American Fencing magazine: End of Year 2022

DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF Jose R. DeCapriles Miguel

A. DeCapriles

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Phil Andrews p.andrews@usafencing.org

PUBLISHER/ADVERTISING SALES Bryan Wendell b.wendell@usafencing.org

EDITOR Serge Timacheff editor@americanfencing.org

PRODUCTION/DESIGN

Manna Creations www.MannaCreations.com

Please send all correspondence and articles for submission to Editor, American Fencing 210 USA Cycling Point, Suite 120, Colorado Springs, CO 80919, editor@americanfencing.org.

American Fencing is published quarterly. Please contact the editor regarding submission deadlines and advertising.

American Fencing (ISSN 0002-8436) is published quarterly by the United States Fencing Association, Inc., 210 USA Cycling Point, Suite 120, Colorado Springs, CO 80919.

Periodicals postage is paid at Colorado Springs, CO 80909-5774, and additional offices.

Subscriptions to American Fencing are included with membership in the association. Individuals can subscribe for $25 in the United States and $37 elsewhere. Postmaster: Send address changes to 210 USA Cycling Point, Suite 120, Colorado Springs, CO 80919.

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed by the authors and contributors of content in this magazine are theirs alone and do not necessarily reflect any position or policy of USA Fencing. No author or contributor is authorized to speak herein on behalf of USA Fencing or otherwise bind USA Fencing. USA Fencing does not warrant the accuracy of, nor intend reliance upon, any fact or opinions stated herein. The rules and policies of USA Fencing are set forth in, among other things, USA Fencing’s Fencing Rules, Athlete Handbook, Operations Manual, and Bylaws. Nothing herein shall be deemed an amendment or modification of any such rule or policy, nor a binding interpretation thereof.

Cover Photo: by #BizziTeam

CONTRIBUTORS

JEFF BUKANTZ

author of Rules & Referees, was a member of the FIE Rules Commission and has been captain of multiple U.S. international teams, including the 2006 World Championships Team and the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games Teams.

DEBBIE AMSBAUGH

is a former national armorer. She was a member of the USFA Membership committee and the USFA Parents committee.

TERRENCE LASKER 2022 JUNIOR & CADET FENCING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN

M UCH OF THE LAST YEAR H AS INVOLVED TRANSITION. NOW

DAVID ARIAS

Phil Andrews embodies this work ethic in every way. Since starting as our new CEO in August, Phil has attended tournaments and visited with clubs large and small throughout the United States. He’s also addressing complex operational problems, managing a staff that includes many new faces, launching new initiatives in coaching education and fundraising, and simply getting to know the fencing community. That last point is important because getting to know a community means asking tough questions and speaking openly and honestly about the issues we face. Congrats on a great start, Phil!

T he Board of Directors has been focused on moving us forward as well. During our annual meeting on Oct. 30, we worked through a long agenda that included action on protecting transgender rights, developing goals for our Paralympic fencing program, assigning a new team of volunteers to 20 different committees and working groups, selecting Board Advisors, changing the way disciplinary matters are handled, approving new Trustees to the United States Fencing Foundation, and evaluating our youth development programs.

T hese initiatives came from our fencing community — a committee, a fencer, a Board member, or our national office staff. I hope you’ll join us and help make a positive impact on USA Fencing this season.

D avid Arias President, USA Fencing Board of Directors

IT’S TIME TO GET TO WORK.

A KEEPSAKE F OR MEMBERS

Editor’s Note: You’re holding in your hand a highlights edition of American Fencing magazine, which reviews the main events of the year in a keepsake format to commemoratetheyear.Wehope the USA Fencing community will enjoy having a printed magazine to keep and display, to present and share all the great achievements and notable happenings of the year.

On Sept. 10, the world celebrated World Fencing Day, an annual event hosted by the FIE and meant to embrace the global fencing family and reach out to new people and communities. The theme this year was “Fencing is for Life,” meant to express our sport’s “timeless and enduring qualities—a sport that fills the heart, mind and soul with a positive and powerful energy that becomes forever motivational and illuminating.”

I n the United States, certainly as much if not more than anywhere else, this concept is alive and thriving. At the 2022 Veteran Fencing World Championships in Zadar, Croatia, the USA took the most medals of any nation — overall and gold. Our juniors and cadets shined in Dubai in April, and we had a very strong show of force and success at the Cairo World Championships in July. With recent NACs, Summer Nationals, and many regional events as well as participation in world cups and Grand Prix events, we’re seeing unprecedented participation by fencers of all ages, from young kids to octogenarians of all abilities vying for medals. The support I’ve seen for athletes of all ages by our USA Fencing community has been phenomenal, in person, online, in social media and in general.

Fencing is part of a unique class of sports that people can pursue for life. And when I say “life,” I don’t just mean age, I also mean for something we as fencers identify with individually as part of who we are. “Once a fencer, always a fencer,” I’ve heard. It doesn’t matter if you take a break from it or participate in some way off the strip — you don’t have to be actively fencing to consider yourself a fencer and be included.

A few other sports are similar. Tennis, golf, sailing and skiing all come to mind — along with a few others. Virtually anyone who has touched fencing in some way can say they are a “fencer,” and that’s for life. No question.

I n a world of strife, chaos and uncertainty, we can find solace and inclusion in being part of the global and USA Fencing family. Like a family, we don’t always see eye-to-eye, yet no matter what, no one will question being a part of it.

J ohn Lennon famously said, “Give peace a chance.” Let’s bring that home and say, “Give fencing a chance.” It’s something to hold dearly as we face the challenges of living in today’s world, something to give our children a community, a place of comfort and acceptance for life, and in its own way, a place of peace and hope for the future and the way things truly can be, bound by a common passion.

Serge Timacheff Editor, American Fencing Magazine

BY BRYAN WENDELL PHOTOS #BIZZITEAM

2022 WAS A BANNER YEAR FOR TEAM USA.

LET’S LOOK BACK AT ALL THE TIMES OUR FENCERS APPEARED ON THE MEDALS PODIUM AT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS.

