“By learning fencing, a child learns self-discipline, respect for others, [patience,] independence and the importance of honesty and fair play. Such skills are transferable to any endeavor and help to create a well-rounded and active person.” – Fencing.net
We assume you brought your child here to learn these skills, and we are excited to exceed your expectations! In order to teach your child, however, we need some help from parents. Continue reading
January was a very busy month for competitive fencers and coaches at SCF. How busy? Our fencers competed at a tournament EVERY weekend in January! Here are the results from those tournaments.
New Year’s Open (Northwest Fencing Center)
Most people stay in bed and sleep in on New Year’s Day, but not our fencers (nor many others in the Northwest!). NWFC hosted their annual tournament to start the new year off with some shiny medals, one of which came home with Isabel Ford.
Junior Olympics – Divisional Qualifiers (Oregon Division)
Saturday, January 7th: Cole Mallette finished 3rd in Cadet (U17) Men’s Epee and 6th place in Junior (U20) Men’s Epee. These finishes qualified him to fence in both of these events at the Junior Olympics, to be held February 17-20th (President’s Day weekend) in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Logan Eno also competed in Cadet Men’s Epee, finishing in 7th place. Fencing in Junior Men’s Epee were David Keatley, who finished 7th, and Marshall Stymer, who finished 12th. These three did not make the cut, but do plan to try again in the spring to qualify to fence in the National Championship tournament in July.
Isabel Ford* auto-qualified for the Junior Olympics due to her high standing on the national points list. She did not attend the tournament on Saturday, but will be competing at the Junior Olympics in February.
North American Cup D (Oregon Convention Center)
The North American Cup (NAC) events are hosted in different cities throughout the country over the course of a year. Portland did such a great job last year that the USFA brought the event back again this year. Many of our fencers volunteered to help out, and four Salem fencers were able to compete. The event lasted January 13th-16th; events are listed below in the order they happened.
See full & official results on USFA website
Youth Progressive #4 (Northwest Fencing Center)
Clare Burnett, Logan Eno, Ethan Harnisch and Alan Schwabauer competed in a Youth Progressive fencing tournament at Northwest Fencing Center in Beaverton on Saturday, January 21st. Burnett, Harnisch & Schwabauer all competed in Y12 epee, with Eno joining them in the Y14 epee event. Burnett & Schwabauer tied for 3rd, and Harnisch came in 5th in Y12.
Eno had his best finish ever, tying for 3rd in the y14 event, out of 12 fencers. He did this by finishing his pools 3-2 then going into direct eliminations and first beating Timmy Frank (the first place Y12 epeeist), 15-8. He then went on to beat Bend fencer, Kellian Moore 15-9 in the second round before succumbing to defeat in the semi-finals against second place finisher Zach Marquis from Vancouver, 15-9.
Battle in Seattle (Rain City Fencing Center)
The Battle in Seattle was a big event for SCF. We had five fencers represent our club in seven different events! Cole came home with the biggest smile after earning a B rating for this year. He had previously been an E, so this was a huge step up. His was also the largest event, with 64 competitors at all rating levels, coming from as far away as Virginia, Illinois, Hawaii, Canada, and Alaska.
*Isabel Ford is a member of SCF, but officially represents Northwest Fencing Center (NWFC) in competition. We happily share her results and congratulate her achievements, but can’t claim them in our medal counts.
A long time ago, swords were very expensive and difficult to make. Knights used to name their swords, and pass them down to their sons as cherished objects and essential weapons. Over the course of many generations, these swords would come to be given personalities as the stories about their adventures grew.
Even though these days practically anyone can log on to the internet and buy the sword (foil, epee, or sabre) of their choice, your weapon is one of the most personal pieces of equipment you will own. If you are lucky to have more than one, you may develop a favorite. You might even feel that your sword is an equal partner in your fencing adventures, and give it a measure of credit for your successes!
The truth is, a sword is only as good as the person who wields it. But it is hard to deny the power of a well fitting sword. So in this post, I’ll focus on foils and all the parts that go into having a foil that is well suited to your fencing style and body type.
Blade
The easiest part of picking the right blade is finding the right size. Foils come in sizes 0-5, with zero the smallest, and 5 the longest. Adults generally use size 5 blades, and smaller fencers use shorter blades. The length also affects the weight, which makes it easier for younger fencers to have better point control when they have the right size blade. As they grow, they’ll want to get a longer blade so that they aren’t at a disadvantage fencing against people with full length blades. Generally when they hit middle school they are ready for a full length blade.
The next thing to look for is stiffness. A new fencer should have a softer blade, because generally they don’t yet know their own strength and may hit harder than they intend to. Cheap blades are generally more flexible and “whippy,” but they also tend to bend in strange directions that are hard to fix. Buy a blade that is in the mid-range of prices. We like StM blades, but Triplette has some good ones (though they are a bit stiffer), and having a France Lames is a real treat.
Grip
There are three main types of grips: French, Italian, and Orthopedic. French grips are what we start most of our fencers with, since they fit a wide variety of hand sizes and promote good hand positioning. With a french grip, you can make very small, precise movements. We recommend these grips for beginners.
