DCFC medals at the 2012 Cherry Blossom Open, University of Maryland
April 2, 2012
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PRE-OLYMPICS MEDAL COUNT FOR DC FENCERS CLUB
AT CHERRY BLOSSOM OPEN
DCFC Members earn six gold, silver, and bronze medals at one of the largest East Coast fencing tournaments
DC Fencers Club member Rebecca Chimahusky of Silver Spring, Maryland won the gold medal in Senior Women’s Epee at the Cherry Blossom Open, a large regional fencing tournament held March 31 – April 1, 2012 hosted by the University of Maryland Fencing Club, College Park, MD. Chimahusky joins five other DC Fencers Club members who earned six medals at the event.
Amanda Sirico of Bowie, Maryland earned a bronze medal in the women’s epee event. The very next day, Sirico earned silver at the Senior Mixed Epee (men and women), advancing from a field of 155 fencers, and the only woman to advance to the top 32. Sirico is among the top ranked US Cadet fencers (16 and under).
DCFC Sabre fencers also had great results. Aaron Ruby of Silver Spring, MD took silver, and Gordon Long, also of Silver Spring, MD took bronze in the Senior Mixed Sabre event. Bowie, MD resident Brooke Sirico, 14, earned silver in Senior Women’s Sabre; in her final bout she competed against former Veteran World Champion sabre fencer Delia Turner of the Fencing Academy of Philadelphia, PA.
The medalists were among 50 DCFC competitors who matched skills at this highly competitive tournament of 300 + fencers. This tournament, hosted by the UMD fencing club, attracted fellow college clubs, such as William & Mary Fencing Club, Rutgers University Fencing Club, NC State Fencing Club, the U.S. Naval Academy Fencing Club, Memphis University Fencing Club, and University of Rochester Fencing Club. Many colleges and universities nationwide offer fencing teams and clubs, in addition to universities with NCAA (varsity) fencing teams.
About fencing tournaments
Fencing competitions in all three weapons 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, Direct Elimination or “DE.” Direct elimination bouts are 15 touch/9 minute bouts. Winners of each DE round advance to the table of 64, 32, 16, semifinals, and finals.
DC Fencers Club Summer Camps and Beginner Classes
Each generation of fencing champions gets its start in a beginner fencing class. This July and August, DCFC offers six separate week-long summer fencing camps for beginners ages eight and up. DC Fencers club also hosts ongoing beginner fencing classes on weekdays, weeknights, and Saturdays, including beginner classes for youth, daytime classes for homeschoolers, and an all-ages/levels fencing class. Equipment is provided for beginners. For more information on getting involved in this Olympic sport, call 301-562-1990 or email .
About DC Fencers Club
DC Fencers Club (DCFC) has a national and international reputation as one of the best fencing clubs in the United States. The club offers instruction through classes, camps, workshops, and individual lessons. Fencers of all ages are welcome, and members range from recreational fencers to fencers who compete in local, regional, national, and international tournaments. DCFC coaches have a combined 100 years of training, competition, and teaching experience, and they include credentialed fencing masters and National and World Champions. DC Fencers Club promotes excellence, sportsmanship, and safety in a friendly, easygoing environment.
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