What a year for the Stars and Stripes.

It started in April in Dubai when Team USA’s cadets and juniors topped the medals table with 15— nearly double the total of our next closest competitor, Italy. That impressive performance included a historic sweep in the junior women’s events — golds for Magda Skarbonkiewicz in saber, Lauren Scruggs in foil and Hadley Husisian in epee.

USA WOMEN’S FOIL TEAM WINS A SILVER MEDAL AT THE CAIRO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS.

It continued in July in Cairo with four medals for our senior athletes — our best performance at a Senior Fencing World Championships since 2018. That included a silver for the men’s foil team, which has now medaled in six consecutive Olympic Games and World Championships: 2016 Olympics, 2017 Worlds, 2018 Worlds, 2019 Worlds, 2021 Olympics and 2022 Worlds.

The run continued in early October in Zadar, Croatia, with our veterans earning 19 medals to edge-out both Italy and France in the total count. Team USA particularly showed its dominance this year in women’s and men’s saber with a podium finish in every age category.

And then, in late October, an impressive 2022 ended on a high note in São Paulo, Brazil, at the IWAS Wheelchair Fencing Under 17 and Under 23 World Championships, where our lone competitor, Shelby Jensen secured bronze in women’s saber.

IN

MAIA MEI WEINTRAUB IN THE JUNIOR WOMEN’S FOIL EVENT AT THE DUBAI JUNIOR AND CADET WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS.

LEE KIEFER ON THE MEDALS STAND WITH HER BRONZE MEDAL IN WOMEN’S FOIL AT THE CAIRO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS.

MAGDA SKARBONKIEWICZ

SCORES GOLD IN DUBAI!

CADETS & JUNIORS

EVENT | 2022 Junior & Cadet Fencing World Championships LOCATION | Dubai, United Arab Emirates

SENIORS

EVENT | 2022 Fencing World Championships LOCATION | Cairo, Egypt

TEAM USA MEDAL COUNT | 4 (two silver, two bronze)

SILVER • Women’s Foil Team | Lee Kiefer, Jackie Dubrovich, Maia Weintraub, Zander Rhodes • Men’s Foil Team | Nick Itkin, Chase Emmer, Gerek Meinhardt, Alexander Massialas

SILVER • Honor Johnson | Junior Women’s Saber • Siobhan Sullivan | Cadet Women’s Saber • Men’s Epee Team | Henry Lawson, Gabriel Feinberg, Justin Haddad, Skyler Liverant

BRONZE • Ketki Ketkar | Junior Women’s Epee • Chase Emmer | Junior Men’s Foil • Andrew Chen | Cadet Men’s Foil • Cody Walter Ji | Cadet Men’s Saber • William Morrill | Cadet Men’s Saber • Women’s Epee Team | Hadley Husisian, Faith Park, Ketki Ketkar, Sarah Gu

LAUREN SCRUGGS

VETERANS

EVENT | 2022 Fencing Veteran World Championships

LOCATION | Zadar, Croatia

TEAM USA MEDAL COUNT | 19 (seven gold, six silver, six bronze)

GOLD

• Julie Seal | Vet-50 Women’s Saber

• Delia Turner | Vet-70 Women’s Saber

• Mark Lundborg | Vet-60 Men’s Saber

• Elizabeth Kocab | Vet-70 Women’s Epee

• Anne-Marie Walters | Vet-60 Women’s Foil

• Bruno Gooseens | Vet-70 Men’s Epee

• Women’s Epee Team | Bonnie Aher, Valerie Asher, Christina Gordet, Elizabeth Kocab, Sandra Marchant, Ann Marie Totemeier

SILVER

• Linda Dunn | Vet-70 Women’s Saber

• Jenette Starks-Faulkner | Vet-60 Women’s Foil

• Daniel Mccarthy | Vet-70 Men’s Foil

• Joseph Streb | Vet-70 Men’s Saber

• Women’s Foil Team | Jane Carter, Julie Seal, Jenette Starks-Faulkner, Anne-Marie Walters, Judith Offerle, Joanne Stevens

• Men’s Saber Team | Mark Lundborg, Kim Phillips, Joshua Runyan, David Seuss, Joseph Streb, Ronald Thornton

BRONZE

• Heidi Runyan | Vet-60 Women’s Saber

• Joshua Runyan | Vet-60 Men’s Saber

• Rafael Suarez | Vet-50 Men’s Foil

• John Moreau | Vet-70 Men’s Epee

• Daryl Taylor | Vet-70 Men’s Epee

• Women’s Saber Team | Jasmina Denner, Linda Dunn, Jane Eyre, Heidi Runyan, Julie Seal, Delia Turner

ANNE-MARIE WALTERS

ZANDER RHODES

SHELBY JENSEN

CADET MEN’S FOIL LIAM BAS VS. JAYDEN HOOSHI

RIGHT: DIV III MEN’S SABER: JUSTIN MICLAUS VS. STEVEN HONG

DIVISION I

Women’s Epee

Kasia Nixon (Peter Westbrook Foundation/Fencers Club Inc.)

