special about the Ligonier club, Kraft said: "It's a tight-knit group here. And Norm's a wonderful teacher; he brings out the best in people, he has such a power to pull that out.

"Norm trained under three different fencing masters, each with different ideas and techniques."

Kraft offered a short lesson in fencing rankings: "Along with the three weapons, there are three levels in fencing certification for instructors: Moniteur, Prevost and Fencing Master." Candidates for each level must pass a thorough test with oral, written, and practical parts covering all three weapons; the practical exam is given by a board of two USFCA fencing masters. Norm Flam is at the Moniteur level in all three weapons.

"Robbie is the heart of the club," Kraft said, referring to Flam's wife. "She teaches younger kids the basics; then they move on to Norm."

Robbie Flam also is a certified armorer, and Kraft said she uses her skill for the club. "She keeps the weapons in shape, including wiring up shafts so the tips can push in when they make contact with an opponent, which connects wires, which shows the 'score,'" he said.

"I do work out for fencing," Kraft said, "but in the highest levels of fencing, strength itself isn't that important. Real strength comes from leverage. I could parry someone with the end of my foil, and I can hold that with just two fingers, but due to leverage, the other fencer can't move his foil."

Kraft is majoring in history at Penn State, and that interest in history may have been spurred by fencing, which Kraft said helped change the face of war.

"Plate metal was expensive, but armed with rapiers that were small and designed for thrusting, someone who was accurate enough could hit in the unprotected areas, like an armpit or the shoulder," Kraft said. "A lightly armed soldier could take out an expensively armed knight. So that was sort of the end of plate armor."

The next lesson Kraft imparts is about the weapons in fencing.

"Foils are the beginning weapons, what people learn on," he says. "Foils also fence at higher levels. With foils, according to the rules, you can only hit on the torso; epees, you can hit anywhere on the body. Sabers, you can slash, cut with or score with the point."

As Kraft went off to change into fencing clothes, another college student, Stephen DeCosmo, who returned for the Turkey Shoot, answered when asked how Dennis could be identified once in his uniform and face mask.

Simple, he said.

"If you win, you stay on the strip, and another opponent comes; you lose, you get off," DeCosmo said. "Dennis will be the one always staying."

DeCosmo, the former team captain for Ligonier, also is a student at Penn State, but he doesn't fence on the team so he can concentrate on his major, computer science. He indicated a sense of wonder that Kraft is "doing it all."

DeCosmo said he plans "to go back to fencing after school, here, if I can stay here once I graduate." He, too, is a Ligonier High School graduate, and he's lived in the Ligonier Valley since he was 1 year old. He started fencing "six or seven years" ago, during his freshman year of high school, a couple of years before Kraft came to the club.

Gesturing around the room at the Ligonier YMCA, DeCosmo said, "I miss this place -- meaning, the fencing club. You have such close bonds with people here."

DeCosmo was team captain for three years, and he and Kraft were in three national competitions as teammates.

"When (Dennis) first showed up, no one knew what to make of him," DeCosmo said. "He had his own style, which was somewhat unorthodox. But he worked very hard, probably harder than anyone, and now he's the best person here. There's no doubt."

Tammy Zelmore, standing nearby helping to prepare balloons for the "Turkey Shoot" game, chimed in, "Zoe, my daughter, calls Dennis 'The King.' He's so polite, it's amazing."

DeCosmo agreed. "The biggest thing that got him here was his determination and his positive attitude about everything."

After the players finish off their one-on-one matches, it's time for the singular festivity of the evening, the "turkey shoot." They strap bands holding a balloon around their midsection, and don balloon head-crests. Then they all gather on a large section of the room's floor. Anyone who steps with both feet outside its boundary lines will be out of the game. Anyone who hits a top crest from behind is out. Players are allowed to team up to protect one another's backs. There will be several competitions. The fun begins.

Watching the fencers spin, leap, and run around, forming groups of two or three that merge and re-form, there's more of a chance to watch techniques.

Kraft can be identified by his ability to push the end of his epee near the hilt of another's weapon and hold that one immobile with seemingly no effort; then he does Errol Flynn-like leaps around and through groups to find other opponents.

As the field clears out, a real difference in this match becomes obvious: we've been used to watching fencers, not just one on one, but moving back and forth within the narrow confines of what the fencers refer to as "a strip." Now they're running, leaping, spinning, moving, as those who practiced this art as a matter of life-and-death conflict must have -- free to move about in a large square space.

