State Champ!!

Noah competed at the Sunshine State Games--Florida State Fencing Championship--this past weekend. He had a spectacular showing that demonstrates how he has worked his way back from last year's injury and is ready for the future.

Saturday he saw competition in the Y14 Foil event. This event, open to fencers 14 and under, included six rated fencers, one A (the highest rating), 3 Bs, and 2 Es.  Noah is unrated. He enjoyed fencing the older crowd.

He had a thrilling encounter with a B-rated fencer during the pool bouts. Noah started the bout winning the first three touches. Exciting! His opponent evened the score, then Noah went up 4-3. One more touch and Noah would beat the older, B-rated fencer! His opponent tied it up. The next person to score a touch will win the bout. After some fierce fencing, Noah's opponent scored the winning touch. Noah was excited about almost winning that one. An excellent showing against a strong opponent.

He won three of his five pool bouts, losing only to the two B-rated fencers in his group. This earned him the 5th seed going into the next round (the single-elimination bracket) of the Y14 foil competition.

Noah won his first Direct Elimination round match 15-6 against the #12 seed. His second match was against the #4 seed, another B-rated fencer. Noah fought valiantly before succumbing to this guy. It was quite an accomplishment to score 10 touches on this fencer who eventually won the silver medal in this event. Noah placed fifth,  just out of the medals, right behind all of the A- and B-rated fencers.   Noah was very happy with his performance on this day.

Sunday, Noah competed in the Y12 Foil competition. This is his age group. Going into the pool round, he started with the number 2 seed behind an E-rated fencer.  It takes some excellent fencing to earn an E rating as a 12-year-old. This fencer is also nationally ranked. As a result of their #1 and #2 preliminary seeding, Noah and this fencer were placed in different pools.

Noah had great success in his pool bouts, winning them all and allowing only 3 touches against him in five bouts. As a result, Noah earned the #1 seed going into the single-elimination round of the Y12 foil event.

He received a bye in the first round. His second round match was against the #8 seed.  At the end of the first period, Noah was ahead 9-2.  He then scored six quick touches in the second period to win the match 15-2.

His semi-final bout was against the #5 seed. His opponent scored first, but Noah quickly retaliated with 8 unanswered touches.  He was up 12-4 at the break, and finished the match with three straight touches early in the second period.  Winning 15-4.

Noah's final match was against the #2 seed--the much larger, E-rated, nationally-ranked fencer. Just as the match got underway, Noah was issued a yellow card--in the noisy hall, Noah had thought an off-target touch had been scored so he turned his back on his opponent. When play resumed, the opponent scored the first touch on Noah. Noah tied it up.  1-1.  The larger fencer then scored the next two touches. 1-3. Noah scored again, then his opponent scored four touches in a row. Noah was down 2-7. After a few words of advice from his coach, Noah regrouped and came back. He scored. His opponent scored. Then Noah went on a tear and scored five consecutive touches, tying the score at 8-8. Wow!  What excitement. His opponent scored twice more bringing us to the break at 8-10 with Noah down by 2.

When the second period began, Noah fought hard and won the next four touches in a row. Ahead now, 12-10.  Still anyone's game.  His opponent scored. And scored again. Now 12-12. Noah bore down and was able to fight for three more consecutive touches to win the match and the gold medal!!!!  An amazing come-from-behind win!  Noah is the 2015 Florida State Champion in Y12 Foil.

He can't wait until competition resumes in the fall.

Competition Venue

The Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center boasts 2000 guest rooms and 470,000 square feet of meeting space.  It is the largest combined hotel and convention center on the East Coast.

Fencing will take place in EXPO HALLS B, C, and D. A map of the set-up in these halls can be found online at: http://bit.ly/1zgXeJm

Noah will be staying with relatives, so he'll have a great time visiting with them when he is not fencing.

If you are planning to come watch Noah fence, here is what you need to know:
- Entrance to the venue is free, open to the public.
- If you have some portable, folding chairs you might want to throw them in the car.  There should be some chairs at the tournament, but it'll be nice to have some nearby in case there are not enough.
- There will be a good bit of time when Noah is not fencing.  You can watch other fencers, explore the exhibits, read a book, do crossword puzzles... There will be free wi-fi avialable.
- Wear comfortable shoes.  You'll be standing on concrete floors all day.
- If you are not familiar with the format of the sport, take at look at our "rules" page.
- Plan to show up about the time each event is scheduled to begin.  They won't start on time, but Noah will fence a good bit at the beginning of each event, then the elimination rounds begin.
- I'll have my cell phone. Call if you need to find us once you arrive at the venue.
- You don't have to stay for the whole thing.  But you'll probably get hooked once it begins!