Men’s Epee

Tristan B. Szapary (Fencers Club Inc./Fencing Academy of Philadelphia)

Women’s Foil

Lauren S. Scruggs (Peter Westbrook Foundation/Fencers Club Inc./Harvard University)

Men’s Foil

Nick Itkin (LA International Fencing/Notre Dame)

Women’s Saber

Zoe Kim (Forward Fencing Academy)

Men’s Saber

Eli Dershwitz (Tim Morehouse Fencing Club)

TEAMS - DIVISION I

Women’s Epee

Not contested

Men’s Epee

Alliance Fencing Academy 1 (Samuel A. Imrek, Anton Piskovatskov, Michael A. Popovici and Miles J. Weiss)

Women’s Foil

Not contested

Men’s Foil

Golden State Fencing Academy (Kian Dierks, Ethan I. Gassner and John O. Griffin)

Women’s Saber

Not contested

Men’s Saber

Peter Westbrook Foundation (Gabriel K. Armijo, Zaheer Booth, Noah Te Velde, Khalil A. Thompson)

Y10 MEN’S FOIL: FRANCESCO FEDELI

DIVISION IA

Women’s Epee

Alexandra M. Drovetsky (Medeo Fencing Club)

Men’s Epee

Owen Jin (Cavalier Fencing Club)

Women’s Foil

Ishani S. Sood (California Fencing Academy)

Men’s Foil

Ethan I. Gassner (Golden State Fencing Academy)

Women’s Saber

Victoria M. Gorman (Zeta Fencing)

Men’s Saber

Leonid Kotov (Phoenix Fencing Academy)

DIVISION II

Women’s Epee

Charlotte Canning (Rhode Island Fencing Academy and Club)

Men’s Epee

Tyler Lowe-Thorpe (Golden Gate Fencing Center)

Women’s Foil

Anice Orvananos (Fencers Club Inc.)

Men’s Foil

Matthew Li (AIC Fencing Club)

Women’s Saber

Nitika Subramanian (Manhattan Fencing Center)

Men’s Saber

Zachary Tong (Nellya Fencers)

DIVISION III

Women’s Epee

Grace Hicks (New York Fencing Academy)

Men’s Epee

Daniel Chirashnya (Academy of Fencing Masters (AFM)

Women’s Foil

Yukari Takamizawa (Golden State Fencing Academy)

Men’s Foil

Jackson Kim (Metro Tacoma Fencing Club)

Women’s Saber

Siwen Liao (Miracle Fencing Club / Nazlymov Fencing Foundation)

Men’s Saber

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PARAFENCING

Women’s Epee

Men’s Epee

Will Chase (Shepherd Swords Fencing Club/Lotus Fencing Academy)

Women’s Foil

Victoria A. Isaacson (The Phoenix Center/Rogue Fencing Academy)

Men’s Foil

Will Chase (Shepherd Swords Fencing Club/Lotus Fencing Academy)

Women’s Saber

Shelby A. Jensen (Valkyrie Fencing Club)

Men’s Saber

Will Chase (Shepherd Swords Fencing Club/Lotus Fencing Academy)

Jillian Kosanovich (Denver Fencing Center)

ELLEN GEDDES - PHOTO CREDIT JOE KUSUMOTO

JUNIOR

Women’s Epee

Ketki Ketkar (Kaizen Academy LLC)

Men’s Epee

Samuel A. Imrek (Alliance Fencing Academy)

Women’s

Foil

Katherine Apelian (New Jersey Fencing Alliance)

Men’s Foil

Bryce Louie (LA International Fencing)

Women’s

Saber

Magda Skarbonkiewicz (Oregon Fencing Alliance)

Men’s

Saber

Hyunseok Choi (Boston Fencing Club / Globus Fencing Academy)

CADET Women’s Epee

Sumin Lee (Battle Born Fencing Club)

Men’s Epee

Samuel A. Imrek (Alliance Fencing Academy)

Women’s Foil

Ivy Zheng (Marx Fencing Academy)

Men’s Foil

Nicholas W. Kim (Top Fencing Club)

Women’s Saber

Jenna Shoman (Manhattan Fencing Center)

Men’s Saber

Gian K. Dhingra (Southern California Fencing Academy (SOCALFA))

BELOW: CADET WOMEN’S SABER: VERONICA MIKA VS. JANNA FREEDMAN

JOSEPH WU VS. SAMUEL IMREK

JUNIOR OLYMPICS: CHOI HYUNSEOK VS. ADAM LAI IN JR. MEN’S SABER

Y-14

Women’s Epee

Jolie Korfonta (Penta Olympic Fencing Club)

Men’s Epee

Seungwon (Stewart) Lee (Alliance Fencing Academy)

Women’s Foil

Adeline Senic (Renaissance Fencing Club)

Men’s Foil

Luao Yang (Renaissance Fencing Club)

Women’s Saber

Sophia I. Schiminovich (Oregon Fencing Alliance)

Men’s Saber

Nazir Primus (Peter Westbrook Foundation / Fencers Club Inc.)

Y-12

Women’s Epee

National Champion: Regina Lee (Swords Fencing Studio)

Men’s Epee

Christopher Davoodian (Swords Fencing Studio)

Women’s Foil

Sara Amr Hossny (South Brooklyn Fencing)

Men’s Foil

Luca Nicoletti (Silicon Valley Fencing Center)

Women’s Saber

Xuanyi Zhang (LA Fencing Academy of Pomona)

Men’s Saber

Devyn V. Anthony (Cobra Fencing Club LLC / Peter Westbrook Foundation)

Y-10

Women’s Epee

Navya Neelam (Elite Fencing Academy (GA) / Elite Fencing Academy (VA))

Men’s Epee

Sangwook Park (LE CLUB TOUCHE)

Women’s Foil

Chloe Sun (Orange County Fencing Center)

Men’s Foil

Francesco Fedeli (Epic Fencing Club / SCAD- Atlanta Fencing)

Women’s Saber

Zitong (Meya) Lei (Laguna Fencing Center)

Men’s Saber

Tino Tani (Southern California Fencing Academy (SOCALFA) / West Coast Fencing Academy)

Y10 MEN’S SABER: TINO TANI

VET-40

Women’s Epee

Nicole P. Polanichka (Lancaster Fencing Academy / Williamsport Fencing Club)

Men’s Epee

Noah L. Zucker (Cobra Fencing Club LLC)

Women’s

Foil

Inga Cho (Renaissance Fencing Club)

Men’s Foil

Nathan T. Anderson (Denver Fencing Center)

Women’s Saber

Yelena Kalkina (Oregon Fencing Alliance)

Men’s Saber

Ivan J. Lee (Long Island University/Long Island Fencing Center)

VET-50

Women’s Epee

Sharrie A. Zafft (Marx Fencing Academy)

Men’s Epee

Mehmet Tepedelenlioglu (East Bay Fencers Gym)

Women’s

Foil

Jane P. Carter (Marx Fencing Academy / Tanner City Fencers Club)

Men’s Foil

Rafael A. Suarez (Masters Fencing Club)

Women’s Saber

Julie T. Seal (Valkyrie Fencing Club)

Men’s Saber

William L. Becker

VET-60

Women’s Epee

Cynthia E. Glover (Rain City Fencing Center)

Men’s Epee

Rick Watrall (New York Athletic Club)

Women’s Foil

Jennette Starks-Faulkner (Connecticut Fencers Club)

Men’s

Foil

Paul Epply-Schmidt (Bucks County Academy Of Fencing / Sebastiani Fencing Academy)

Women’s Saber

Robin J. Pernice (Dynamo Fencing Center Inc.)

