News | Cape Fear Fencing Association

CFFA update for 6/30

June 30, 2018June 30, 2018 Gregory Spahr Coaches Communication

We had two fencers competing today, both in Veteran’s events.

In the Vet 40 sabre, Kim Phillips went 3-1 in his pool. He won his first DE, but then lost his second DE to the eventual winner. He still earns the fifth place medal.

In the Vet 70 epee, Erica Julien also went 3-1 in her pool. She lost her first DE in 9-10 heartbreaker. She also earned a 5th place medal. However, on the good news front, Erica again qualified for the Vet 70 Women’s epee World Championship. This time they are in Livorno, Italy, in October.

Tomorrow is Nicole Milewski in Cadet women’s epee and Kim combining with some other Vet sabre fencers for the team event.

pax vobiscum,

Greg Spahr
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

CFFA update – First day of Nationals

June 28, 2018June 28, 2018 Gregory Spahr Coaches Communication

Here in St. Louis and Nationals have started. Today we had Nicole Milewski competing in the Junior women’s epee. She had a solid first round, going 3-3, beating the two Bs in her pool. She finished 3rd out of her pool of 7. Unfortunately, lost her first DE. Got behind, but then did a 4-5 point comeback to tie it up. Just couldn’t seem to get out front however. Overall good job finishing at 140/217 in the event where she was a 14 year old fencing people from 13-19.

No one fencing tomorrow. Kim Phillips and Erica Julien fence on Saturday.

We have a tornado warning. Wish you were here. LOL

pax vobiscum,

Greg Spahr
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

CFFA update for June 24

June 24, 2018June 24, 2018 Gregory Spahr Coaches Communication

I will be away to Nationals for about 10 days, so no youth
practices on June 28, July 3, or 5. They will restart on July 10. The
club will be open on the regular Tuesday and Thursday (maybe Saturday
mornings) during that stretch, unless the powers that
be decide to try to repaint the floor. That may depend a lot on the
weather report and the possibility of the floor getting flooded. It
could be a sort of day by day decision, but if painting is decided upon,
I am certain help will be welcomed.

Youth practice this Tuesday, before the hiatus. We have been having a good turn out on Tuesdays, but nobody on Thursdays. (Weird.)

Regular evening practice will continue throughout Nationals. Saturday practice is up in the air. If you would be interested in a Saturday practice, let Herman know.

Taking orders for gear, as it will be easy for me to pick things up at Nationals. The good thing is we would not have shipping and maybe sales tax. Talk to Herman or I if you want to order something. Occasionally some one will have a good sale on gear, and if that happens, I will keep everyone informed.

I do try to keep everyone fairly up to date as to how our people are doing at Nationals, so expect more emails than usual. We have five people competing in thirteen events over the first 9 days of Nationals. If that is too slow for you, you should be able to get more almost real time information from a setting on usafencing.org. It has result updates, plus a schedule of events, plus the opening seeding for events.

pax vobiscum,

Greg Spahr
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

Spanish student

June 22, 2018June 22, 2018 Gregory Spahr Coaches Communication

I’ve been contacted by woman who would like to see if her nephew could spend a month with a family in the US. He is Spanish and a sabre fencer, supposedly international level. He is 17 and he is English is not extensive. English immersion is much of the reason for stay. He has fenced a couple of international events in the US. He would like to be here for something like the month of July.

I don’t really have much information other than that. Her name is Kelly O’Donnell. Her email is odkelly2002@yahoo.com. Phone is 917 -341-3408. If you contact and anything comes of it, let me know.

pax vobiscum,

Greg Spahr
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

CFFA update for June 18

June 18, 2018June 18, 2018 Gregory Spahr Coaches Communication

No one has talked to me about sabre camp, so let’s turn the week of July 30- August 3rd into a second advanced foil camp. If you haven’t already contacted and and want to come that week, or if you would like to switch from the first week because this works better, please let me know.

We had five fencers go up to the State Games over the weekend. In Men’s epee, Mike Kinney saved his best fencing for his DE but dropped a close match to Aidan Labrozzi of Apex. Herman Smith ran into a revenge minded opponent whom he had beaten in pools and also dropped his first DE. For Women’s epee, Erica Julien took the bronze overall and the gold for veterans. Nicole Milewski won the open gold, the Junior gold, and the cadet gold. This is the fourth year in a row where Nicole has won her event(s). Finally, Kim Phillips took a bronze in the open Men’s sabre and gold for the veterans. Congrats to all.