Italian grips have quillions, or curved pieces which extend from the cross pieces down to the guard. It is held similarly to a french grip, with the index finger and thumb lightly pinching the grip, and with the crossbar gently resting on the base-knuckle of the index finger and the middle phalanx of the ring finger. Unlike any other kind of grip, the pommel is strapped to the wrist with an Italian grip, giving extra power to actions against the blade and circle parries. (If you have an Italian foil, you will want a wrist strap to go with it. You can use lots of things for this – from dog collars to watch bands – or you can get one that is made for that purpose. One supplier we’ve heard great things about is Twin Arms Fencing.)
Orthopedic grips go by many names. These may be called by their brand name (Visconti or Zikovic, for example), or pistol grips, Belgian grips, or Russian grips. Each refers to a slightly different style, but what makes an Orthopedic grip is the way it is formed to the contours of the hand. It is the most recently invented type of grip, and is favored by fencers who want a stronger grip on their weapon. It is also helpful for fencers who have a missing finger or loss of hand control due to arthritis.
Make sure to fit the grip correctly. With Italian and French grips, one size fits all. Orthopedic grips come in different sizes, and can be uncomfortable, hard to hold, or even illegal in competition if they don’t fit correctly. If you have to buy one online, see if you can find someone who will lend you theirs so you can test it first. You can also attend a large tournament where there are vendors and they will have a variety of sizes to try.
One quick warning about switching from a French or Italian grip to an Orthopedic grip – there’s no going back, at least not for that foil. Orthopedic grips require you to cut the tang (threaded part) of your blade too short to use with a French or Italian grip. You can always cut it shorter, but you can’t glue it back on! Make sure you’re ready to buy a new blade if you find you don’t like the grip as well as you thought you would.
Balance
All of the parts of a foil should work together to create balance. Choosing parts that counterbalance other items – such as a correctly weighted pommel – will create a well balanced foil, making the tip seem to move effortlessly. To see where your balance point is (tip heavy or pommel heavy), rest the blade on two fingers in front of the guard. Adjust your fingers along the blade until the foil is balanced. If your fingers are close to the guard it is pommel heavy; if they are down the blade, it is tip heavy.
You will figure out as you try different foils which way you like the balance to go. Watch yourself in line drill – does your point drift up to the ceiling when you aren’t paying attention, or does it drift toward the floor? There’s no substitute for good form, but there’s also no harm in having a foil that counterbalances your bad habits.
Fun Stuff
Foils are like your whites – not a whole lot you can do to customize them. However, like wearing fun colored socks, there are a few things you can mix up for a one-of-a-kind foil. Thumbpads, martingales, and tip tape can be made in fun color combinations so that you know which foil is yours.
Some people like to cut down their guard into shapes other than the typical round ones you see. Make sure before you do this that it is legal in competition. If it is not, sometimes you can use this for practice, and have a separate foil for competition. Just ask an instructor before you cut something you can’t glue back together!
“Antique” Foils
If you go on eBay or other well known websites, you can probably find a used or “antique” fencing foil. Perhaps a family member or a friend has an old one they want to give you. Many of these are fine to use, as grips, pommels, and guards don’t go bad. But be careful with the blade. You may find it will break soon after you get it. This is normal for used blades, especially old ones, but still disappointing. Be prepared to buy a new blade.
The good news is that all foils can be taken apart and put back together again. So if one part breaks, you can still use all the other parts. This also means that you can adjust your foil as you grow or as your style or technique changes, trying new grips, guards, blades, and the like.
I love my foil because it fits me just perfectly, and together we’ve created many memories and taught many students. So tell me, why do you love your foil?
As a nonprofit organization, SCF is overseen by our board of directors, which meets regularly throughout the year to provide positive direction to the organization. For over a year, we have been exploring ways to enrich and strengthen our board. The decision was made to bring new members on to the board and to allow some long-time members to leave so they could pursue other activities.
Under the oversight of this board of directors, SCF has grown from a small all-volunteer fencing club of about 30 fencers to a mid-sized club with paid staff and more than 150 fencers. We have one of the only dedicated fencing facilities in the state that is outside of Portland, and the first wheelchair fencing program in the Pacific Northwest. We wish to recognize the following board members who have just ended their service:
Alex Kohan—Alex was a founding member of SCF. He has served on the board for more than five years—originally as a representative of our youth. He fenced in many local tournaments, as well as for the first four years of the Salem High School Fencing League. He is now in his junior year at Willamette University and his shifted his focus to long-distance cycling, recently completing the Ring of Fire 24-hour time trial and the famous Paris-Brest-Paris 1200 km cycling event.
Isabel Ford—Isabel has been fencing at SCF since she was 12. She has served on the board for two years as a representative for our youth. She was our first nationally competitive fencer (as well as international) and has been on the podium numerous times. She is now in her final year of high school, working not only on her studies but also on preparing for an NCAA fencing career.
Kathryn Naugle Wilk—Kathryn has been fencing for about four years now. She has served on the board for three years. Kathryn enjoys competing in Veteran (over-40) epee and foil events on both the local and (occasionally) the national level. She works for the state and has recently been given significant additional responsibilities at work.