At the end of the final game, when some fencers are so fatigued that they considered not joining in, Kraft is partnered in a flashing ballet with a shorter opponent. The two left alone in the square. The room falls silent, except for the clash of metal and their muffled footfalls.

The match goes on and on, with moves and fencing that sometimes draws gasps and even sighs from the audience. Kraft, tall and slim, turns the match into a tango for a few moments, using his height to draw his smaller opponent into a dancer's spin. They leap apart; the other's weapon darts in with dazzling speed. This is art.

Suddenly, Kraft's remaining balloon is popped. He gives a courtly bow to the victor; they clasp hands and exchange words. They each reach up and sweep off the black headpieces that have masked their identities; one mask reveals a feminine face alight with victory: Jessica Grasso will get one of the prizes tonight.

The other fencers are still applauding the fencing they've just watched as Kraft and Grasso walk back to join them. As they all gather together, there's the realization that even in a solitary sport such as fencing, these people are all truly teammates.

[LongBlade]

Two Fencers Competed At NAC
CollegeSportsTV.com
December 20, 2005

www.cstv.com/sports/c-fenc/stories/122005aac.html

Two members of the Wayne State University women's fencing team participated in the 2005 North American Cup Division I women's epee competition in Pittsburgh on December 9th.


Anna Garina was ninth at
the North American Cup.

Anna Garina placed ninth while Justyna Konczalska was 76th out of 107 competitors.

The squad is idle until participating in the 2006 New York University Dual meets on January 22.

[LongBlade]

Ohio State Competes at North American Cup in Pittsburgh
23 Buckeyes compete and four earn Top 10 finishes[/b][/color]
CollegeSportsTV.com
December 20, 2005

www.cstv.com/sports/c-fenc/stories/122005aab.html

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio State fencing team was well represented at the North American Cup competition held Dec. 9-11 in Pittsburgh, Pa., as 23 Buckeyes fenced and four placed in the Top 10. The competition was the third of six NAC competitions during the 2005-06 season and first of three that will feature Division I competition.

All four Ohio State men's sabre fencers placed in the Top 20, with senior Jason Rogers (Los Angeles, Calif.) earning a second-place finish to post the highest rank among the Buckeyes. Senior Adam Crompton (Newark, N.J.) placed fifth, freshman Mike Momtselidze (Kansas City, Mo.) placed 13th and junior Jason Paul (Los Angeles, Calif.) placed 19th out of the 103 competitors.

Seven OSU men's foil fencers competed and two notched the Buckeyes' other two Top 10 finishes, including junior Boaz Ellis (Moshav Zippori, Israel) at No. 6 and freshman Andras Horanyi (Boulder, Colo.) at No. 7. In men's epee, junior Denis Tolkachev (St. Petersburg, Russia) placed 13th.


Sophomore Siobhan Byrne
placed 15th in women's sabre
at the North American Cup in
Pittsburgh, Dec. 9-11.

Sophomore Siobhan Byrne (Eislingen, Germany) had the best finish among the OSU women, as she placed 15th in sabre. Also in sabre, sophomores Eileen Grench (Davis, Calif.) and Amelia Gaillard (Fayetteville, Ga.) placed 22nd and 24th, respectively.

Junior Kaela Brendler (San Antonio, Texas) had Ohio State's other Top 25 finish on the women's side as she placed 25th in epee.

Rounding out the Ohio State contingent, in men's foil (out of 157), sophomore Yakov Tsveig (Petah-Tikva, Israel) at No. 54, junior Kevin Stuart (Wheaton, Ill.) at No. 78, freshman Daniel Bass (St. Louis, Mo.) at No. 81, freshman Dimitri Kirk-Gordon (San Jose, Calif.) at No. 87 and sophomore William Jeter (Cincinnati, Ohio) at No. 90. Out of 199 competitors in men's epee, freshman Jason Pryor (Cleveland, Ohio) was No. 42 and junior Christian Rivera (Bloomfield, N.J.) was No. 47.

Out of 53 competitors in women's sabre, three others Buckeyes placed, including junior Syvenna Siebert (Upper Arlington, Ohio) at No. 48, senior Kristin Rill (Des Plaines, Ill.) at No. 49 and freshman Elizabeth Knauer (Medford, N.J.) at No. 52.