Men’s Saber

Joshua Runyan (Spartak)

VET-70

Women’s Epee

Men’s Epee

Women’s Foil

Men’s Foil

Daniel

Women’s Saber

Linda

Men’s Saber

Elizabeth (Liz) R. Kocab (Plymouth/Ann Arbor Fencing Academy)

Jere P. Bothelio (Academy of Fencing Masters (AFM) / Fortune Fencing)

Judith (Jude) A. Offerle (RedStar Fencing Club Chicago / University of Notre Dame)

(Dan) W. Mccarthy (The Phoenix Center)

J. J. Dunn (IndySabre / Indianapolis Fencing Club)

Joseph S. Streb (Royal Arts Fencing Academy)

VET 80 WF: MARY TURZILLO VS. BETTE GRAHAM

VET-80

VET 80 MEN’S SABER - RICHARD DUNLOP VS. VICTOR BIANCHINI

VET 60 MEN’S SABER: JOSHUA RUNYAN

The United States Fencing Foundation serves as the philanthropic arm of USA Fencing and is dedicated to supporting the pursuit of excellence for fencers at all levels across our sport, from those just learning to fence, to U.S. Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, to veteran fencers. By providing funds to teams, athletes and programs, the U.S. Fencing Foundation supports USA Fencing as they work to build champions and create a legacy for future generations of fencers.

The United States Fencing Foundation was established in 1986 as a result of the United States Olympic Committee’s unprecedented financial success and surplus in hosting the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Games. In 2022, the Foundation became the philanthropic arm of USA Fencing to streamline our fundraising efforts and be more efficient. The Foundation’s sole purpose is to support USA Fencing and its efforts to grow and support the sport of fencing in the United States. The United States Fencing Foundation is a 509(a)(1) nongovernmental nonprofit organization. For more information contact Jill Grotzinger | Senior Director of Development j.grotzinger@usafencing.org usafencing.org/donate

Every transformative lesson, every hard-won victory, every Olympic and Paralympic medal starts with an opportunity. It starts with someone who opened the door for an athlete to experience the power of fencing — a sport whose benefits extend long after an athlete leaves the strip.

Fencing was one of the original Olympic sports, but its importance in the development of incredible people has never been more relevant than today.

That’s where you come in. You have the power to create these opportunities for athletes across the country — including those who already love fencing and those who haven’t yet experienced our sport. We invite you to show your passion for fencing and support the sport’s future by making a donation today.

ELITE ATHLETES AT ALL LEVELS

From the youngest Y-10 fencers to cadets, juniors, seniors and veterans, you can support our epee, foil, saber and parafencing athletes as they train and compete at home and at the toughest tournaments in the world.

SPORT DEVELOPMENT

Growing the sport happens at the local level. You can help promote and support new clubs, build and strengthen parafencing programs, provide quality coach education and certification, showcase and market recreational fencing programs, and create grassroots and regional programs.

CULTURE OF THE SPORT

Nurture and support a healthy fencing community by investing in athlete safety; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) initiatives; and mental wellness initiatives to ensure our fencing family thrives and grows.

ORGANIZATION & COMMUNITY

Invest in the vital daily operations of USA Fencing and our work with athletes, coaches, referees, volunteers, armorers and club owners. Supporting these operations provides a solid foundation on which our sport can flflourish.

FOUNDATION ENDOWMENT

Help expand our long-term endowment to support future generations of fencers.

HOW FAR WE’VE COME & WHERE WE’RE HEADED

BY PHIL ANDREWS, USA FENCING CEO

It might feel a bit odd for someone with just four months of experience leading USA Fencing (by the time you read this) to write an article reviewing our year here at USA Fencing, but it’s been a year of turnover and change at USA Fencing’s HQ — so perhaps that’s representative of the year it has been.

T he year 2022 provided for many a first year back to what resembled a regular schedule of training and competition. As such, it seems fitting to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the perseverance of all USA Fencing athletes, coaches, parents and administrators through the pandemic — a pandemic that, of course, continues to affect us both domestically and worldwide.

W hile the 2020 Tokyo Olympic & Paralympic Games grabbed headlines in 2021 as COVID continued to rage, I want to give a special tip of my hat to our elite athletes, including members of our cadet, junior, senior and parafencing teams. These incredible athletes traveled the world throughout the pandemic in differing and difficult circumstances — not to mention the training required to achieve the kinds of high-level results outlined in this issue of American Fencing.

A solid performance at the Senior Fencing World Championships in Cairo capped the 2021-2022 season, with highlights for both our women’s and men’s foil teams. On the Paralympic side, Ellen Geddes PLY began to pick up medals on the World Cup circuit with just two years to go to the Paris Games. These accomplishments bode well for our chances in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2024, while the future is bright for 2028 with continued significant success on the cadet and junior circuits.

S peaking of looking ahead, this is an exciting time within our organization as fresh faces bring new ideas and an appetite for hearing from our members to provide what you want and need out of our sport. About 80% of our staff team has served at USA Fencing for less than a year. On our board, we’re pleased to welcome new independent directors as well as Ivan Lee OLY as a vice chair. This means renewed energy in both our staff and volunteer leadership.