We welcome the service of five new board members. While new to the board, these folks are already deeply committed to the salle in many ways. Please welcome:
Gabrielle Brewer-Wallin—Gabrielle has been involved with SCF since her daughter Emma started fencing with us four years ago. Her background is in teaching literature and theatre, with a particular emphasis on directing. She has seen first-hand how SCF changes lives and helps people to become the best they can be—both on and off the fencing strip—and wishes to help SCF to continue to be able to perform this service to our community for years to come.
Andy Eno—Andy brings expertise in grant management, administration, personnel, and training from his years of work with various state and federal transportation agencies. His children Logan and Megan have both been fencing since the beginning of 2009. Andy is particularly interested in the sportsmanship aspect of competition, the friendships that develop in the salle, and opportunities for inter-generational fencing.
Lisa Harnisch—Lisa is a strong supporter of youth activities in our community, from her work with the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation (a partner organization for us) to her support of SCF. Her son Ethan has been fencing for about two years now, and she and her family traveled to USFA Summer Nationals this year to support him. She works for the state as a human resources manager. Lisa is interested in outreach to youth who aren’t SCF members (e.g. our Middle School Fencing League), as well as including youth in positions of responsibility (e.g. officiating, serving as teaching assistants, etc.).
Christine Mallette—Christine is a biologist for the State of Oregon. In addition to a strong background in the life sciences, Christine brings skills in grant writing and budgeting. She is an accomplished public speaker and enjoys mentoring youth. Her son Cole has been fencing at SCF for almost four years, and she and her family accompanied him to USFA Nationals this past summer. She is excited to help SCF find ways to improve the safety of our facility and the surrounding area.
Jeanine Renne—Jeanine is a renaissance woman with wide range of interests and talents, including helping to start KMUZ (Salem’s first community radio station). She is a legal consultant, writer, potter, computer programmer, grant writer, and owner of an independent record label, with degrees in chemistry, psychology, and medicine. She is especially interested in helping SCF improve its facilities and expand its scholarship offerings. Jeanine’s son Emmett Williamson has been active at SCF for about three years now, and younger son Owen began fencing one year ago.
Our remaining board of directors will provide consistency as we move through this time of transition. They consist of our corporate officers:
Michael Heggen—In addition to serving as board president, Mike is also our head instructor and the founder of the organization. He brings a wide-ranging background to the board, including professional experience in the nonprofit, construction, computer, religious, graphic arts, and medical sectors, as well as avocational experience with horses, cycling, and juggling. His focus is on helping people to be the best they can be—especially adolescents.
McKenzie Upkes—McKenzie brings her background in accounting to our board, putting in several hours a week at SCF to keep our finances in good order. Her experience as a high school volleyball coach (and a collegiate player) is also a valuable asset to the board and the staff of SCF.
Kimberly Heggen—Kim puts in many “unofficial” hours of board service serving as a sounding board for Mike, her husband. She has a long-standing interest in youth development, and is a pediatrician in practice here in Salem. In addition to keeping accurate records of the board’s activities, Kim also serves SCF as our medical advisor.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about our board of directors. If you are interested in board service in the future, please talk to any of the current board members. We are happy to get you involved!
Greetings from the Biggest Little City in the World – Reno, Nevada! This was the home of US Fencing’s 2011 Summer National Championships and the destination for thirteen SCF fencers, two coaches, eighteen family members, and one proud Executive Director – not to mention thousands of other fencers, coaches, and spectators from around the country and abroad.
Ethan in his Y12 men's epee pool
The first day of competition (July 1st) saw Jared Beilby and Megan Eno competing in U19 Men’s Epee and Y12 Women’s Epee, respectively. Jared finished #88 out of 234 competitors, meeting up with several Oregonian fencers in DEs. Megan finished #40 out of 44 but learned a lot of great lessons, which she put into practice later in the week.
Emma Brewer-Wallin kicked off Saturday morning (July 2nd) with Y14 Women’s Epee. She finished her pool 3-3 and won her first DE bout, but was out in the second round, finishing #55. Cole Mallette joined us in the afternoon for U16 Men’s Epee, finishing his pool 1-5 and just missing the cut for DEs, finishing #165. Former SCF fencer Adam Frank was also in this event, and he had a spectacular day, making it all the way to the final 8 and taking 7th place.
SCF fencers took advantage of a slew of late check-in times to sleep late on Sunday morning (July 3rd). After a breakfast of smoothies, the gang went back to the venue to watch Emma in U19 Women’s Foil, while Logan Eno and Ethan Harnisch fenced in Y12 Men’s Epee. Emma finished her pool 1-5, just missing the cut. The boys fenced hard in their pools, but were both out in the first round of DEs. Next stop – dinner celebration! We were lucky to find a restaurant that would serve a group of 16 even though it was 8 pm. Thanks, Miguel’s!
