Yesterday Phil Nazarro and Liam Coyle represented the Southeastern Cardinals in the Homeschool League Team Championships. They fenced well, but were a person down, as teams are actually three people. They did beat New Bern, the other team fencing one person down, in a back and forth 45-44 match. Unfortunately they couldn’t overcome the disadvantage against Twin City (who won the championship) or Oak Ridge.
This week will be unusual due to UNCW’s Spring Break and the Baltimore NAC. No UNCW practice at Trask Monday night. Our next evening class will start Tuesday night at 6:30 pm and runs for 12 sessions on Tu/Th. If anyone wants to come in Wednesday night for practice, let me know ASAP. Otherwise no practice Wednesday after 6:30 pm as the UNCW students are away. On Thursday, I will be leaving for Baltimore after the afterschool session. Brendan will be in by 7:45 pm to run the evening open session, but the evening class will not meet. No Topsail or Camp Lejeune classes this week.
This weekend is the Youth NAC in Baltimore. If anyone besides
Nicole is signed up, please let me know ASAP.
Nicole is signed up, please let me know ASAP.
Let me try to outline what looks to be on tap for the rest of the fencing “season.” However, first I do need to apologize for not telling you about one fencing opportunity. The week long Fencing and German Beer Festival ends today in Munich. I was just afraid we would never see Brendan again. Most of these events are listed on askfred.net, if you want more information or to preregister.
March
17-18 is the Y-14, Div II, and Div III qualifiers in Greensboro. These
will qualify you (if you do well enough) for the National Championships
in St. Louis. Otherwise they may be good events just for the
practice. Check askfred for more details. Not many of our fencers are
signed up yet. We should have a bigger contingent. Preregistration ends on 3/15.
17-18 is the Y-14, Div II, and Div III qualifiers in Greensboro. These
will qualify you (if you do well enough) for the National Championships
in St. Louis. Otherwise they may be good events just for the
practice. Check askfred for more details. Not many of our fencers are
signed up yet. We should have a bigger contingent. Preregistration ends on 3/15.
The
Lynn Krupey
Memorial Iron Maiden is March 24. This is still the only 3 weapon
event
Lynn Krupey
Memorial Iron Maiden is March 24. This is still the only 3 weapon
event
exclusively for women in the state. Entries are inching up and I still hope that epee will become a C or higher rated event. It would be nice to get foil up to where it would at least require two pools and sabre up to where we will have an E event. Please get signed up ASAP. Also that day, we will be hosting the State Homeschool Individual Championships. It would be nice if those who are in the homeschool class would turn out to support our fencers. That starts at 1:30 pm, so you also should be able to see some high level epee in the Iron Maiden as well.
Also on that date is Mid-South’s RYC for Y10, Y12, and Y14 sabre.
On March 31 there is a U foil event and mixed epee in Charlotte.
April 7th is our next mixed event. It is up on askfred and will have epee, foil, and an E and under foil. If we can find fifteen foilists, of whom at least 4 are Es, there is the possibility of someone earning a D without having to defeat the heavy hitters. That also makes this a really good event for someone looking for a first foil tournament.
I hope to be able to make up for the lack of youth events in the next few months with one each in April, May, and the season ending one in June. The first of these would be on April 14th.
April 20-23 is a NAC in Richmond. The only people I saw who were signed up were Brendan, KIm, Erica, Herman, and Nicole. If I missed you, or you sign up now (the extra fees would apply) please let me know.
April 28th is New Bern’s epee event, the Skirmish at Jack’s Island. I will be going up in some capacity, so should be able to take some people. This is always a solid tournament and the New Bern people host an excellent end of the tournament year (for them) brunch. They are sort of our “sister” club, so we should have a large representation.
Apex will be doing some youth events that day.
I hope to have a youth event on May 5th, unless some other fencing opportunity precludes it.
May 12th has Y10 and Y12 foil events and Senior foil and epee events at Apex.
May 19th is a mixed epee and a U foil event at Charlotte. Also on the 19th, All-American, in Fayetteville, will be having Y10 and Y12 foil. On Sunday, they will be hosting an adult men’s U foil event. They already have enough people signed up that the winner will get an E. I will be observing that event, so can take people up. More details on askfred.
May 26th ends our adult season with the Stab-a-thon. Mixed foil, epee, and sabre.
June 2nd is another set of youth events at All-America. They will also be hosting a sanctioned adult U foil, only for women on that day.
On June 2nd, Apex is hosting a referee clinic with Doug Findlay, a highly rated US and International referee. The time is 2 pm – 8 pm, so those of you who like later events, this is in your ballpark. Attending one of these clinics is a necessary step to getting a referee rating, as well as keeping your ratings current. Check askfred for more details.
I hope to have our season ending Youth event on June 9th, after which we can award the swords. Mid South is doing women’s and Vet sabre on that date.
And finally, the Powerade State Games of North Carolina occur on June 16-17. They have men’s and women’s events, and mixed Y-12 events in all weapons. They will be held in Lewisville. The original registration ends on May 4th, with fees increasing until June 8th, after which there is no more registration. There will be no at the door registration. They ask that you register under fencing at the ncsports website as well as askfred (The ncsports.org is the official registration.). The adult events are fenced as one large group (by gender) with awards then being given out to the top 3 overall, cadet, junior, and vets. This year and next the games are specifically important as the 2019 State Games of America will happen in Lynchburg, VA in Late July – August, 2019. However, a quick check of that website does not show fencing listed as a sport. I will keep you updated.
pax vobiscum,
Greg Spahr
Head Coach
Cape Fear Fencing Association
Head Coach
Cape Fear Fencing Association
“The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but that’s the way to bet.” Damon Runyon
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