T hat’s leading us to aggressively tackle many of our strategic plan goals both on and off the strip. Over the next year, you can expect us to review start to finish our events offerings, our membership offerings, significantly increase our best practices and deliver a long-promised coaching education program.

You can also expect us to focus on service to our members as we put service and growth as two major themes of the coming year. Expect to us be more present in the field, listening to our membership and using those ideas to help us grow while still focusing on the goals outlined in our strategic plan.

T hose goals include growing charitable contributions to fencing, which is where the U.S. Fencing Foundation comes in. The Foundation is enjoying a renewed energy under Robert Zagunis’ leadership and with the addition of Amanda Lilly to the Development team.

A s one calendar year ends and another begins, we hope you’ll join us in making USA Fencing an even greater organization and helping to fund some of the areas not covered by operating income.

T his is a great time to be in the fencing family, and from all of us at USA Fencing, I wish you peace, hope and joy in the new year.

Excitement awaits!

Here are just a few of the fencing highlights to watch for in 2023.

JANUARY NORTH AMERICAN CUP

Division I, Junior, Veteran Age, Veteran Combined & Parafencing

January 6–9 | Louisville, Kentucky

IWAS

WORLD CUP WASHINGTON

USA Fencing-hosted Wheelchair Fencing World Cup January 14–17 | Washington, D.C.

2023 JUNIOR OLYMPICS

National Championship for Cadets & Juniors

February 17–20 | Denver, Colorado

PARAFENCING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS & MARCH NORTH AMERICAN CUP

National Championship for Parafencing & a NAC for Cadet, Y14, Y12, Y10 & Cadet Team

March 3–6 | Fort Worth, Texas

2023 USA FENCING SUMMER NATIONALS & JULY CHALLENGE

June 30–July 9 | Phoenix, Arizona

2023 SENIOR FENCING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 22–30 | Milan, Italy

2023

JUNIOR AND CADET FENCING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

April 1–12 | Plovdiv, Bulgaria

DIVISION I NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS & APRIL NORTH AMERICAN CUP

National Championship for Division I &Division I Team & a NAC for Veteran, Veteran Combined & Junior April 21–24 | St. Louis, M issouri

2023 IWAS WHEELCHAIR FENCING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

October 2–8 | Terni, Italy

2023 VETERAN FENCING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

October 7–12 | Daytona Beach, Florida

BY SERGE TIMACHEFF

Join us in showing our appreciation for these impressive individuals who are representing you on the international fencing stage.

Every four years, typically after the Summer Olympics, the FIE holds a n “elective congress” where a president, officers, executive committee and commissions and councils are elected or selected (in the case of councils) to hold office for a quadrennium. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the elective congress was held in December 2021 after the Tokyo Games. For elected positions, federations put forth candidates for each position and are voted on by the Congress participants, representing the 155 member countries of the FIE. Following the Congress, members of each commission elect a president of their respective organizations.

T he next elective congress is scheduled to take place in November 2024.

M embers meet several times annually, communicate with FIE athletes, staff, officials and coaches to offer advice to the FIE and world fencing in their various areas of expertise. Several USA Fencing members were elected to various posts, including the following:

TAKE FENCING EVERYWHERE YOU GO

by following our social media channels. We regularly share reminders, advice and inspiration on our Facebook , Instagram and Twitter channels. Give us a follow so we can stay connected throughout the season.

And don’t miss our new podcast , FIRST TO 15. In each episode, you’ll hear from someone interesting within the fencing world, including newcomers, coaches, experts, fencing parents, referees, Olympians and Paralympians, and many more. Search for “First to 15” on your favorite podcast app.

Team Up to Connect Fencers with Used Gear

BY BRYAN WENDELL

A new long-term partnership between USA Fencing and Absolute Fencing Gear aims to remove that barrier for scores of current and future fencers.

The Equipment Refurbishment Program encourages fencers to donate gently used gear while attending national tournaments, which began recently at the October NAC in Minneapolis. Absolute Fencing refurbishes the gear and delivers it to individuals and clubs that need it — prioritizing those fencers in under-resourced areas.

The goal, says USA Fencing CEO Phil Andrews, is to promote the organization’s commitment to a diverse and inclusive fencing culture by expanding access to our sport.

“USA Fencing’s renewed commitment to decreasing the barriers to enjoy our great sport continues with the invaluable assistance of Absolute Fencing to make quality equipment available to those who otherwise may not have the opportunity to enjoy fencing,” Andrews says.

“We cannot thank Absolute Fencing enough for their commitment to this program. Without them, it simply would not be possible.”

Here’s how the program works: USA Fencing will collect equipment at all national events (including Super Junior Cadet Circuits). Attendees will see a table for the program and can donate their lightly used equipment to the person stationed there.

Once these items are collected and inventoried, Absolute Fencing will receive the donations to be refurbished and issued back out to the community. Individuals and clubs will be able to make requests for equipment using steps that will soon be outlined on the USA Fencing website.

Gary Lu, president of Absolute Fencing, says his company is pleased and honored to support this program.

“This important endeavor helps fencers, coaches and clubs build our sport and provides equipment to those who need it the most,” he says. “This is just another way in which Absolute is fulfilling its commitment to giving back to fencing and ensuring everyone can participate in it at all levels .”

A lack of quality fencing equipment should never be a barrier to someone stepping onto the strip.

Thank you for supporting Fencing in your community!

What to Donate

• Fencing Bags

• Blades

• Chest protector/guard

• Electrical cords (body, mask)

• Gloves

• Jackets

• Lames (electrical jackets/vests)

• Masks

• Plastrons (underarm protectors)

• Weapons

• Pants

• Scoring Equipment

• Fencing parts and tools

Note: The donation list is not limited to just these items. If you think it’d be useful to the next fencer, feel free to bring it by. Items worn by fencers should be donated in clean (washed) condition.

How to Donate

YOU HAVE TWO OPTIONS:

• Bring your gear to the designated table at USA Fencing national tournaments.