SCF fencers, parents, and coaches celebrating the 4th of July
Independence Day was celebrated in Reno with two events, Y14 Men’s Epee and U16 Women’s Foil. Cole worked hard in his pool (which had an astonishingly high number of left-handed fencers – 5!), going 3-3 and moving him in to the DEs. After getting a bye in the first round, he lost his DE and was done for the day, placing 91st. Emma went 1-5 in her pool, again just missing the cut to DE’s and finishing 110th. However, this early finish enabled her to volunteer to run a camera at the Pan American Zonal Championships and watch some of the best fencers in North and South America. In the evening, the group celebrated the 4th with a yummy BBQ cookout with hot dogs, homemade potato salad, and pie.
Isabel and Megan with their third place medals
On Tuesday, July 5th, Megan Eno, the only Oregonian in the Y10 Women’s Epee event, took third place overall and came home with a shiny bronze medal. Isabel Ford, who is no stranger to the awards podium was simultaneously working toward her own bronze medal in U19 Women’s Epee. This is the first time that SCF has had two medalists in the same day at a national tournament, and we couldn’t be prouder of both of these young women! We are also proud of Ethan Harnisch and Alan Schwabauer, who competed in Y10 Men’s Epee, taking 37th and 31st, respectively. They both worked hard and learned some great lessons in their pools.
Jared was our only fencer on Wednesday (July 6th), fencing in Division 1A Men’s Epee. He went 2-4 in pools, but lost his DE bout 10-15, finishing in 83rd place out of 111.
The SCF gang celebrates another win!
Thursday (July 7th) was a very busy day! Jared fenced in Division 2 Men’s Epee in the morning, Isabel and Cristina both fenced Division 1A Women’s Epee in the afternoon, and Kathryn Naugle had her first event, which was Vet-50 Women’s Foil. Jared went 4-2 in his pool and finished 11th out of 111. Cristina was 1-5 in her Div 1-A epee pool, and Isabel was 6-0 going into DEs. Cristina ended up 81st which meant she missed the cut to DEs. Kathryn went 1-5 in her pool and just made the cut with a #22 seed, but she was eliminated in the round of 32, ending up 22nd of 28. Isabel won her first three DE bouts, but finally lost in the round of 8 to Dunlap-Smith, taking 5th place and receiving another medal.
The veteran fencers stole the spotlight on Friday (July 8th), with a team of veteran men from Oregon fencing Epee (Jerry Walton and Ron West), Cristina fencing Division 2 Women’s Epee, and Jerry fencing Vet-50 Men’s Sabre. The epee team was out in the first round against the 11th seed, finishing last place (22nd). Cristina won her first DE in Div 2 epee, 15-8, but lost in the 64, 7-15 and ending up 49th of 114. Jerry barely missed the cut in Vet 50 saber, winning 1 pool bout and finishing 32nd of 38.
Cristina Ford accepts her medal for Div. 3 Women's Epee
Cristina had a big win on Saturday (July 9th) in Division 3 Women’s Epee, where she went 3-3 in pools and worked her way up through DEs to finish 8th, earning herself a medal and a D11 rating, as well as having the distinction of being the only Veteran on the podium and a personal best finish. In the same event, Kathryn finished 90th out of 96. Jerry was also fencing in Division 3 Men’s Sabre and he finished 114th. A composite team of Oregonians, including Nanci and Kathryn competed in Veteran women’s team épée, finishing 12th.
Cristina and Isabel in the "win zone"
The final day (July 10th) was filled with Veteran Epee. Ron competed in Veteran-40 men’s épée, and finished 36th of 41. Kathryn took 18th in Veteran-50 women’s épée (in a field of 34), which was a personal best for her. Cristina and coach Nanci also competed in Veteran-40 women’s épée championship (a field of 31), finishing 9th and 28th, respectively. Cristina was undefeated in her pool – another personal best.
All in all, it was a great experience, and we are already looking forward to next year! Thank you to everyone back at home for all your good wishes throughout the event (we had the most EVER page views and “likes” on our Facebook page) and your support and understanding during the times we were short staffed or closed. We hope to see YOU on the podium next year!
Guests try out various casino games
Salem Classical Fencing’s 3rd annual Casino Night fundraiser, held on May 14th at Eola Hills Wine Cellars in Rickreall was deemed a success, after guests and sponsors donated over $2,200 to support our fencers. Guests commented on how much fun they had playing casino games and watching the fencing demos, and even the volunteers were buzzing with plans for next year.
The lively atmosphere at the craps table
VIP guests arrived early for a private wine tasting hosted by the knowledgeable staff at Eola Hills. After sipping some tasty vintages, they were the first into the casino, where they headed for one of the many blackjack tables. Some also checked out the Texas Hold ‘em, roulette, or the large craps table in the middle of the casino floor. Friendly dealers explained the rules of the games and kept everyone laughing and having a good time. Instead of “real” money, guests used funny money (called “Nadis” in honor of the great fencer Aldo Nadi, after whom the event is also named) to place their bets and win chips for raffle prizes.
Megan and Kelly dueling during their "prize fight" bout
After several fencing demonstrations in foil and sabre, our wheelchair fencers took the stage to show what they’ve learned over the past few months. At 9:00 they relinquished the stage for the prize fight exposition bout, where SCF favorite Megan Eno vied for both touches and bets with “celebrity” fencer Kelly Williams Brown of the Statesman Journal. Together they raised $424, which will go into the Competitive fund, and will help pay for SCF fencers to travel to national competitions. It was a fun way for guests to support our fencers.