Included among the 107 women's epee competitors was sophomore Alexandra Obrazcova (Dauganpils, Latvia) at No. 51, while among the 90 women's foil competitors was freshman Allison Rush (Boulder, Colo.) at No. 74.

Former Buckeye Hanna Thompson placed second in women's foil and former Buckeye Louise Bond-Williams placed 19th in women's sabre.

Ohio State will resume practice the week of Jan. 3 and will compete again Jan. 13-16 when the North American Cup has its fourth competition of the season, this time in Houston, which will again feature Division I competition.

[LongBlade]

Fencing: US team in town
By David King
San Antonio Express
San Antonio, TX, USA[/b]
01/06/2006

www.mysanantonio.com/sports/stories/MYSA010606.6D.OLYfencing.1d1cb8c1.html

Members of the U.S. women's epee fencing team will be at Alamo Fencing Academy this weekend to work with coach Paul Pesthy and prepare for upcoming national and international competition.

A pair of San Antonia sisters are members of the team — top-ranked Kelly Hurley and third-ranked Courtney Hurley.

The sisters are the first U.S. women's epee specialists to win world championship events. The fencers will be at the academy, which is at 961 Isom Road, from 2-6 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.

[LongBlade]

Rogers is Nation's No. 1 Sabre Fencer, One of 14 Buckeyes Ranked
Buckeyes have seven fencers ranked in the Top 10 [/b][/color]
CollegeSportsTV.com
Jan. 5, 2006

www.cstv.com/sports/c-fenc/stories/010506aaa.html

COLUMBUS, Ohio - After spending most of the last three years ranked in the Top 3, Ohio State's Jason Rogers is now the nation's No. 1 senior division men's sabre fencer, U.S. Fencing announced. Rogers (Sr., Los Angeles, Calif.) is one of 14 Buckeyes to appear in the latest national rankings and is one of seven OSU fencers in the Top 10.


Jason Rogers is now the No. 1-ranked men's sabre fencer in the nation in the U.S. Fencing senior division.

Joining Rogers in the Top 5 are senior Adam Crompton (Newark, N.J.) at No. 4 in sabre and freshman Andras Horanyi (Boulder, Colo.) at No. 4 in foil. Horanyi also is the nation's No. 1 ranked junior division men's foil fencer.

In addition to Rogers and Crompton, Ohio State's men's sabre unit also includes freshman Mike Momtselidze (Kansas City, Mo.), who is ranked No. 7, and junior Jason Paul (Los Angeles, Calif.), who is ranked No. 28.

Also ranked in the Top 10 is junior Christian Rivera (Bloomfield, N.J.), who is No. 8 in epee.

Two OSU women's sabre fencers are ranked in the Top 10, including sophomore Amelia Gaillard (Fayetteville, Ga.) at No. 8 and sophomore Eileen Grench (Davis, Calif.) at No. 10. Grench also is ranked No. 3 in the nation in the junior women's sabre division.

Other Buckeye women ranked include junior Syvenna Siebert (Upper Arlington, Ohio) at No. 26 in sabre, freshman Allison Rush (Boulder, Colo.) at No. 33 in foil, freshman Elizabeth Knauer (Medford, N.J.) at No. 35 in sabre and junior Kaela Brendler (San Antonio, Texas) at No. 40 (tie) in epee. In the junior division, Knauer is ranked No. 15 and Rush is ranked No. 27.

On the men's side, freshman Dimitri Kirk-Gordon (San Jose, Calif.) is ranked No. 26 in foil and sophomore William Jeter (Cincinnati, Ohio) is ranked No. 35 in foil. Jeter is ranked No. 18 in the junior division.

Former Buckeye Hanna Thompson, currently a volunteer assistant coach for the Buckeyes, is ranked No. 1 in women's foil for the first time in her career. Her twin sister Metta is ranked No. 18 in the same division.

Ohio State returns to action Jan. 15-16 when the Buckeyes travel to Houston, Texas, for the North American Cup.

[LongBlade]

IN MY OPINION:
Soccer player now excelling at new sport: Fencing[/b][/color]
MARTY MINCHIN
Charlotte Observer
Charlotte, N.C
Jan. 05, 2006

www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/local/states/north_carolina/counties/union/13552714.htm

During a break from her four-year soccer career, Sun Valley Middle School seventh-grader Jasmine Lingle decided to try a new sport.