• Mail your gear to Absolute Fencing at the address below. Please note you will be responsible for shipping costs:

ABSOLUTE FENCING Refurbishment Program 28 Chimney Rock Rd. Bridgewater, NJ 08807

RULES & REFEREES

BY JEFF BUKANTZ

THE SHORTENED OLYMPIC CYCLE

Having been involved in fencing for a half century as a competitor, referee, team captain, administrator and commentator, I have seen many changes in our sport.

We have seen changes to rules, changes to interpretations of actions, changes to the equipment, changes to the qualifying criteria, changes to the tournament format and even change to which side of the lights count for each fencer. (Most of those reading this column would be stunned to know the lights used to be reversed, and when the fencer on the left scored, it was the light on the right that went off!)

The conventional wisdom is that nobody likes change. And there is usually a kneejerk reaction of pushback when there is change.

There is a comfort zone with normalcy, structure and lack of change.

The Olympic Cycle of four years, also known as a “quadrennium,” was the constant on which fencers could count. Fencers and coaches would base their long-term training on the cycle. Fencers would determine whether to matriculate at college based on the cycle. Some would delay their professional career based on it. Coaches also made career choices based on the four years. Organizational elections were based on the quadrennium.

Just as the Earth revolves around the sun, we revolved around the cycle.

And then, COVID-19 struck.

Certainty and structure were replaced by complete uncertainty and a lack of structure. Clubs closed down. Competitions were canceled. And, even when the COVID restrictions were lifted, World Cups were canceled with very late notice.

Of course, the unthinkable happened when the Tokyo Olympics were postponed for a year. Hence, the neat-and-tidy, four-year cycle that everyone trained and planned for caused fencers to put their lives on hold if they wanted to compete in Tokyo.

The additional fallout from that five-year cycle would be that the Paris cycle would be only three years. How would this truncated cycle affect the fencers?

I reached out to Olympians Kat Holmes and Daryl Homer, as well as Olympic coaches Greg Massialas and Yury Gelman, to hear their thoughts.

Greg said, “It will make a difference. The five-year cycle was hard. When Tokyo was finally over, everyone needed a break. It was a very intense time.

“Not everybody was right back on track. It gave an opportunity for some younger guns to emerge, such as Chase Emmer.

“Last season only had five World Cups. That short season, with few events, was rough. Emotionally we were behind at the start of the season. You can understand that, as we basically had two stressful years leading up to Tokyo.

“By the time the last Grand Prix and the World Championships came around, we were in a better state.

“As there still is a degree of uncertainty about the World Cups being canceled, the fencers must now attend NACs and get their points for that qualifying bucket.”

Here was Yury’s take:

“I don’t think the three-year cycle will make a big difference. Because of COVID, we had to make adjustments, but we always make adjustments.

THE ONE PLACE WHERE THERE NEVER HAS BEEN CHANGE WAS WITH THE “OLYMPIC CYCLE.”

“There were definitely fewer competitions and fewer competitive bouts in the first year of the cycle. Fencers didn’t gain the experience they usually did.

“It is the same for everyone and, in my opinion, not a big deal.

“There is actually a positive to the short cycle, as some athletes may have decided not to retire because of the shortened cycle for Paris.”

2015 World and 2016 Olympic silver-medalist Daryl basically agreed with Yury.

“I don’t see the shortened cycle as being an issue. I actually like it as the turnaround for Paris is shorter.

“And, for me, I see less physical and mental stress due to the shorter cycle.”

2018 World Team champion Kat said, “I have a more personal take. I started medical school three days after Tokyo.

“The first two years are didactic work and the last two years are my rotation. Now, I’m able to take a year off and do research before my final two years.”

I asked Kat if Tokyo had not been postponed for a year if she might have just gone to medical school and not trained for Paris and she replied, “That is a possibility, but the postponement followed by the three-year cycle worked out for me.

“There was no break after Tokyo, which increased the physical load and the emotional stress load. There wasn’t adequate time to recover.

“As the situation is unknown regarding the World Cup schedule, we now must attend NACs, which are early in the season.”

So, while there are some common themes espoused by these four, the bottom line is that the pandemic has caused everyone to adjust in many aspects of their lives.

We dealt with working and learning virtually, social distancing, sporting and life events being canceled or postponed, wearing masks and knowing that each day could bring a new surprise or guideline.

Normalcy and structure were thrown out the window, and as a result, people became used to “pivoting.” We became conditioned the lack of normalcy and accepting a “new normal.”

So, this one-time, three-year cycle is just another pivot-point fencers vying for Paris had to face. Whether you like the shorter cycle, like Daryl, or not, these are the cards that have been dealt.

And Yury summed it up perfectly when he said, “We always make adjustments, and it is the same for everyone.”

BY BRYAN WENDELL

CEO

1Phil Andrews Becomes

After a global search and multilayered interview process that yielded a host of talented candidates, the USA Fencing Board of Directors selected Phil Andrews to serve as the organization’s chief executive officer.

Andrews started on Aug. 16, 2022, taking the helm from Jack Gierhart, whose successful tenure as interim CEO began in December 2021.

Andrews joined USA Fencing after nearly a decade of service at USA Weightlifting, including more than six years as that organization’s CEO. He also served in an interim leadership role with the International Weightlifting Federation, skillfully steering that organization through an especially tumultuous period.

This experience at the national and international levels — coupled with his creativity and collaborative spirit — made Andrews stand out, says David Arias, chair of USA Fencing’s Board of Directors.

A dozen talented candidates were considered during the later stages of the search, which took place over the course of several months.

“Even among this impressive group of leaders, Phil Andrews clearly stood out,” Arias says. “Phil impressed us with the experience he brings as a successful executive director of another national governing body. What set him apart was the insightful questions he asked, his approach to problem-solving, his desire to build relationships at all levels of our sport, the importance he places on inclusiveness and athlete safety and the specific ideas he shared related to the growth of USA Fencing.”