"Ghost" fencers in the Semi-Finals
Earlier in the day, nine fencers from around the Northwest and Canada competed in a tournament for prizes. The top four advanced to the final rounds, which were fought on a shiny copper grounded strip at Eola Hills in front of all the guests. Adam Frank, Ian Ferguson, Isabel Ford, and Jared Beilby fenced for medals and $400 in prizes while also entertaining the guests. After two semi-final bouts and a bronze medal bout, Jared and Isabel fenced for the gold medal. Jared won, but both were awarded $200 airline gift certificates, which will help them achieve their competitive goals by getting them to national-level tournaments in the coming months.
Baklava in the auction
While watching the gold medal bout, guests munched on scrumptious desserts that they had won at the dessert auction. Cakes, cookies, brownies, pies, and even baklava were on hand to satisfy sweet-seeking tongues. The auction alone brought in $452, which will be used to keep our equipment in good repair so that our fencers can stay safe. After medals and prizes were awarded to fencers, guests eagerly awaited hearing their name called by head instructor Michael Heggen, who was handing out fun prizes to raffle winners. Everyone walked out with a smile on their face, happy to have had so much fun supporting a good cause. We hope to see you back next year!
We would like to thank the friendly staff at Eola Hills, as well as all our enthusiastic volunteers, without whom the event could not have happened. In no particular order, we are grateful for the support of Suzzane, Brett, Laurice, Michael, Beth, Ron, David, Tommy, Chuck, Mathew, Jeanine, Martha, Gabriel, Jeni, Andrew, Carlos, McKenzie, Nancy, Susan, Katie, Kaely, Mary, Danielle, Nanci, Sierra, Cristina, Jerry, Kelly, Logan, Megan, Zack, Sam, and Cameron. Thank you!
Well fencers, it’s that time of year again… HOT!
During hot weather, the salle will be open and we will hold classes as normal. We don’t have air conditioning, but we do have an evaporative cooler. The swamp cooler is generally able to keep the temperature in the salle in the low 80s, which is warm, but bearable. The salle temperature drops even more beginning around 7 p.m. as we pick up an evening breeze most days, and, conveniently, that’s a great time to come in and spar!
Due to the many heavy layers that we wear while fencing, fencers can be especially prone to heat illness. Please help yourself avoid heat illness at the salle by observing the following precautions:
1. Eat a little bit of food 30-60 minutes before coming in to the salle—preferably NOT something high in fat. This will help your body absorb water more readily and help maintain a proper balance of electrolytes. Also take a good drink of water to “pre-hydrate”.
2. Drink water when you feel like it, but do not force yourself to drink. If you will be fencing steadily for more than an hour or so during hot weather, drink Gatorade, Powerade, or a similar sports drink instead of water (especially if you were unable to eat any food before coming to the salle). You will need both the calories and the electrolytes, so the stuff will generally taste really good to you even if you normally don’t like sports drinks. (Sports drinks are not necessary for shorter sessions.) Feel free to stow your water bottle or sports drinks in the salle refrigerator.
3. Monitor your heat level—especially if you have had problems with heat illness in the past. If you feel too warm (or otherwise feel dizzy, lightheaded, or unwell), stop fencing, open up your jacket, and get over by the swamp cooler until you are more comfortable. If you cannot get cooled off within a few minutes, remove your fencing jacket, chestplate, and UAP, stay by the cooler, and call it a day fencing-wise.
4. Full fencing gear is still required when sparring or bouting, and this includes long socks. However, when warming up—whether on your own or in class—or participating in exercises that do not involve blade contact, take your fencing jacket off to stay cool.
If you don’t feel well, let a staff member know immediately. All staff and most teaching assistants are trained in first aid and can help you. We take heat illness seriously, and so should you!
Historically, women fencers have chosen whether or not to wear breast protection based on personal comfort. However, research has changed the way we think about breast protection.
Breast cups
Trauma to breast tissue during fencing can sometimes cause something called fatty tissue necrosis. In some circumstances, a hit to the breast may go beyond a bruise. This condition can be painful and potentially disfiguring, sometimes requiring surgical removal of the necrotic tissue. Not all hits will cause this necrosis, of course, and some women may be more susceptible than others. (For additional information, please see Peter Harmer’s article in the Fall 2004 issue of American Fencing magazine, a copy of which is in the salle.)
Chest protector
Fortunately, this condition is easily preventable with breast protection. So, all female fencers (regardless of age) at SCF are required to wear breast protection while fencing or while taking lessons or classes (except if there is no chance they will be hit, such as during the first few lessons or classes). This protection shall consist of either rigid cups (metal or plastic) or a chest plate. Pre-pubescent girls are not exempted from this requirement, as there is some evidence that repeated breast trauma in pre-pubescent girls may also result in abnormal breast development after the onset of puberty.