Pretty
much a regular summer week this week. Practice Tuesday and Thursday
night, with Camp Lejeune on Friday, and a Saturday morning prep for Nationals practice at 10 am. Last Tuesday had a large number of younger fencers at the 6:30 pm time.

Richmond
is having a Nationals tune up June 23-24. Epee is a strong A2 on Sunday, foil just needs bodies to be a B on Saturday, there is a Div III foil, and a small open sabre.
Details on askfred.

I will be away to Nationals
for about 10 days, so no youth practices on June 28, July 3, or 5.
They will restart on July 10. The club will be open on the regular
Tuesday and Thursday (maybe Saturday mornings) during that stretch,
unless the powers that be decide to try to repaint the floor. That may
depend a lot on the weather report and the possibility of the floor
getting flooded. It could be a sort of day by day decision, but if
painting is decided upon, I am certain help will be welcomed.

pax vobiscum,

Greg Spahr
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

CFFA update for June 10

June 10, 2018June 10, 2018 Gregory Spahr Coaches Communication

Still, no one at the moment has
expressed an interest in sabre camp and I have some people interested in
the advanced foil that cannot make the first advanced foil week. If I don’t get some
interest in sabre this week, I will turn that week into a second advance foil
camp. Foilists could then attend whichever works better for them. So,
if you are interested and have not emailed me, please do so ASAP with
the camp(s) you wish to attend and your T-shirt size. Thanks.

Beginning Fencing Camp July 9-13

Advanced Foil Camp July 16 – 20

Advanced Epee Camp July 23 – 27

Advanced Sabre Camp (or 2nd advanced foil) July 30 – August 3

Pretty
much a regular summer week this week. Practice Tuesday and Thursday
night, with Camp Lejeune on Friday. We will be putting the overheads back up on
Tuesday and assistance is welcome.

This Tuesday, June 12th I will start having a summer practice for the younger set at
6:30 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We will go for about an hour and the
cost is $5 per time. Probably easier to do it this way as between nationals, etc., I will not be there some evenings.

The
Powerade State Games
are the weekend of June 16-17. Registration is now closed, but I have no idea what the events look like as far as numbers.

Richmond is having a Nationals tune up June 23-24. Epee is an A2 already, foil might become a B, there is a Div III foil, and a small open sabre. Details on askfred.

I will be away to Nationals for about 10 days, so no youth practices on June 28, July 3, or 5. They will restart on July 10. The club will be open on the regular Tuesday and Thursday (maybe Saturday mornings) during that stretch, unless the powers that be decide to try to repaint the floor. That may depend a lot on the weather report and the possibility of the floor getting flooded. It could be a sort of day by day decision, but if painting is decided upon, I am certain help will be welcomed.

Painting is a multi day process. One day to move stuff and clean the floor, one to tape and paint the light blue, one to tape and paint the dark blue, at least one day (probably more) to put layers of lacquer over the paint, and finally, putting everything back. Ergo, a lot of small bits of help is really useful. I will try to keep everyone informed.

pax vobiscum,

Greg Spahr
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

CFFA update for June 3

June 3, 2018June 3, 2018 Gregory Spahr Coaches Communication

I need to know who wants to go to what camp. I want to be able to go ahead and order T-shirts. Additionally, no one at the moment has expressed an interest in sabre camp and I have some people interested in the advanced foil that cannot make that week. If I don’t get some interest in sabre, I will turn that week into a second advance foil camp. Foilists could then attend whichever works better for them. So, if you are interested and have not emailed me, please do so ASAP with the camp(s) you wish to attend and your T-shirt size. Thanks.

Beginning Fencing Camp July 9-13

Advanced Foil Camp July 16 – 20

Advanced Epee Camp July 23 – 27

Advanced Sabre Camp July 30 – August 3

We finished the youth series for the year yesterday and actually had competitions in all three weapons.