2USAIntroducesFencing

320-ENGARDE

In August, we joined forces with the award-winning team at RealResponse to offer 320-ENGARDE, a new texting hotline that allows members of the fencing community to safely report suspected abuse, issues or other potential violations of USA Fencing policies.

By texting 320-ENGARDE (320-364-2733), fencers, coaches, parents and others in the community can submit a report — either anonymously or on the record — about anything concerning that they experience, witness or learn about.

Put simply, this texting hotline will encourage fencers to remain “en garde” both on and

off the strip as the fencing community rallies together to recognize and report abuse or other issues of concern.

When a text message is sent to 320-ENGARDE, the contents are confidentially and securely stored in the RealResponse platform. Anonymity is preserved because none of the reporter’s contact information, including their phone number, can be viewed by USA Fencing.

After a message is received, a designated USA Fencing representative can respond via text message to gather additional information — all the while allowing the submitter to remain anonymous (if they choose) throughout the process.

The underlying goal behind 320-ENGARDE, says USA Fencing CEO Phil Andrews, is to streamline the reporting process by offering an additional tool to members.

“At USA Fencing, we believe that reporting a concern should be as simple as picking up your smartphone,” Andrews says. “Our partnership with RealResponse and the debut of 320-ENGARDE gives members a vital resource that’s easy to use, easy to remember and anonymous.”

The year 2022 was an exciting one for USA Fencing. Here are five key developments worth remembering.

3Women Coaches Mentoring Program Launched

As of this writing, fewer than a quarter of all coaches registered with USA Fencing are women. That’s a challenge we accept with the USA Fencing Women Coaches Mentoring Program, a new initiative launched in October that’s designed to advance the development of women as future leaders and coaches in the sport of fencing.

Women comprise about 35% of USA Fencing membership, which is significantly below the benchmark set by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee.

Looking at coaches, specifically, just 23% of USA Fencing coaches identify as women.

“As an organization we acknowledge the lack of representation of women in leadership positions, especially as coaches,” says Shannon Jolly, USA Fencing’s senior manager of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. “This mentorship program will help provide women coaches an interactive development experience that can create pathways to coaching opportunities. As we continue efforts to champion women and their contributions to the sport, as a collective, we have to show up for each other to truly shift the culture.”

Here’s how the program works: Over the course of five months, aspiring or new women coaches with three or fewer years of coaching experience will be matched with seasoned coaches who will serve as a mentor and advocate for their mentee(s). Think of it as professional development specifically designed for women fencing coaches.

Fifteen women will be selected to participate as mentees in this initial cohort.

Mentees will be given interactive challenges to help develop their skills as a coach and leader, engage in virtual developmental workshops facilitated by industry leaders and learn from and network with nationally recognized coaches who will share their experiences and best practices.

4U.S. Fencing Foun- dation Becomes Philanthropic Arm of USA Fencingv

A fencer’s support system extends well beyond their coach standing stripside and their family and friends cheering them on back home.

That support system includes the network of donors whose generosity helps grow and sustain fencing at all levels of the sport — from the youngest Y-10 fencers to cadets, juniors, seniors, parafencers and veterans.

In an effort to streamline those fundraising efforts and maximize efficiency, USA Fencing announced that the United States Fencing Foundation has become the philanthropic arm of USA Fencing beginning Oct. 1, 2022.

This change, which aligns with the approach taken by most other national governing bodies in the United States, means that all donations will be managed by the Foundation and distributed to USA Fencing programs or maintained in the Foundation endowment for the long-term sustainability of the sport.

“As we collectively embrace an extended vision of what is possible, a more streamlined structure has been established,” says Robert Zagunis, president of the Foundation’s board and father of twotime Olympic champion Mariel Zagunis. “The United States Fencing Foundation is now the main organization for fundraising, supporting the operating efforts of USA Fencing.”

Zagunis says the U.S. Fencing Foundation wants to meet its members where they are by matching potential donors with areas of real need in our sport.

“For our extended fencing community, there is something for everyone to get behind: coaching education, safety, youth development, veterans, parafencing, competition at all levels, including the development of world champions, Olympians and Paralympians,” he says. “This is an exciting time to continue to grow and refine our sport, and all are invited to join the effort.”

5Lee Kiefer Inducted Into FIE Hall of Fame

NCAA champion. National champion. World champion. Olympic champion. And now, Lee Kiefer will add another impressive title to her fencing resume: FIE Hall of Famer.

Kiefer, the 2009 Division I national champion, four-time NCAA champion, six-time medalist at the Fencing World Championships and 2021 Olympic champion, was elected to the Hall of Fame of the International Fencing Federation in July, confirming what fencing fans around the world have long known: Lee is a legend.

The honor ends an incredible 12-month span for Kiefer, who finished the 202122 season as the world’s top-ranked women’s foil fencer. The gold medal in Tokyo, while technically part of the 202021 season, kicked things off. Kiefer then won silvers at World Cup events in France and Mexico and a bronze in Serbia.

In April, Kiefer won gold at the World Cup in Tauberbischofsheim, Germany, followed by another gold in May at the Incheon Grand Prix in Korea. She concluded the season with a pair of medals at the 2022 Fencing World Championships in Egypt: a team silver and individual bronze.

Kiefer learned of the news at a team dinner at the World Championships in Cairo, with her teammates, parents and coaches in attendance. At the end of the meal, Women’s Foil National Coach Ralf Bissdorf got the group’s attention to make the special announcement.

“I couldn’t believe it and was very confused at first,” Kiefer says. “This honor is a testament to the amazing humans who have believed in my fencing career and helped it blossom.”

Fencing lost a legend on May 20, 2022. Dan DeChaine had been a part of the fencing community for over 60 years, most notably as one of the preeminent armorers in the world. Born Oct. 29, 1934, in the small town of Paso Robles, Calif., he attended Pomona College, where he fell in love with fencing.

DAN

REMEMBERING DECHAINE

BY

DAN DECHAINE WAS A HIGH-LEVEL FENCER AS WELL AS ARMORER.