Male Chest Protector
All female and unisex fencing jackets have pockets for cups. However, most women find that plastic chest plates do a better job. We have several chest plates in the women’s locker room, as well as cups to fit into jacket pockets, which are available on a first-come, first-served basis during classes and open fencing (introductory foil students have first priority, though). When using a chest plate, keep in mind that solid ones tend to trap heat next to the chest, so be aware of overheating. Women with small breasts and pre-pubescent girls may also prefer to use men’s chest plates, which are flat and provide additional protection down to the base of the rib cage.
For best fit and comfort, we encourage you to purchase your own protection. Chest plates and cups are available from most fencing vendors, and we have limited sizes for purchase in the salle. Most vendors use standard bra sizing to determine fit, but your best bet is to try on the ones we have first and use the most comfortable size.
Re-printed with minor edits from the December 2004 edition of the La Belle, the fencing newsletter published by SCF. Photos are from the Triplette, Absolute Fencing Gear, and Leon Paul websites, respectively. SCF does not endorse or recommend a specific supplier.
NAC from above (photo by Jill Summers)
Portland, Oregon was the host city for the sixth and final North American Cup tournament of the season, held April 15-18 at the Oregon Convention Center. This NAC had a plethora of youth events, Division 1 National Championships, and the Wheelchair Fencing National Championships. Salem Classical Fencing jumped at the opportunity to represent our club in this tournament, sending up not only fencers and coaches, but several volunteers as well.
On Friday, Megan Eno competed in Y10 girls’ epee. This was her first national-level tournament, and she competed against 19 other girls her age and younger. All her training paid off when she came in 8th, winning not only a medal, but also the #11 spot on the Y10 national points list! Megan is our second nationally ranked fencer, and we are very proud of her hard work.
Metta Beshay and Logan Eno represented SCF on Saturday in the Y12 boys’ epee event. Logan had a very tough pool against experienced fencers, going 0-6, despite almost beating Tristan Virtue (Canada). Unfortunately, Logan was unable to get past the first direct elimination (DE) round and finished 66th. Metta went 1-5 in the pool round, beating D. Zacharakis (Texas). He got a bye in the first round of DEs, which put him up against 9th seed Luke Sirand. Metta lost, earning a 56th place finish.
Isabel Ford (left) fencing in Division 1 women's epee (photo by Marie Ford)
On Sunday morning, Isabel Ford competed in the Division 1 women’s epee national championship, going up against other A- and B-rated competitors from across the nation, a number of whom she had met at other competitions. After a tough round of pools in which she had several very close bouts, she did not make the cut to DEs and finished 45th. “It was a good learning experience,” said coach Michael Heggen. “We have never competed at this level before. These opponents were fencing for a championship medal in an Olympic year. There were no weak fencers, and no easy bouts. We knew it was going to be tough, but this was even tougher than we expected.”
Alan about to start one of his pool bouts (photo by Cristina Ford)
In the afternoon, Alan Schwabauer and Ethan Harnisch both fenced very nicely in Y10 boys’ epee. Alan took 25th place, and Ethan tied for 20th place. This was their first national-level event. Both had competed previously at regional and local events.
The weekend ended with Logan Eno and Cole Mallette competing in Y14 men’s epee on Monday. Cole finished 88th and Logan finished 103rd. Megan Eno, first to arrive and last to leave, competed in her second event of the weekend, Y12 girls’ epee. She found herself competing against opponents six to eight inches taller than she, and with more competitions under their belts. She won one of her pool bouts, but ended up 30th in this event. “She learned so much. She just soaked it all up,” said Nanci Keatley, her coach.
SCF fencers, volunteers, and cheerleaders (photo by Mary Keatley)
SCF also sent several volunteers to the event to help out at registration, the welcome desk, the wheelchair event, and as runners. Mary Keatley was a special favorite of the bout committee, and Chris West put in many hours with the wheelchair fencers on Saturday. Michael Heggen volunteered as a referee on Friday and Saturday for some of the youth epee events (his first time refereeing at a national event). Jill Summers, Nanci Keatley, Ron West all pitched in over the course of the weekend, too.
SCF's wheelchair fencing frame gets its debut on the national stage (photo by Jill Summers)
SCF’s wheelchair frame also made an appearance, introduced by Oregon Division representative Cathy Zagunis at a media event on Sunday morning. During the presentation, Olympic gold medalist Mariel Zagunis fenced against wheelchair national champion Ryan Estep in foil and saber. Ryan won both of the first bouts in each weapon, but Mariel learned quickly and won the second bouts. The event raised public awareness about wheelchair fencing, and also raised money to support the USA Paralympic fencing team at the London Olympics in 2012.
The tournament was great preparation for everyone as they look toward Summer Nationals in Reno, Nevada this July when we will have even more fencers representing SCF.
At SCF we’ve always been focused on our community of fencers, welcoming in new folks to our Intro programs, and finding common ground in the space between our foils. But until recently, the salle was not a welcoming place for people who use wheelchairs. These folks were welcomed in spirit, but there was no way for them to get in the doors. Our mission statement starts out, “SCF works to bridge barriers in our community…” We meant this figuratively, but for that to be realized, we had to mean it literally as well. Now, with the help of volunteers and a grant from Performance Health Technology of Salem to build a ramp and a new doorway, we can welcome ALL aspiring fencers.
