DCFC fencers represent Team USA at Vet World Championships
For immediate release
October 14, 2015
Contact:
Two DC Fencers Club members have qualified to represent Team USA at the 19th Veteran Fencing World Championships on October 20-25 in Limoges, France. “Vet Worlds” is the premiere fencing event for fencers over age 50 and is conducted by the International Fencing Federation (FIE). Asher and Campe were selected to represent Team USA based on their best two out of three results from the 2014-2015 season. Stateside fans can cheer on Team USA Vets with live results on the official website.
Valerie Asher of Bethesda, MD is the number one ranked U.S. fencer in the Veteran Women’s Epee, 50-59 category. This is Asher’s third time representing Team USA at Vet Worlds; in 2012, she won bronze in Krems, Austria, and she placed eighth at her Vet Worlds debut in 2011 in Porec, Croatia. Asher locked in her spot at Vet Worlds with a gold and bronze medals at the December 2014 and March 2015 North American Cups, respectively. By day, Asher is a physician specializing in Otolaryngology in Silver Spring, MD.
Kazimieras “Kaz” Campe (Edgewater, MD) made history when he became the first American fencer to win a gold medal at a World Championship, when he took gold in Men’s 60+ epee at the 1998 Veteran Worlds in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. Campe earned a spot at the 2015 Vet Worlds, with results including bronze in the Vet 70 Men’s Epee event at the December 2014 North American Cup, and a top eight spot at the 2015 Summer National Championships. A retired nuclear engineer, this will be Campe’s 13th time at Veteran Worlds.
James “Jim” Adams (Rockville, MD) will serve as Team Captain for Team USA at Vet Worlds. Jim Adams has represented Team USA 14 times, and has medaled in both foil and epee.
A lifelong sport – veteran fencing in the U.S.
Whether late-bloomers or returning to the sport, American veteran fencers in their 40s through 70s are competing in increasing numbers since national vet competitive events were first organized in the 1980s. In the US, more than 5,000 veteran fencers are registered competitive members of the US Fencing Association, the national governing board for the sport.
About fencing tournaments
Fencing competitions in all three weapons (foil, epee, and sabre) usually consist of two rounds of bouting. In the first round of “pools,” six to eight fencers compete in a round-robin of 5-touch/3 minute bouts. Pool results inform the seeding of the next round of “direct elimination” or “DE” bouts (10 points for Vets), where winners of each DE round advance through brackets of 64, 32, 16, 8, semifinal and final bouts.
Beginner classes at DC Fencers Club
Each generation of fencing champions starts in a beginner fencing class. DC Fencers Club offers several beginner fencing classes on weekdays and Saturdays to introduce youth ages 7-16 to the Olympic sport of fencing. Beginner fencing class activities include games, footwork, fencing technique & tactics, competition, and new friendships. Classes are offered on a monthly, rolling basis. Visit dcfencing.com to register or learn more.
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.