Her mom, Barbie Schott, had a friend whose child fenced, and Barbie said the sport sounded interesting. She proposed the idea to Jasmine, who is 12, and they visited the Knights of Siena Fencing Academy that is just blocks from their house in Indian Trail.

"Within a week of observing a class, she was hooked," Barbie said. "That's all she's talked about, and she's been fencing since March and absolutely loves it. She got lots of fencing equipment for Christmas."

December also brought a lot of celebrating for Jasmine and her family, which includes stepdad Ken Schott and brother Spencer Lingle. On Dec. 17, Jasmine won the Southeast Section girls 12 and under Olympic epee competition in Atlanta. (An epee is a type of fencing sword.)

Jasmine's coach, Alan Blakeborough, said Jasmine faced tough competition at the event, namely the girls favored to win.

Alan said Jasmine dominated the pool of fencers she was placed in for a round to seed the fencers, and then went up against the tournament favorites.

"When she got into her direct-elimination rounds in epee, she upset some of the favorites," Alan said. "The club that hosted the event is considered the real power (in epee) in the Southeast."
In the final round, the best of three, Jasmine's opponent took the first round, but Jasmine came back to win the next two.

Jasmine's win qualifies her to represent North Carolina in the U.S. Fencing National Championship at the Georgia Olympic Convention Center this summer, Barbie said. Jasmine hopes to fence in the Junior Olympics, but she'll have to wait until 2007, when she's old enough.
Alan said that Jasmine's quick success in her new sport is due in part to her dedication to practicing, which she does twice a week for an hour and a half. She also frequently attends the Knights of Siena bouts on Friday nights, where fencers duel with whoever shows up.
He fully expects her to do well in epee in upcoming competitions and at the Junior Olympics. Her success could lead to a fencing scholarship at a number of NCAA schools, he said.

Jasmine also has done well in sabre and foil competitions, the other two fencing weapons, but Barbie said Jasmine likes the epee because the competitions allow more freedom with footwork and the whole body is a target area.

Barbie said that Jasmine has even gotten some of her friends to try the sport. She also has worked fencing into some of her reports and presentations at school.
Her upcoming competition may be her younger brother Spencer, who's also decided to take up fencing and is getting some pointers from Jasmine.

"We're extremely proud of her and support her in whatever she decides to do with it," Barbie said.

[LongBlade]

National fencing
E-Pao.net
Manipur, India
(Source: The Sangai Express)
1/4/06

www.e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=Sport2.14.050106.jan06

Imphal, January 04: Manipur fencers made a clean sweep of championship titles in different categories of the 7th Sub-junior and 2nd Cadet National Fencing Championship held at Calicut (Kerala) from December 22 till 25, informed Manipur Fencing Association.

The state contingent comprising of 42 players and four officials wrested the overall championship titles in cadet boys and girls division and sub-junior boys and girls class.

Out of 12 gold medals on offer in the cadet division of the championship, boys and girls fencer of Manipur claimed nine, followed by four silvers and three bronzes while the sub-junior fencers fetched 10 gold, three silver and a bronze medal.

[LongBlade]

Mental Fencer
Shore Publishing-
Madison, CT, USA
1/5/2006

www.shorepublishing.com/archive/re.aspx?re=6120055e-4028-4b68-90c6-c3095f62b519

Guilford - There aren't always that many places for a person interested in fencing to get involved in it. It's not like a lot of sports that have leagues for children to play in while they grow up. As a result, Guilford senior captain Sam McCauley had to wait until he was in eighth grade before he got his first taste of the sport. Five years later, he still enjoys every moment of it.

“I'd always been interested in fencing,” says Sam. “I never had an opportunity to join. When I was in eighth grade, I saw a demonstration class through the Shoreline Foundation. I liked what I saw and the next year I tried out for the team and made it.”

Sam has been a member of the team for all four years he's been in high school and was named captain to this year's team.

“He puts in incredible amount of work into the team and he's very involved in all levels of the team,” said Coach Matt Catino. “He's very involved in the freshman team as well as the JV and varsity. We're very fortunate to have him.”

As captain, Sam tries to remember what he was like when he first joined the team and how inexperienced he was in the rules of fencing as a freshman.

“Almost all are brand new to the sport or only have had a small introduction to the sport like I had,” says Sam. “They all have a lot of questions about what to improve or about the rules. I try to answer all of their questions. At practices, I'll try to help the coach get everything organized and at the games, I'll try to get everyone up and cheering.”