12 and under foil

1st Don Evans, CFFA

2nd Rayne Schoonmaker, CFFA

3rd (tie) Amelia Alexander, CFFA Jackson Jones CFFA

9 and under foil

Gold Lou Lightner CFFA

Silver Joseph Evans, CFFA

Bronze Boyd Sprague CFFA

12 and under epee

1st Linus Huggins CFFA

2nd Eamon O’Brien CFFA

3rd Lily Rae Thompson CFFA

12 and under sabre

1st Eamon O’Brien CFFA

2nd Boyd Sprague CFFA

3rd Ellery O’Brien CFFA

Amelia Alexander won the sword for the girls and Rayne Schoonmaker won the sword for the boys. In a first, we had a tie for the Sportsmanship award and Eamon O’Brien and John Alexander will both receive swords. A huge thanks to Kyler Schoonmaker, Phil Nazzaro, and Josiah Nazzaro for the help with refereeing. Thanks to Herman Smith for armoring. Thanks to the parents and fencers for a successful season.

Pretty much a regular summer week this week. Practice Tuesday and Thursday night, with Camp Lejeune on Friday. There is an event in the basement on June 9th, so no Saturday practice. In addition, we will be taking down the overheads this Thursday and putting them back up the following Tuesday.

June 9th is Mid-South’s last sabre extravaganza of the year. They are having a women’s sabre and a Vet combine mixed sabre.

The
Powerade State Games
are the weekend of June 16-17. Currently the fields are very small. The last update I have lists them from May 16th, so it is the same numbers as last week. The fees jumped again on June 1, so it is the most expensive it will be at this point.

On
June 12th I will start having a summer practice for the younger set at
6:30 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We will go for about an hour and the
cost is $5 per time or $25 per month.

pax vobiscum,

Greg Spahr
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

CFFA update for May 28th

May 28, 2018May 28, 2018 Gregory Spahr Coaches Communication

We held our last adult event for the year Saturday. In the foil, Jesse Harvey was first defeating Brendan McConville. Will Golder tied with Josh White of Salle New Bern for 3rd. For the epee, Daniel Freeman of Apex Fencing Academy won the katana over Daniel Johnson of Columbia Fencer’s Club. The bronzes were shared by Samantha Wolstenholme-Britt of Apex and our Herman Smith, who re-earned his C. Sabre was won by Kim Phillips, who took out Brendan in the final. Josh White took another bronze home along with Jackson Barbee of Research Triangle Fencing. Thanks to Zemi for running the event. Referees were Bobby Gibbs, Donny Zelinski, Paul Perkins, and Josh White. Thanks to everyone else who helped.

No afterschool practice today as it is Memorial Day. All
of the school year practices will end this week. On Wednesday and
Thursday for homeschool and afterschool we will have end of the year
parties. Friday will be the final Topsail Middle school practice for
this school year. Regular Friday practice at Camp Lejuene.

June
2nd will be the last Youth event for the season. We will give the
swords away after the events. Foil at 10 am, epee at 1:30 pm, sabre at
3:30 pm. Any volunteer help for the refereeing foil is greatly appreciated.

Also
on June 2nd, Apex is hosting a referee clinic that will set you up to
take the written referee test. It is written to be difficult so
attending a clinic like this is not only necessary, but very helpful.
It is listed on askfred (look under clinics) for more
details. If you have questions, ask me. They are then having
unsanctioned foil events on the 3rd so that the prospective referees can
be observed.

June 9th is Mid-South’s last sabre extravaganza of the year. They are having a women’s sabre and a Vet combine mixed sabre.

Although there isn’t much going on on the 9th, the basement is reserved for other use, so no Saturday morning practice.

The Powerade State Games
are the weekend of June 16-17. Currently the fields are very small. Women’s epee is at 5, as is women’s foil, and there is only one women’s sabrist. Men’s epee is at 8, foil and sabre are both at 12. Fees raise again on June 1st.

On
June 12th I will start having a summer practice for the younger set at
6:30 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We will go for about an hour and the
cost is $5 per time or $25 per month.

Summer
camps will go 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Thursday and 9 am to 3 pm Friday.
More information is on the website or on a handout I have prepared.
Last year we experimented with allowing adults to take the camps and the
results were solid, so if you would like to attend a camp, talk to me.
If you are attending, please let me know so I can plan the curricula
and tell me your T-shirt size so I can order them. Camp dates are:

Beginning Fencing Camp July 9-13

Advanced Foil Camp July 16 – 20

Advanced Epee Camp July 23 – 27

Advanced Sabre Camp July 30 – August 3

pax vobiscum,

Greg Spahr
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

CFFA update for May 21

May 21, 2018May 21, 2018 Gregory Spahr Coaches Communication

We had a solid practice Saturday morning with about a dozen fencers. As the tournaments thin out over the summer, Saturday morning practice will become the norm.

