DCFC members win gold, bronze, and top 16 spots at the October 2012 North American Cup
Cadet Gold Medalist Amanda Sirico (right) at the October 2012 North American Cup
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 16, 2012
Contact:
DC FENCERS CLUB MEMBERS WIN GOLD, BRONZE AND TOP 16 SPOTS AT ST. LOUIS
NORTH AMERICAN CUP, FIRST NATIONAL TOURNAMENT OF SEASON
More than 2,000 fencers from clubs around the country competed
Washington reminded St. Louis it is a sports town to be reckoned with when DC Fencers Club won gold, bronze and top 16 spots at the October North American Cup in St. Louis, MO, the first national fencing tournament of the 2012-2013 season.
Gold Medalist Amanda Sirico of Bowie, Maryland entered the Cadet (U17) Women’s Epee event seeded #1, and after a straight set of wins in pools and six Direct Elimination Rounds, she stepped onto the medals podium. Amanda Sirico is currently ranked #1 in Cadet Women's Epee (Under 17) and #13 in Junior (Under 20) age categories, and she has competed internationally at Cadet World Cups in Switzerland, Sweden, and France.
Three DCFC members who earned top honors are also current NCAA varsity athletes in fencing. Columbia University sophomore Michael Josephs (Chevy Chase, MD) won the bronze in Division 1 Men’s Sabre, and Boston College senior Peter Souders (Silver Spring, MD) earned the #6 spot. Notre Dame junior James Kaull (Washington, DC) also advanced to the #11 spot in Division 1 Men’s Epee.
More than 30 DCFC members competed among a challenging field of more than 2,000 + fencers at the first national tournament of the 2012-2013 fencing season, and a qualifying event for the 2013 Senior World Championships and 2013 Junior and Cadet Worlds. Men and women competed in all three fencing weapons (epee, sabre, and foil) in Division I, Division II, and Cadet (Under 17) events. DCFC members competed alongside several athletes from Team USA, including Olympic Bronze Medalists in Women’s Team Epee Maya Lawrence, Courtney and Kelly Hurley, and Susie Scanlan. DC Fencers Club had a very strong showing at the event, with eight of the 30 DCFC competitors earning top 16 spots in various events.
DC Fencers Club results – October 2012 North American Cup, St. Louis, MO
Amanda Sirico, Cadet (U17) Women’s Epee –Gold
Michael Josephs, Div 1 Men’s Sabre – Bronze
Peter Souders, Div 1 Men’s Sabre – sixth place
Eli Polston, Division II Men’s Sabre – eighth place
Marta Lasota, Cadet Women’s Sabre – tenth place
James Kaull, Div 1 Men’s Epee – 11thplace
Rebecca Chimahusky, Div 1 Women’s Epee – 14thplace
Adam Green, Division II Men’s Sabre – 15thplace
# # #
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.” For epee, direct elimination bouts are 15 touches, with one-minute breaks at three-minute intervals. The bouts end when one fencer scores 15 touches or when three, three-minute periods elapse. Sabre direct elimination bouts also go to 15 touches, with a one-minute break when either fencer reaches eight touches. DE brackets (like NCAA basketball) allow for a maximum 128 fencers. Winners of each DE round advance to the tables of 64, 32, 16, 8, semifinals, and finals.
The 2012-13 national tournament season includes five more North American Cups and the Junior Olympic Fencing Championships, which take place in Baltimore, MD in February 2013. The season culminates with USA Fencing Summer National Championships in Memphis, TN next July.
Beginner fencing classes
Each generation of fencing champions gets its start in a beginner fencing class. DC Fencers club hosts several 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.
# # #