Sam was attracted to fencing because while it can be a physically demanding sport, it also has a strong mental component.

“I like fencing because as in most sports it has a physical and mental aspect,” says Sam. “I find the mental aspect very interesting. I like to figure out someone's weaknesses. Everyone has a unique style. You have to figure out how to use your style to get points and beat your opponent.”

While Sam doesn't think he is the most physically gifted fencer in the state, he feels he—for the most part—has the ability to out-think his opponent.

“My biggest weakness is movement—going backwards and forwards,” says Sam. “I'm more of a mental fencer. With the mental aspect, if they come forward maybe I'm able to predict it and move back a little early or block the advance with my blade.”

While facing off against his opponents, Sam tries to use whatever he can to study his opponent, looking for weaknesses and gradually building up the intensity of his attacks while searching for holes in his opponents' defenses.

“I try to look for obvious weakness at first but more often than not, a stronger fencer will have no obvious weaknesses before we even move to the en garde position,” says Sam. “I'll start with simple actions to see how they react. I'll switch to more complicated things later.”

Besides being a member of the Guilford fencing team, Sam qualified in two fencing events for the junior Olympics that will be held in February this year. He qualified in the foil, which is the most common type of fencing at the high school level, and the epee, which he first tried while training at a club in Middletown. The third type of fencing, which Sam did not qualify in, is the saber. Each style of fencing has its own rules and advantages.

When Sam graduates at the end of the year, he plans to go on to college and study either math or physics.

“They're my strongest subjects,” says Sam. “I like solving the problem to get a solution. I have to find out what happens.”

Sam takes a similar approach to fencing.

“Fencing is not as straightforward as math,” says Sam, “but it's the same idea. I like analyzing problems in that way.”

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Mendham fencing team ready for play
Chester Observer Tribune
Chester, NJ, USA
Jan. 5, 2006

www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15877555&BRD=1918&PAG=461&dept_id=506872&rfi=6

MENDHAM - The Mendham High School Fencing Team is approaching its second season funded entirely by the Parents Fencing Organization.

Returning as head coach is Laura Pelizzoni. Tom Tishman, president of the Parents Fencing Organization, and Steve Dultz return as assistant coaches this season.

The girls team is anchored by Sabre Captain, Jill Mahen. Mahen has recently earned her D rating from the U.S. Fencing Association (USFA) and has qualified for the Junior Olympics.

Sophomore Shannon Cooley, who brings years of fencing experience, returns along with Janelle Krannich and Christina Wesley for another season.

The Epee squad has eight juniors returning from last season. Jess Wallace, who heads the squad, has also qualified for the Junior Olympics. Maria Julian and Sabrina Pelech will be starting along with Wallace this season.

Stephanie Dultz leads the Foil squad and is joined by sophomores, Alice Jabobson and Anne Marie Mandarakis. Senior Vicki Lee also figures to see considerable action this season.

For the boys, returning senior, Jordan Fondots heads the Sabre Squad. Fondots is joined by fellow senior Will Lewis and junior David Ruhle.

Foil is led by returning sophomore Michael Striano who has recently earned his E rating from USFA. Andy Jung and Tony Greco join him.

The Epee Squad led by Doug Yeaw and Salim Short also includes Hao Du and Jesse Rappaport. Short has an E rating from USFA.

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Women's Fencing Sweeps at Princeton
Women Win All Three Matches, Men Win One[/b][/color]
Columbia University Athletics
New York, NY, USA
January 6, 2006

gocolumbialions.collegesports.com/sports/c-fenc/recaps/012905aaa.html

Columbia women's fencing built off a strong showing last weekend to secure three victories today in Princeton. The Lions defeated Princeton, 16-11, St. John's, 17-10, and Rutgers, 25-2. The men dropped a heartbreaker to Princeton, 14-13, and lost to St. John's, 17-10, before rebounding to defeat Rutgers, 15-12. Columbia's elite women's sabre squad going undefeated for the entire day, 27-0, highlighted the day.
Headed by the sabre squad, the Lions' women's team defeated Ivy League rival Princeton, 16-11. Emily Jacobson (C-Atlanta, Ga.), Christian Robinson (C-Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Emma Baratta (C-Somerville, N.J.) all went 3-0 with Baratta and Jacobson getting scored upon just three times in their matches combined. The nine bouts proved vital as the Tigers won both the foil and epee weapons. The Lions lost epee, 5-4, with first-year Morgan Midgley (C-Tinton Falls, N.J.) winning two of three bouts. The foilists each picked up a victory despite falling 6-3 in their weapon. Magda Losonczy (C-Bernardsville, N.J.), Cassidy Luitjen (C-San Antonio, Texas) and Kathleen Reckling (C-White Plains, N.Y.) all went 1-2 to ensure the Columbia win.

