Training and Hard Work Pays off for Illinois Fencers Club
As the 2013 season progresses youth fencers from the Illinois Fencers Club (IFC) continue to advance in several recent regional competitions achieving ratings and qualifying for Summer Nationals in Columbus Ohio in June.
At the MCFC Open and Y-14 Epee in Northbrook, IL on March 24th , Alexandr Heber placed 3rd and earned a "B" rating, while Sammie Doro finished 6th and earned a "C" rating in a field of 26 fencers participating in the Senior Mixed Epee.
On the same day, Illinois Fencers Club held its 2013 Foil/Saber Challenge. Two of our youngest fencers, Peter Kulaga and Michael Romanov, competed in the Youth 12 Mixed Foil event. Peter captured 1st place, while his teammate Michael, finished in 5th place. In addition, 14 year old Jakub Nowak took 3rd place in the E & Under Senior Mixed Foil in a field of 19 competitors and earned an "E" rating.
The United States Fencing Association system of rating fencers uses letters starting with an "A"rating for the highest rated fencer, followed by "B" and so on to "E." A beginner is unrated, as signified by a "U" rating. Ratings are achieved based upon the placement a fencer finished in at a tournament, the number of fencers who participated in the event and their ratings.
At the Y-14 Illinois Divisional Championships, a qualifying tournament for Summer Nationals at New Trier High School in Winnetka on April 6th , Jakub Nowak placed 3rd and qualified for nationals in Y14 Men's Foil, while 12 year old AJ Mikkelson qualified for Y14 Men's Epee.
Meanwhile, Sammie Doro placed 9th out of 80 competitors in Y-14 Women's Epee event on April 14 at the USFA North American Cup in Richmond, VA.
Just last weekend, at the Division 2 & 3 Illinois Divisional Championships, qualifying events for Summer Nationals, held on Apr 20th at New Trier High School in Northfield, IFC fencers earned two gold medals, one silver, and one bronze, automatically qualifying for Nationals in Ohio in Division 2 & 3, both epee and foil. The results of the competition are as follows:
In Division 3 Men's Epee David St. George took the gold medal finishing in 1st place, while Wheeler White came in 5th with both qualifying for Nationals.
In Division 3 Woman's Epee Sara Antos placed 3rd and also qualified.
In Division 2 Women's Epee Samantha Doro won the gold medal and qualified.
In Division 2 Men's Epee, David Vishny finished 4th, while David St. George, 6th . Both qualified and David additionally earned a new "D" rating.
In Division 2 Men's Foil Tony Coonrod received the silver medal and qualified.
The Illinois Fencing Club promotes and teaches the Olympic sport of fencing to students of all ages and skill levels and provides a friendly venue for members to practice their sport. It is a member operated non-for-profit sports association that has been serving beginning, recreational, and competitive fencers for more than 40 years. They are located at 411 S. Maple St., Mount Prospect, IL 60056 and can be found on the web at http://www.IFCfencing.org
This Sunday, April 28th the Illinois Fencers Club will hold its 2013 Dominick Epee Challenge, the Chicago's largest epee only fencing tournament, at the Lions Memorial Park in Mount Prospect, IL. Over 60 fencers are already registered and the tournament include: Women's Epee at 8:30AM; Mixed Epee at 9:30AM; Mixed Team Epee - following the mixed event; and Y12 Mixed Epee - at 1:30PM. Additional information is available at http://askfred.net/Events/moreInfo.php?tournament_id=21318