DCFC members win championship titles, medals, and a trip to the World Championships

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 19, 2013

Contact: *protected email*

DC FENCERS CLUB MEMBERS WIN CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES AND TEAM BRONZE

AT JUNIOR OLYMPIC FENCING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Gold Medalist Amanda Sirico earns a slot on US Team competing at Junior World Fencing Championships in Croatia

(SILVER SPRING, MD) – DC Fencers Club congratulates its members on gold, bronze, and spectacular results at the Junior Olympic Fencing Championships, held in Baltimore, MD from February 15 – 18 at the Baltimore (MD) Convention Center. This event features the best young American fencers in the Cadet (under 17) and Junior (Under 20) age categories in three different weapons (foil, epee, and sabre). More than 30 DCFC members competed among the 1,500+ teens from fencing clubs around the country at this culminating national youth event of the season.

On Saturday, February 16, Amanda Sirico, 17, of Bowie, Maryland won the gold medal and the title of 2013 Junior Olympic Fencing Champion in the Junior Women's Epee event. This win caps a stellar national and international season for Sirico, who is ranked the #1 Cadet Women’s Epee fencer in the United States. This weekend, Sirico was named to the U.S. team for the Junior & Cadet World Fencing Championships in Porec, Croatia this April. There, she will compete in the Cadet Women’s Epee event. Among Sirico’s notable results for the 2012-2013 season: Silver, Junior Women’s Epee, in Goteberg Sweden (February 2013); Gold, Cadet Epee European Cup, in Grenoble, France (November 2012), and Silver, Cadet Epee European Cup in Klagenfurt, Austria (October 2012). This is Sirico’s second Junior Olympic Championship title, at the 2012 Junior Olympics, she won gold in the Cadet Women’s Epee event. Sirico’s coach, DCFC Head Coach Janusz Smolenski also received a medal for his efforts.

DC Fencers Club also salutes Katharine Holmes of Washington, DC, a sophomore at Princeton, who earned a berth on the U.S. Junior Women’s Epee Team at Worlds as the #1 ranked junior women’s epee fencer.

The next day, Clinton Feihong Rodell, 15, of Annandale, Virginia, became DCFC’s second Junior Olympic Champion with his gold medal win in Cadet Men’s Epee. Rodell advanced from a mammoth field of 241 competitors. DCFC Coach Robert Suchorski also received a medal as Rodell’s coach. Rodell other notable results include gold in Cadet Men’s Epee at the 2012 Super Youth Circuit event at National Harbor, MD.

Ian Richards (Chevy Chase, MD), James Cameron (Silver Spring, MD), Eli Polston (Silver Spring, MD), and Reed Srere (Washington, DC) won bronze in Junior Team Men's Sabre Team event.

The U.S. Junior Olympic Fencing Championships is organized by the United States Fencing Association, the national governing body for the American fencing community. This is the final event of the season to determine team selection for Junior and Cadet World Championships in Porec, Croatia. Fencers are chosen for the US team based on points accumulated throughout the season at both national and international events. Final team selection is announced at the Junior Olympic Championships.

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, DCFC offers four week-long summer fencing camps for beginners ages seven and up. Starting in March, 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 *protected 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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