The women also posted an impressive 25-2 win over Rutgers. The trio of Baratta, Jacobson and Robinson went 9-0 again as did the women's foil squad. Reckling won her three bouts as did Losonczy, and Sarah Loh saw her first action of the season by picking up two wins. In epee, Midgley won her three bouts while Alexie Rubin (B-Los Angeles, Calif.) and Rachel Rowe (C-Galdstone, N.J.) both went 2-1. The Lions completed the sweep by defeating St. John's 17-10. Once again Baratta, Jacobson and Robinson led the way with a 9-0 performance in the weapon. Columbia also took the women's epee, 5-4. Rubin and Rowe both went 2-1 with Midgley winning the decisive fifth bout.

The men were not as successful as the women, winning one of three matches. The 14-13 loss to Princeton was the most disappointing of the day. The Lions dominated men's sabre, taking the weapon, 7-2. All-American Alex Krul (Los Angeles, Calif.) won his three bouts as did James Williams (Sacramento, Calif.). The Lions won foil as well, with Scott Sugimoto (Pacific Palisades, Calif.), Luka Lazic (Millburn, N.J.) and Jeremy Sinkin (Rochester, N.Y.) all going 2-1. Unfortunately, those two weapons could not overcome an uncharacteristically poor performance in epee. The Lions were swept 9-0 by the Tigers.

Columbia also fell to St. John's. 17-10. The Lions again took sabre, this time by a score of 6-3, as Krul, Williams and Paul Reyfman (New York, N.Y.) all went 2-1. The Lions fell 6-3 in foil and 8-1 in epee to account for the final score.

The Lions rebounded to defeat Rutgers, 15-12, with the foilists leading the way. Sugimoto, Lazic and Meade Anderson (Glendora, Calif.) all won two bouts to give the Lions a 6-3 advantage in the weapon. The sabre squad took their weapon, 5-4, while the epeeists battled to a 5-4 loss.

The Lions return to action on Saturday as they host Yale and Hunter in University Gym at 11 a.m.

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Three hope to qualify for Junior Olympics at home event (Fencing)
by Annie Martin
Wildcat Sports Journal
The Daily Northwestern
Evanston, IL, USA
January 06, 2006

northwestern.scout.com/2/486158.html

The Wildcats have defeated 12 fencing teams this season but are still disappointed by their one loss in their first two-day tournament — to defending NCAA champion Notre Dame.

NU placed eighth at the NCAA championships last season and sought to go undefeated in dual matches this season. However, the Cats fell to Notre Dame on Nov. 20 at NU Duals.

“We really got creamed by Notre Dame. Fortunately they were the only ones that were able to do that,” freshman Adrienne Shon said. “We need to upset some people — beat people that, given the numbers, we really shouldn’t beat.”

Assistant coach Ed Kaihatsu said NU should have defeated the Irish because although Notre Dame won the NCAA championship last year, many of their top fencers graduated. Even with the loss, Kaihatsu sees promising signs for the Cats.

“They’re all showing that they know how to fight,” Kaihatsu said. “They’re trained to win and when they don’t win they’re angry.”

Sophomore Gina Annunziato acknowledged Notre Dame is a good team, but she said she thinks the Cats can overcome them. NU will face the Irish again this season.

“It’s hard because they have the gold medal Olympic winner on their team,” Annunziato said. “But I did fence against her and I did almost beat her so honestly anything can happen.”

Coach Laurie Schiller said one of the Cats’ biggest obstacles to being No. 1 this year will be qualifying fencers for the NCAA competition because Notre Dame and Ohio State, which have dominated the NCAA title the last three years, are both in NU’s region. Since a limited number of fencers from each region can go to the competition, this poses a challenge to the Cats.

“We have some young (fencers) this year and we have some experience,” Schiller said. “We have a number of freshmen and some of them are quite good, but they have to get used to fencing in college.”

Several of the younger fencers are vying for a chance to go to or are already en route to the Junior Olympics, which will be held Feb. 17-20 in Hartford, Conn.