When I first started as the executive director, Mike introduced the idea of wheelchair fencing as one of the many projects we could pursue. Like many of you, I hadn’t been aware until then that people who use wheelchairs could also fence. I asked the same questions I’ve been hearing lately: “How do they move?” “Is that a real sport?” “Are there different rules?” The more I looked into the possibility, the more exciting it seemed. Unfortunately, there were a lot of barriers – literal and figurative – and the program had to wait.
Several things coalesced to make the program a priority and finally, a reality. The Wheelchair National Championships is coming to Portland in April, and we had hoped to field a fencer or two. This probably won’t be a reality (the deadline date is March 14th), but at the very least we can bring volunteers and supporters who are familiar with wheelchair fencing. Additionally, our other programs are not only stable, but growing, so I can focus my efforts on this new program. Finally, the grants from the Reeve Foundation and phtech gave us the financial foothold to purchase equipment and pursue a builder for our frame, and Mike Pintler from Chemeketa Community College offered his support as a builder and designer.
All of this will be in vain, however, if it isn’t supported by our fencers. So far I’ve been overwhelmed by the positive support. Here are some things you can do to keep that positive energy going and to make these new folks feel welcome. Some of the pointers are specific to our program, but most are useful to know when interacting with people with disabilities anywhere you go.
Barriers
SCF is doing all we can to bring down physical barriers in and around our building to make access easier. However, it doesn’t mean much if our fencers put up their own barriers. The first step to getting in the building is having access to parking. Please do not park in the “no parking” zone, as this blocks access from the accessible spot out front to the ramp. Even if you are “only staying a few minutes,” the person who needs access doesn’t know that, and can get discouraged if they are stuck in their car, waiting for you to move. Also consider parking farther away from the building so that the closer spots that are not marked “accessible” can also be used. Our landlords only designate two accessible spots, but that doesn’t mean you can’t help us unofficially reserve the other spots for our fencers in wheelchairs.
Once inside the building, you can help us maintain barrier-free paths. This means keeping your gear out of the walkways and off the floors in the dressing rooms. Unlike traditional fencers, seated fencers need to use the fencing frame to fence safely. Please do not block the frame. Offer to set up the frame (if you know how) for fencers, and treat it with respect. It is heavy, but the moving parts are surprisingly fragile, so please be careful with it. The same goes for the wheelchairs that we have available for able-bodied fencers’ use. The wheelchairs are tools, not toys, so please treat them with respect.
Person-First language
When you are referring to a person who has a disability, use “Person first language.” This means that you emphasize the person over the disability. Instead of saying “paraplegic,” you can say, “person with paraplegia.”
Words to use or avoid
Language can be a powerful way to make someone feel either welcome or excluded. Here are some “words with dignity” you can use to make our athletes with disabilities feel welcome.
USE: Person with a disability
DON’T USE: Cripple, Invalid, Handicapped
USE: Person who has [condition]
DON’T USE: Victim of [condition], Afflicted with
USE: Non-disabled or Able-bodied
DON’T USE: Normal, Regular (Referring to non – disabled persons as “normal” insinuates that people with disabilities are abnormal.)
Other terms which should be avoided because they have negative connotations include: Abnormal, Disfigured, Palsied, Spastic, Burden, Incapacitated, Pathetic, Stricken with, Imbecile, Physically challenged, Suffer, Deformed, Maimed, Pitiful, Tragedy, Differently able, Moron, Retarded
Common courtesies when speaking to an individual with a disability
(Adapted from “Understanding Athlete Classifications and Disabilities-Media Guidelines, Sydney Paralympic Organizing Committee, Feb. 2000, as referenced in the Blaze Sport Guide)
Additional print resources
In doing research for this program, I came across several books that helped me understand what it means to have a disability and the history of the disability rights movement. Below are some of the titles that I recommend and a short review. Even if you don’t expect to get very involved in the program, I still recommend checking one of these out (all are available from the Salem Public Library).
If you have any questions about this program or wheelchair fencing, please ask. We are happy to answer your questions!
Salem Fencers Compete in Junior National Championships
Over Presidents Day weekend, while most teenagers were enjoying an extra day off from school, 16-year-old Isabel Ford and 15-year-old Emma Brewer-Wallin of Salem were in Dallas, Texas for the 40th annual Junior Olympic fencing national championships. In addition to being the national championships for U17 and U20 fencing, this was the last chance for Cadet fencers to earn points in the fight for the privilege of representing the U.S. in the Cadet (U17) World Fencing Championships this year.
Emma Brewer-Wallin competes in a women's foil bout
Brewer-Wallin competed in three events: Cadet women’s epee (in which she took 112th of 160), Cadet women’s foil (in which she took 130th of 162), and Junior women’s foil (in which she took 114th of 145). “I had hoped to do better in epee,” said Brewer-Wallin, “but I did better than last year, so that’s good. I’m pretty happy with how I fenced in Junior foil, too.”