A word about the schedule:

SATURDAY
Noah will fence the Y12 epee event on Saturday.  It it slated to begin around 2:00 pm and will last into the evening. There will be 68 competitors in this event.

SUNDAY
Noah will fence the Y12 foil event on Sunday.  It should begin shortly after 11:30 am.  This event will last all day long and into the evening. There will be 108 competitors in this event.

- Results will be available LIVE online.  You can check scores as they are updated during the event.  http://live.capitolclash.com/

- Parking: National Harbor public parking garages will cost $11 if you are there for more than 4 hours.  The ST. GEORGE lot is the closest public lot to the fencing venue.  It is across the street from the resort.  More info at: http://nationalharbor.com/parking
              Discount parking in the Gaylord Resort lot will cost $12 for self park ($35 for valet parking) You'll need to collect a blue discount parking card outside Hall C. Present this card (or insert in the machine) when you leave along with your parking ticket.

- Driving directions: http://www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylord-national/directions-transportation/directions/index.html

• Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center
• 201 Waterfront Street
• National Harbor, Maryland 20745

2015 Capitol Clash

Noah is preparing for the 2015 Capitol Clash SYC Fencing Tournament, a super-regional level, national qualifying tournament where he can win points that will earn him a national ranking. He will compete February 7 and 8 at the Gaylord National Hotel and Conference Center in National Harbor, Maryland. Noah is slated to compete in two events: Y12 foil and Y12 epee.

68fencers will compete in Y12 men's epee on Saturday
108 fencers will compete in Y12 men's foil on Sunday

Start times, and live scoring can be viewed at: http://live.capitolclash.com/

We'll try to keep you updated as things progress!

He's Back!!!

After a one-year hiatus due to an injury, Noah is now back to fencing. And he's loving it.

This past weekend he saw success at the Region 6 Regional Youth Circuit (RYC) Tournament in Dunedin, Florida. He had a great day fencing Y12 epee and Y12 foil events.  He won silver medals (2nd place) in both events!!

A big tournament is slated for next weekend. Stay tuned....

April NAC :: Foil

Amazing competition in today's Y10 foil event.  Noah saw the most intense fencing of his career today.

Noah opened his pool bouts with two fairly easy wins, but subsequently faced some very strong fencers. The fencing was fast and furious. Noah won two of his pool bouts, and scored six points on the opponents who beat him.  Some great fencing.

Noah did have to make a visit to the athletic trainer's table between the pool bouts and the direct elimination round.  In his last pool bout he was hit very hard and needed some massage, stretching, and ice.  He recovered well, thanks to the good professionals on staff at the tournament.

Noah began the direct elimination round as the number thirty seed. He easily won his first DE 5-0, 5-1.  His next bout was against the number three seed in the DE round. Yikes!!  This guy was good (he went on to win the tournament).

Noah had a great day fencing.  He fought hard and didn't mind losing to such great fencers. He placed 29th in this national tournament appearance, and earned a #49 national ranking.

April NAC :: Epee

Noah had quite the day today.  Many ups and downs in a fun day of fencing.

Today's event was the Y10 epee competition. Almost all of the nation's top Y10 fencers were participating in this national competition. As a result, Noah's initial seed was #10.

He had a great pool round, winning five of six bouts, including a defeat of the number one seed.  He earned the number seven seed in the direct elimination tableau. After a bye in the first round, he easily won his first DE, 5-1, 5-1.   In his next bout he faced a very strong fencer from Peru.  Noah lost the first encounter, but came from behind to win the second encounter 5-4.  The final encounter was close all the way.  Finally, tied 4-4 Noah's opponent scored the winning touch.

Noah placed 10th in this national tournament.

April NAC :: Results Live Online

You can follow Noah's progress at the North American Cup National Fencing Tournament in real time online at:
http://www.usfencing.org/page/show/795496-april-2013-dvi-chr-nat-championships-and-nac

Sunday, April 14, 1:00 pm   (Y10 men's epee)
Monday, April 15, 1:00 pm   (Y10 men's foil)

Scroll down the page to locate his events.