DEBBIE AMSBAUGH

Bob Lightner, a USA Fencing armorer, recalled that before Dan became the expert he was, his first fencing coach handed him an unthreaded French foil blade and a pommel and asked him to thread it. When Dan got home, he only had access to a small rectangular file. He spent the whole night cutting threads with that file. The coach was surprised that it took so long and asked why he didn’t use a die. That was the beginning of a long road of becoming a tool expert.

If you knew Dan, you knew he had every gadget, tool and device, inventing the ones he could not find.

From his first Junior Worlds to his last Olympics, Michael Marx has fond memories of helping Dan with equipment. “He always brought more than anyone could imagine,” Michael says. “Dan always had the right tool or whatever gadget was needed to help the athletes.” Michael often found Dan up late working on the entire team’s equipment while listening to a beautiful aria and sampling some local beer.

Dan was generous with his knowledge and time. Ted Li shared that he was “…gracious to all in the global fencing family, Dan was a consummate armorer, whose knowledge of the various aspects of armoring was unparalleled. He always was willing to help aspiring armorers learn something new or to improve their technique.”

Irene Edgerton credits Dan’s teaching and encouragement for her being hired at her first NAC and led to becoming head tech, team armorer on an international level and pursuing her dream of appointment to the FIE’s Electronics Signaling Equipment and Installation (SEMI) Commission.

Irene summarized Dan’s philosophy of armory, in what she terms the “Tao of Dan”: “Remember armorers are here for the fencers, first and foremost,” she said. “There are three things that guide armorers’ actions. Safety is first. It’s their responsibility to keep them and the sport as safe as possible. That is why armorers test masks. Second is fairness. Each fencer deserves an equal opportunity to score. That is why they test the lames. Lastly, armorers work to make the event efficient. A break in the action or flow is detrimental to the fencers. The slightest equipment problem can cause a break. That is why they test body cords, floor cords and machines. Dan taught her to be a living example of professionalism.”

Dan DeChaine’s accomplishments are too numerous to list. He worked the 1968, 1976, 1988 and 1992 Olympic Games and untold international, national, and regional tournaments and events. He was elected to SEMI Commission in 1985 and served until 2016. Brian Rosen credits Dan’s success on that committee with his facility for languages. He was able to speak to most of the members in their native language or a language they knew well. Dan spoke French, German, Spanish, Russian, and some Japanese. In 2001, Dan received the USA Fencing

Ray Miller Award for Service to the Sport of Fencing. In 2007, he was inducted into the USA Fencing Hall of Fame.

His love of beer, especially Guinness, rivaled his love of fencing and family. Bob remembers rooming with Dan at the Olympic and Paralympic Training Center (OPTC) and searching for bars serving Guinness. The closet place never had it until one day when Bob dropped some off beforehand to surprise Dan. When Bob asked for a Guinness, the owner explained they didn’t serve it. Bob explained there was some there. The owner paled stating he could lose his license but reluctantly poured one glass to which Dan exclaimed, “They have REAL beer here.”

A few years ago, Dan took a trip to Ireland where, you guessed it, he made a pilgrimage to the Guinness Brewery. He came home with a T-shirt he wore often, according to his daughter, Laura Van Dran.

The thought of Dan wearing a T-shirt is a surprise to many. John Heil recalls rooming with Dan and Buckie Leach at the OPTC. Dan was “resting” on the bed with his shoes and tie on, shirt buttoned. And, Buckie was Buckie. Brian Rosen remembers Dan as “incredibly kind, always willing to teach, always willing to lend a hand and always well dressed.” “Whether local, regional, collegiate, national or international competition, people always saw the same Dan DeChaine – impeccably dressed in tie and jacket – helping, mentoring and guiding those around him to be their best,” stated Ted Li.

Dan attended a few Fencing and Fine Wine (FFW) events hosted by Michael Marx, his wife Lisa and Thomas Theuerkauf in Bordeaux, France. On one occasion, the fencers in France came home late to find the gate locked. The only way in was over a 10-foot iron gate. The younger fencers could lift each other up and over, but what about the beloved very elderly armorer? He must go over. He wasn’t afraid. On the top, he balanced and swayed. He fell. In slow motion, a fencer slipped under him wrapped his strong arms around him. They came crashing down, but both stood to cheers. Hence the new Olympic sport of “The Great Dan DeChaine toss” was born.

Dan’s adventures weren’t just limited to fencing. The ziplining photo is proof . Laura booked a cabin and ziplining for the family. Afterwards, Dan admitted to fearing heights but didn’t want to be a wet blanket.

Another story Laura tells is of the story of Dan the animal lover, rescuing over 15 cats and countless birds. Dan had adopted a kitten he named Sasha. Laura had no idea until she was speaking with the person who helped Dan out around the house, who asked about who was going to take care of the cat when Dan went to a fencing event. Laura assured her that her father DID NOT have a cat. She shot right back, “Laura, he has a cat. Her name is Sasha, and he only speaks Russian to her.”

Dan wasn’t one to speak of personal things. Michael Marx said, “On that rare occasion he spoke of family his eyes lit up and the love would fill the room. Myra (his wife) was nothing short of an angel on Earth and his children (Laura and Rob) were her gift to the Earth. I’m not kidding, Dan expressed this so genuinely and honestly that I prayed to someday feel that way.”

Dan told Laura many times that fencing saved his life. He said being part of the fencing community was the best part of his life and that he could never repay the blessings and experiences he received.

We are all better off for knowing Dan DeChaine. His legacy and impact to the fencing community will live on.

DAN DECHAINE

ALWAYS DRESSY, DAN TOOK ARMORY SERIOUSLY AT ALL LEVELS.

(L-R) COACH DELMAR CALVERT, CARL BORACK, AND DAN DECHAINE AT THE 1967 WINNIPEG PAN AM GAMES.

DAN WITH BRITISH ARMORER JANET HUGGINS.