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Sirico earns Team Bronze at Junior World Championships

On Sunday, April 10, Amanda Sirico of Bowie, MD earned Team bronze at the 2016 Junior World Fencing Championships in Bourges, France.

Junior Worlds gathers the top fencers under 20 years old from around the world to compete in individual and team events in the three fencing weapons: epee, foil, and sabre. Sirico has dominated the Junior (under 20) Women’s Epee category since she began competing in Juniors in the 2013-14 season, consistently maintaining the #1 U.S. rank, including her victory as 2015 Junior Olympic Champion in April 2015.

After taking twelfth place in the individual Junior Women’s Epee event at #Bourges2016 on Thursday, Sirico served as anchor in the Junior Women’s Epee Team event. Other team members included Barbara VanBenthuysen, Kasia Nixon and Gigi Vierheller.

The team event structure is a round robin in which three fencers from each team (plus an alternate) face off for a total of nine bouts which last three minutes each. The first team to 45 points or the higher score at the end of nine 3-minute periods wins. In the team event, the anchor has the indomitable task of closing gaps and creating a lead for the other teammates to defend.

In the table of 32 and 16, Team USA garnered comfortable wins against the Netherlands (45-19) and Israel (44-31). In the semifinals, Sirico went 9-4 in the anchor bout to lead the U.S. Women’s Epee Team to a 45-41 win over China. In the finals, Team USA lost to France, 45-40, and had to fence Germany for bronze.

Sirico anchored a dramatic fence-off for bronze. In the first two of the final three bouts, Team USA trailed Germany by up to two points. Both were halted due to non-combativity, sending the match straight to the final round where anchors Sirico and Stahlberg of Germany faced off to decide the match. Sirico closed the two-point deficit to 24-24 with seconds on the clock, then the bout went to overtime. On the coin flip, Germany was granted priority, and needed only to fend off Sirico to garner the medal. Sirico pulled it out with a 25-24 win, earning bronze for Team USA.

Sirico, 20, had mixed feelings about her final season as a Junior and the transition in her fencing career.

“I feel like I have been in Junior forever, but this being my last year is bittersweet. It signifies my growth as a person and represents a large part of my life … but on the other hand it also means I’m getting older!”

Sirico trains at DC Fencers Club under the guidance of Head Coach Janusz Smolenski.

Photo album of Sirico’s Junior World Team Bronze.  Photos courtesy of FIE.

Amanda Sirico 2015-2016 season results

2016

Bronze – Junior World Fencing Championships (Junior Team)

Bronze – January North American Cup (Junior)

2015

Gold – USA Fencing Junior Olympic Championships (Junior)

Gold – January North American Cup (Junior)

Bronze – January North American Cup (Division I)

Gold – October North American Cup (Senior Team)

Fourth – Junior World Fencing Championships (Team)

Bronze – Helsinki Junior World Cup (Team)

Beginner fencing classes and summer camps

Every champion gets their start in a beginner fencing class. DC Fencers Club offers rolling, monthly beginner fencing classes, and several weeklong summer fencing camps this July and August. Learn more at www.dcfencing.com.

About DC Fencers Club

Whether you are a competitive or a recreational fencer, DC Fencers Club (DCFC) welcomes you. For 26 years, DCFC has consistently produced national and international champions. We polish the skills of fencers who strive to compete at the highest level, and we encourage fencers of all ages and ability levels. We offer instruction through classes, camps, workshops, and individual lessons. DCFC coaches have a combined 100 years of training, competition, and teaching experience, and they include credentialed fencing masters and National Champions. DC Fencers Club promotes excellence, sportsmanship, and safety in a friendly environment.

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