Annunziato, Shon and sophomore Gabby Aiuto will compete for a chance to go to the Junior Olympics at the Illinois Junior Olympic Qualifier this Saturday at Patten Gym. The three will mainly face high school fencers. Freshmen Kellie Fry, Sam Nemecek and Megan Ross have already qualified for the Junior Olympics by acquiring enough points through competitions.

“This is my last year (of eligiblity for the Junior Olympics) and I want to do really well,” said Annunziato, who won the qualifier last year but missed most of last season due to illness. “This is my final year and I want to at least get (in the) top 32.”

Aiuto went to the Junior Olympics during her senior of high school but didn’t make it last year.

“Last year I had a really disappointing loss at (the Junior Olympic Qualifier) and I didn’t qualify,” Aiuto said. “It was definitely a tough moment in my career because I had been getting a lot better. This is the last year I’m young enough to go, so I’m hoping to qualifiy.”

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Public Angered by Fencing Suspension
by Sung-Kyu Kim
The Donga
Seoul, South Korea
JANUARY 09, 2006

english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?bicode=070000&biid=2006010955298

The Korean Fencing Association being criticized by the public after it suspended 25-year-old fencer Nam Hyun-hee‘s (Seoul City Hall) fencing license for two years for upsetting the national team’s training schedule by undergoing plastic surgery.

Public criticism on the association’s heavy-handedness has grown.

Following the fencing association’s January 6 decision to suspend Nam, the bulletin board of the association’s website was bombarded with 500 or more messages from people demanding the fencing authority temper its punishment.

Nam Hyun-hee was the most frequently searched-for keyword in Naver knowledge search on January 8, surpassing Park Ji-sung.

The Korean Fencing Association, scheduled to discuss disciplinary measure for Nam’s coach Cho Jeong-hyeok, is perplexed over the unexpected public reaction to its decision to suspend Nam.

Fencing officials remarked that they did not know this would cause this much uproar, and declined phone interviews.

Nam said, “A two-year suspicion is same as a retirement order. I don’t think I’ve done something so bad that I deserve this. I started fencing when I was in junior high school and I’ve dreamed of winning the gold someday. It’s sad that I have to quit because of something like this.” She also added, “I had another incident with the association in 2003: I had a back problem and asked to be treated at home, but the association insisted that I be treated in the athletic village.”

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Fencing: Maltese fencers to take part in Mediterranean Championship
Malta Independent
St. Julians, Malta
1/8/06

217.145.4.56/ind/news.asp?newsitemid=26468

A contingent of seven fencers accompanied by two coaches are representing Malta in the third Under 18 Fencing Championship for Mediterranean Countries that are being held this weekend in Tunisia.

Juan Formosa, President of the National Fencing Association of Malta (NFAM) said that this was the second consecutive year that Maltese fencers will be taking part in these games. "Our participation this year was made possible thanks to the Kunsill Malti ghall-Isport and Malta International Airport plc as beneficiaries of the MIA Youth Development Sport Policy which they have jointly developed to promote talent among our young athletes.

The seven Maltese fencers are competing in the Foil and Epee individual categories. Nearly one hundred fencers from Serbia & Montenegro, Cyprus, Egypt, Spain, France, Greece, Monaco, Tunisia, Turkey, Italy, Malta, Algeria and Slovenia will be taking part in the championship" said Formosa.

Giorgio Scarso, President of the Federazione Italiana Scherma, said that it was a great pleasure for him that Malta was taking part. "The Italian Federation has always been keen on supporting the Maltese Association and to promote fencing in the Mediterranean region. Most of the athletes taking part were in Italy a few weeks ago for a one-week training camp we organised to prepare them for the championship" Mr Scarso said.

He added that the Italian Federation has signed a four-year agreement with the NFAM to provide technical assistance and help develop further the skills of the Maltese fencers.

Franco Azzopardi, Chairman of the Kunsill Malti ghall-Isport, expressed his satisfaction that the first group of young athletes is benefiting from funds made available through the MIA Youth Development Sport Policy.

He added that the NFAM is a relatively small association but it has managed to groom a number of young athletes and has outlined an ambitious programme for the coming three years to develop further their talent.

This, Azzopardi said, is in line with the policy that the KMS and MIA have developed and in the coming weeks other associations will be allocated funds to assist them in developing their respective plans for young athletes.