“Emma fenced her best-ever foil pool at a national event in Junior,” said Michael Heggen, her coach. “I’m really pleased with how focused she was.” Brewer-Wallin fences for Salem Classical Fencing (founded in 2004), where she trains about 10-15 hours per week and is also training to be a fencing instructor. Brewer-Wallin has been fencing for almost three years, and competing nationally for one year. “Emma is extremely coachable,” says Heggen. “She has a highly analytical mind and is light on her feet. Fencing is the perfect sport for her.” Brewer-Wallin supplements her homeschooling (9th grade) with undergraduate classes at Willamette University.
Isabel Ford and her bronze medal
Isabel Ford also competed in two events this weekend and medaled in both, taking the bronze medal in Cadet women’s epee and the 6th place medal in Junior (U20) women’s epee. This was the fifth straight major tournament in which Ford earned one or more medals. The weekend capped a phenomenal season and marked the end of her career as a Cadet fencer as she ages out.
In Cadet women’s epee, Ford was the #1 seed after preliminary pool competition, going 6-0 and giving up only eight touches (5-2, 5-1, 5-0, 5-3, 5-2, 5-0). In the direct elimination round, she won five bouts before being eliminated (15-11, 15-6, 15-11, 15-9, 15-10, and 13-15). Ford was upset by Rachael Clark, 17, of Boston, MA. “I was seeing what I expected to see instead of what Rachael was really doing,” said Ford, “but I didn’t realize that until I watched the video the next day. Now I know better.”
In the Junior women’s epee event, Ford was seeded #8 after preliminary pool competition, going 6-0 (5-4, 5-3, 5-1, 5-3, 5-2, 5-1) and setting things straight by defeating Rachael Clark, 5-3. In direct elimination, Ford won four bouts before being eliminated (15-3, 15-1, 12-10, 15-12, and 8-15). She lost to Katharine Holmes, 18, of Washington, D.C. “Isabel has fenced Kat Holmes twice before, and both times she lost by one touch in overtime. Kat is really tough, but we hoped that it would be the other way around this time,” said Heggen. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they run into each other again in April at Div 1 nationals in Portland, so there is always next time.”
Isabel Ford (bottom row, third from left) on the medal stand, receiving her 6th place medal
The top three finishers on Cadet points qualified for the Cadet World Championships. Ford finished 319 points behind the #3 finisher, 16-year-old Audrey Abend of New York City. “Abend fenced the best day of her life at JOs,” said Heggen. “She won the gold medal in both the Cadet and Junior events, and there was just no way Isabel could catch up to her on points once that happened.”
“I didn’t make it to Worlds this year,” said Ford, “but I did my best this weekend. I’m pretty happy that I medaled in both events, and I am really looking forward to competing in the Division 1 national championships in Portland this April.” Division 1 competition is the highest level of competition in the U.S. The championships in Portland will include Olympic hopefuls, as the tournament is part of the qualifying path for the 2012 Games in London.
“Isabel fenced with great focus and determination this weekend, despite tremendous pressure. She gave it everything she had, and made her teammates very proud of her,” said Heggen.
Ford is the only Northwesterner to be nationally ranked in Cadet women’s epee this season. Only five Juniors in the Northwest (all from Oregon) are nationally ranked, with Ford (#13) second only to Isabella Barna, 18, of Bend (#7).
Ford’s results for the 2010-11 Cadet and Junior season:
Summer Nationals, Atlanta, GA, July 2010:
27th place, Cadet women’s epee
60th place, Junior women’s epee
bronze medal, Division 1-A Senior women’s epee
Isabel on the fencing strip at the Junior Olympics
North American Cup “B”, Milwaukee, WI, November 2010:
bronze medal, Cadet women’s epee
bronze medal, Junior women’s epee
North American Cup “C”, Dallas, TX, January 2011:
gold, Cadet women’s epee
23rd place, Junior women’s epee
13th place, Division 1 Senior women’s epee
Vigor Challenge European Cadet Circuit, Goteborg, Sweden, January 2011:
6th place, Cadet women’s epee
Junior Olympic National Championships, Dallas, TX, February 2011:
bronze medal, Cadet women’s epee
6th place, Junior women’s epee
End of season national standings:
Cadet women’s epee: 5th, 2806 points
Junior women’s epee: 13th, 1637 points
Ford fences for Salem Classical Fencing, where she trains 15-20 hours per week and cross-trains in cyclocross and track cycling. “Isabel’s strengths are a very powerful lunge and an uncanny sense of timing. Her movements and emotions on the fencing strip are very calm,” says Heggen. “Her style is very distinctive.” Ford has been fencing for four years, and competing nationally for two years. Like Brewer-Wallin, Ford supplements her homeschooling (11th grade) with undergraduate classes at Willamette University.
The SCF crew: Emma, Cristina, Mike, and Isabel in their snazzy SCF warmup jackets
Tax-deductible contributions to support Salem Classical Fencing’s high-performance athletes (including Brewer-Wallin and Ford) can be made by sending a check to Salem Classical Fencing, 354 Belmont Street NE, Salem OR 97301 or through their website at www.salemclassicalfencing.org. Please indicate that the donation is for the “high performance fund”. Contact executive director Jill Summers at 503-375-9209 to discuss corporate sponsorship.
