DCFC’s Amanda Sirico named 2015 Junior National Champion
Sirico defeats Charlene Liu in the finals for the 2015 Junior National Champion title
For immediate release
February 18, 2015
Contact: DC Fencers Club
#1 ranked Junior fencer will represent Team USA at Junior Worlds this April
SILVER SPRING, MD — Amanda Sirico, 19, of Bowie, Maryland won the title of Junior National Champion in Junior Women’s Epee at the Junior Olympic Fencing Championships in Richmond, VA last weekend. The Junior Olympics or “JOs” are the culminating event of the Junior (under 20) season and the last chance for elite junior fencers to earn a spot on the national team for the Junior World Championships. Sirico entered the tournament as the #1 ranked U.S. Junior Women’s Epee fencer and the #6 ranked in the world. Even before Monday’s gold, Sirico was already locked in for the national team competing at Junior Worlds in Tashkent (Uzbekistan) in April 2015. Sirico is also vying for a spot on the Senior World Championship team.
Sirico is a freshman at Notre Dame University, and continues to train at DC Fencers Club under the guidance of Head Coach Janusz Smolenski.
Sirico advanced through a field of the 187 strongest JWE fencers in the U.S., sailing through pools with five straight wins, then another seven direct-elimination bouts, including the 15-12 final against Charlene Liu.
When asked for the secret behind her ongoing stellar results, Sirico replied “Consistency. In the way that you strive to hit the same mark first, and then even more.”
DCFC Head Coach Janusz Smolenski with his student, 2015 Junior National Champion Amanda Sirico.
DC Fencers Club sent more than 20 young men and women to match skills in this highly competitive tournament of more than 1,600 fencers from fencing clubs nationwide. The Junior Olympics is a national event organized by the United States Fencing Association, the national governing body for the American fencing community. At “JOs,” young men and women competed in all three fencing weapons (epee, sabre, and foil) in three categories: Cadet (Under 17); Junior (Under 20), and team events. All fencers at JOs had to place well in local Division qualifier tournaments in order to compete in Richmond.
Amanda Sirico with her Junior National Champion trophy. Photo courtesy of the Siricos.
Sirico stats (2014-2015 season)
- Gold, Junior Women’s Epee, Junior Olympic National Championships, Richmond, VA (February 2014)
- Gold, Junior Women’s Epee, North American Cup, Salt Lake City, UT (January 2014)
- Bronze, Division 1 Women’s Epee, North American Cup, Salt Lake City, UT (January 2014)
- Silver, Young Lions Women’s Junior World Cup, Helsinki, Finland (November 2014)
- Gold, Junior Women’s Epee, North American Cup, Columbus, OH (July 2014)
Travel is a given for elite fencers, and Sirico gets her next passport stamp in Udine, Italy, representing Team USA at a Junior World Cup in early March.
Summer Fencing Camps at DCFC
Each generation of fencing champions starts in a beginner fencing class. This July and August, DC Fencers Club offers seven weeklong day camps in which youth ages 7-16 can learn the Olympic sport of fencing. Fencing camp activities include games, footwork, fencing technique & tactics, group lessons, fencing videos, competition, training with nationally ranked fencers, and of course, new friendships.
DC Fencers Club camps take place July 6-10; July 13-17; July 20-24; July 27-31; August 3-7; August 10-14; and August 17-21, 2015. All sessions run from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm; before and aftercare is available. Camps are open to beginner through advanced fencers, and equipment and uniforms are provided. The price per session is $330 per weekly session, and students are welcome to take more than one session. Students should bring a water bottle and dress to move. Fencing camps take place at DC Fencers Club, a dedicated fencing facility located minutes from the Beltway in Silver Spring, MD. To register, visit the Camps page of DC Fencers Club at www.dcfencing.com, call 301-562-1990 or email .
About DC Fencers Club
DC Fencers Club (DCFC) is the premiere fencing club in the Washington, DC area. For 25 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. DCFC offers 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. Find out more at www.dcfencing.com.
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