Seacoast Fencing Club members had an outstanding day at the “Pi Day” Five Weapon E meet we hosted this Saturday at our Rochester NH facility.  The meet drew 70 fencers from Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire.  Seacoast fencers won three of the five events, with Connor McLaughlin going undefeated in the mixed Foil, and taking the gold medal.   Samantha Wood earned the bronze medal, losing to her teammate Connor in the semifinals.  Samantha then matched Connor by also going undefeated women’s foil, and getting her own gold medal.  Peter Bixby won the mixed epee, with fellow Seacoast fencer Brian Austin finishing third.  Scott Colati spent the morning directing the mixed foil, and then entered the mixed saber, where he took the silver medal.

Connor McLaughlin earned his D 2015 rating in foil, and Peter Bixby earned his D 2015 rating in Epee (the only two D ratings given out).  Brian Austin received his E 2015 in Epee, and  Samantha Wood earned her E 2015 in foil twice, with her bronze medal in the mixed and her gold in women’s!

So congratulations to all our fencers, and many thanks to the officials who made this event possible:  Ida Choy, Scott Colati, Justin Meyers, Cam Borgal, Azaline Dunlap-Smith, Josh Berk, Barry Litt, and Jess Wood for managing the meet.

After the first month of competitions, Seacoast Fencers have been doing very well in area events. The first tournament of the season was in Concord, where Sam Wood was second in the Women’s Foil E. The New Hampshire Open, held in Rochester on September 20, where Charles Stine took first in Mixed Epee, and was second in Mixed Foil. Gerry Duffy and Scott Colati tied for third in Mixed Epee. The following weekend, at the Fall Foliage in Vermont, Charles Stine won the Mixed Foil.

The D meet on October 4 in Rochester had our best results so far, with Seacoast fencers earning five medals: Sam Wood won the Women’s Foil D, and Scott Colati took gold as well, winning the Mixed Epee D. And he was third in the Mixed Saber D. Ida Choy was third in the Mixed Epee D, and in the Women’s Foil D as well.

Congratulations to all our fencers, and good luck in the upcoming tournaments!

Seacoast Fencers,

I hope everyone had a great summer. But now it is time to have a great season! Remember, you must be a current member of the USFA– last year’s membership will have expired, unless you joined after April 1, 2014 or have a multi year membership. I strongly recommend a competitive membership, so you can enter tournaments. The link to join the USFA is:

https://www.railstation.org/usfencing/MembershipRegistration.aspx

We start the 2014-2015 season at Seacoast on Sunday September 7 in Rochester for Juniors and Adults only (and beginning and intermediate classes). Children and Youth programs start Tuesday, September 9. We will have a meeting for parents on that Tuesday at 7:00 pm, to collect checks, explain how the program runs, what is expected from both you and your child, and the upcoming tournaments appropriate for your child. We will have a team meeting on Thursday, September 11 at 7:30 pm for Youth, Junior, and Adult fencers.

Manchester starts on Monday, September 8 for all programs: Children, Youth, Junior, and Adult (and beginning and intermediate classes). We will have a meeting for parents on that Monday at 7:00 pm, to collect checks, explain how the program runs, what is expected from both you and your child, and the upcoming tournaments appropriate for your child. We will have a team meeting on Wednesday, September 10 at 7:30 pm for Youth, Junior, and Adult fencers.

See you in a couple weeks!

Chris Pullo

Head Coach

The prices for Fall term are below (three months: Sept thru Nov)

Children (ages 7 to 12) $245

Youth (ages 12-14) $260

Junior/Adult (14 -73) $275

Advanced Class $80 (Thursday in Rochester, Wednesday in Manchester: 7:45-8:15 pm)

The program days and times have not changed from last season and can be found under Hours and Directions.

For the second National tournament in a row, a Seacoast fencer had a terrific result.  Sucheta Tamragouri, a 17 year old senior at Bishop Guertin High School, who trains at our club in Manchester, took third place in the Division III Women’s Epee at the North American Cup tournament in Memphis, Tennessee  this weekend, and earned her C rating!    Sucheta won all six of her bouts in the first round, with no one scoring more than three touches against her, and was the #1 seed going into the direct elimination round.  She squeezed out a victory in her first D/E against the number 33 seed, winning 15-14.  Her next bout was against the #48 seed, which she won handily, 15-10.  She played a waiting game against the 8^th seed, and won 6-3, with time running out.  In the round of four, she lost to the eventual silver medalist, 8-15.  Congratulations, Sucheta! 

Sucheta trains at the Seacoast Fencing Club in Manchester, NH.  She has been fencing for six years, and competing on the national level since 2011. This is her first national medal, in her last season before heading off to college.  When asked for a comment after her stellar performance, Sucheta had this to say “I am extremely glad to be able to make my parents, family, and coach, Chris Pullo, proud – I owe all my success to them and their patience. I love the sport and hope to continue fencing for a very long time.”

Seacoast Fencers, It is the start of a new three month term at Seacoast (March, April, and May).  Please make checks payable to Seacoast Fencing Club.

The prices for Winter term are below: Children (ages 7 to 12)  $240 Youth      (ages 12-14)   $255 Junior/Adult   (14 -73)   $270

Advanced Class   $80  (Tues in Rochester, Wed in Manchester: 7:45-8:15 pm)

The Advanced Class is recommended for all youth, junior, and adult fencers who want to learn more defensive and offensive actions, directing, and meet preparation.  The class meets once a week for nine weeks, and starts right after youth training ends.  There are three sets of nine week classes, for a total of 27 classes.  It is the most economical way to learn higher level fencing.  If interested in taking the class, please sign up at the club (I need at least four students to offer the class).