Seacoast Fencing Club hosted the Northeast Division two qualifying events for the USA Fencing National Championships on June 30 to July 9 in in Phoenix Arizona.  Three clubs, Seacoast Fencing with facilities in Rochester and Manchester NH, Portland Fencing Center in Maine, and Downeast School of Fencing in Verona Island, also in Maine, competed on Saturday, March 25, for the right to compete in the Y14 National Championships for fencers ages 11-14, and for the Division 2 and Division 3 National Championships, which are for fencers aged 13 through adult. These are separate events at the National Championships, but are combined for the qualifiers in most divisions.

Seacoast Fencing Club won six of the eight events, and Portland Fencing Center took the other two. Two  New Hampshire families did very well. The O’Brien’s oldest brother, Eoin won gold in Div 2/3 men’s epee, while. His sister, Eilish took home the bronze medal in Div 2/3 women’s foil.  The Sfintescu family also won two medals, with the older brother winning gold in the Y14 men’s foil, and his younger sister earning the bronze in the Y14 women’s foil. 

Grace Murdoch Roy earned two medals, with gold in Div 2/3 women’s foil, and a bronze medal in the Div 2/3 women’s epee.  Jacob Chreky took first place in the Div 2/3 men’s foil gold medal bout with a 15-13 win over his teammate, Trevor Wohlers, who took second.  Tara Kurup earned a silver medal in Div 2/3 women’s epee. Daphne Stewart was first in the Y14 women’s epee, and her teammate, Martin Moskowitz was first in the Y14 men’s epee, and second in the Div 2/3 men’s epee.

The Seacoast Fencing Club, the last club still in operation in New Hampshire (Covid closed two clubs), continues to excel in the local tournaments, and will once again have the opportunity to test their skills at this year’s National Championships.