Regular week of practice this week.

Our
next event will be the Stab-a-thon this Saturday. The epee is shaping up
nicely, already a B1, and only needs another A to become an A event.
The foil needs a C and bodies to be a C. The sabre should be an E. If you haven’t, get signed up early this week. Please don’t wait until the last minute.

No afterschool practice May 28th as it is Memorial Day. All of the school year practices will end this week. On Wednesday and Thursday for homeschool and afterschool we will have end of the year parties. Friday will be the final Topsail Middle school practice for this school year.

June
2nd will be the last Youth event for the season. We will give the
swords away after the events. Foil at 10 am, epee at 1:30 pm, sabre at
3:30 pm. Any volunteer help for the foil is greatly appreciated.

June 9th is Mid-South’s last sabre extravaganza of the year. They are having a women’s sabre and a Vet combine mixed sabre.

Our
only entrants currently listed for Powerade State Games are Mike
Kinney, Erica Julien, Nicole Milewski, and Kim Phillips. The entry fees
are at their second level but will go up again on June 1st. The games
are the weekend of June 16-17.

On
June 12th I will start having a summer practice for the younger set at
6:30 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We will go for about an hour and the
cost is $5 per time or $25 per month.

Beginning Fencing Camp July 9-13

Advanced Foil Camp July 16 – 20

Advanced Epee Camp July 23 – 27

Advanced Sabre Camp July 30 – August 3

pax vobiscum,

Greg Spahr
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

CFFA update for May 13

May 13, 2018May 13, 2018 Gregory Spahr Coaches Communication

Yesterday we held the first middle school team event with some local teams and teams from Raleigh and New Bern. The team of Megan Looney and Emma Melvin fenced a person short all day for St. Mary and came in seventh. The Topsail Pirates team of Isabella LaCorte, Evan Cherry, and Ivone Alexander finished third. The Topsail Tacos: Logan Schott, Amelia Alexander, and Jackson Jones won the event. If you go to a middle school and would be interested in having a team next year, talk to Herman Smith or me. A huge thank you to Herman for setting this up and sponsoring the event. Thanks yous to Brendan McConville, Kyler Schoonmaker, and Jerry Antonellis of Epiphany for refereeing. Thank yous to the fencers and parents.

We also had fencers go to the event in Apex yesterday. Will Golder finished 14th in the men’s epee and 17th in the men’s foil. Both were A2 events. Erica Julien finished 6th and Nicole Milewski was 8th in women’s epee.

This week practice keeps moving to more of a summer schedule. We should have a Saturday practice on the 19th, starting at 10 am and going until ?

May 19th is open epee and unrated foil at Charlotte. Epee might become a B and the foil may become an E event.

May
20th is a U foil at All-American. I will be going up to observe, but
at the moment the field is maxed out. If they have anyone drop out I
will let you know.

Our
next event will be the Stab-a-thon on May 26th. The epee is shaping up
nicely, already a B1, and only needs another A to become an A event. The foil needs a C and bodies to be a C. The sabre needs warm bodies to become an E.

Afterschool practice will end the last week of May.

June
2nd will be the last Youth event for the season. We will give the
swords away after the events. Foil at 10 am, epee at 1:30 pm, sabre at
3:30 pm.

June 9th is Mid-South’s last sabre extravaganza of the year. They are having a women’s epee and a Vet combine mixed epee.

Our only entrants currently listed for Powerade State Games are Mike Kinney, Erica Julien, Nicole Milewski, and Kim Phillips. The entry fees are at their second level but will go up again on June 1st. The games are the weekend of June 16-17.

On June 12th I will start having a summer practice for the younger set at 6:30 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We will go for about an hour and the cost is $5 per time or $25 per month.

Summer camps will go 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Thursday and 9 am to 3 pm Friday. More information is on the website or on a handout I have prepared. Last year we experimented with allowing adults to take the camps and the results were solid, so if you would like to attend a camp, talk to me. If you are attending, please let me know so I can plan the curricula and tell me your T-shirt size so I can order them. Camp dates are:

Beginning Fencing Camp July 9-13

Advanced Foil Camp July 16 – 20

Advanced Epee Camp July 23 – 27

Advanced Sabre Camp July 30 – August 3

pax vobiscum,

Greg Spahr
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