Houston was host to the first Regional Youth Circuit (RYC) of the season on December 1-2. Space City Fencing fielded 46 fencers who earned 32 medals. The Space City Fencing entries doubled those of the next largest club and our fencers earned more medals than the next 3 clubs combined. Nearly 70% of our fencers earned medals, which was the largest percentage of clubs with at least 10 entrants. Finally, Space City Fencing brought home the largest numbers of gold (5), silver (5) and bronze (7) medals.
The RYC consisted of 18 events: foil, epee, and saber in men’s and women’s Y-10, Y-12, and Y-14. Most these events were fenced mixed (only Y-12 and Y-14 epee being separate events) with separate medal ceremonies. Space City Fencing fencers medaled in 15 of the 18 events (with no fencers in 2 and a near miss in the third) and had a dominating performance in the Y-14 foil with 6 of 8 finalists in the men’s (including gold, silver, and a bronze) and the gold in the women’s as well. No club matched this performance in any other event.
Most importantly, our fencers showed poise in victory and defeat. While emotions ran high, our fencers fought through all their bouts and showed good sportsmanship. Club mates cheered for each other, helped coach each other, shared equipment and snacks, and showed our club to lead the region in class. The coaches are proud of all our fencers from this weekend. With continued hard work in practice and dedication to winning right, our results can only improve through the season. Our coaches feel we have the best fencers in the nation and look forward to proving it at more tournaments throughout the year.
Finally, the coaching staff would like to thank those parents who have supported and thanked us. Several of you have written us very nice notes thanking our efforts. We can’t do it without your support and the hard work of your children. We look forward to doing all we can to ensure the continued success of the club. Thank you for your support.
The following fencers earned gold in their events:
Marwan Charafeddine Y10 Boy’s Epee
Alarice Chen Y10 Girl’s Foil
Logan Somera Y12 Boy’s Foil
Michael Dudey Y14 Boy’s Foil
Sarah Followill Y14 Girl’s Foil.
Silver medals went to:
Ally Micek Y10 Girl’s Epee
Alex Donnenberg Y10 Boy’s Saber
Hayley Gillen Y12 Girl’s Saber
Ira Schlossberg Y14 Boy’s Foil
Joseph BrookDeVita Y14 Boy’s Epee.
Space City Fencing’s bronze medalists are:
Evin Heinz Y10 Boy’s Saber
Chafic Charafeddine Y12 Boy’s Foil
Hayley Gillen Y12 Girl’s Foil
Max Therond Y12 Boy’s Foil
Thomas Dudey Y14 Boy’s Foil
Mexi Gremillion Y14 Girl’s Epee.
Anna VanBrummen Y14 Girl’s Epee.
