RIFAC : Rhode Island Fencing Academy & Club
February 23 , 2008:
Back from Junior Olympics in Charlotte, NC with James Hawrot on his way to Junior Worlds!
Well, as always, a very long time has passed since my last entry. Of course, a big reason for this is that I am so busy with students, classes and competitions that I barely have time to feed myself! Not to mention that I now have two children since the last time I made an entry!
BUT, this year's Junior Olympics were very exciting, and part of the excitement was James Hawrot's push to make the US team for the Junior World Championships. The Junior Olympics are the last event where team hopefuls can earn the points necessary to qualify. In order to qualify, a fencer must hold a first, second or third place national team ranking. This year's attempt was even more dramatic since he almost made it last year, just barely missing his goal. It is a sign of a true competitor that James chose to push on rather than give up.
And push on he did! He had a spectacular season overall, a highlight being his 6th place finish at the Junior World Cup in Budapest, Hungary, considered by many to be the most difficult tournament on the Junior World Cup circuit. James also had excellent national results and great results at other world cups besides.
But it all came down to Junior Olympics with James and three other fencers in close contention. A high finish for James would help seal the deal, but higher finishes by the other fencers could put James out of contention. On and on he fenced, advancing round after round. James had to keep his mind very focused on the task at hand in order not to succumb to the nervousness.
In the end, James earned the bronze medal, a finish high enough to secure his place on the US team to Junior World Championships. So, it's off to Sicily, Italy, for James and me. The Junior World Championships are fenced in April, so watch for results from one of our own!
October 19 , 2005:
Back from the 2005 World Championships in Leipzig, Germany, and getting ready for the ballet!
It's been an eventful while since I last made an entry. Of course the competitive season has begun and team practices are in full swing, but I just came back from a very exciting time at the World Championships where I was commentating for live internet webcasts of the big tournament.
Of course the event was a who's-who of fencing, and I had the opportunity to spend some quality time with champions old and new. The webcasts are still available to watch at www.wcsn.com, and feature the semi-final and final bouts of each of the individual events as well as the gold medal bouts of each team event. The fencing was incredible. And, of course, the big news was the US Women's Sabre Team who took the gold medal!
DVDs of each of the events will be available at RIFAC very soon.
Another exciting project for me has been my involvement with the Festival Ballet's production of Romeo and Juliet. I've been providing fight instruction for the dancers and the choreography looks amazing. The ballet will run October 21, 22 and 23 at Veteran's Auditorium. Check it out! I'll be there on Sunday.
May 4, 2005:
RIFAC High School Seniors Ready for College.
RIFAC works hard every year to assist our student athletes as they apply to college. This year four RIFAC athletes will graduate from high school. We will miss them dearly, but look forward to watching their collegiate results and having them back at practice during school breaks. RIFAC is extremely proud of their hard work and achievements in both school and fencing.
See below who they are and where theyll be:
Kai Itameri-Kinter (North Attleboro, MA), Mens Foil, A05 Harvard
Caitlin Kozel (Jamestown, RI), Womens Epee, C05 Brandeis
Jess Davis-Heim (Barrington, RI), Womens Foil, B01 Brandeis
Jessie Newhall (Falmouth, MA), Womens Foil, B05 Brandeis
Good luck to all of you.
