Fayetteville community sees growth
in women's fencing

All-American Fencing Academy
 
In the 2008 Olympics, the U.S. Women’s sabre team shocked the world when the European-dominated sport of fencing finally fell to the west as Mariel Zagunis, Sada Jacobson and Becca Ward swept the medals in individual competition and took the bronze in the team events.

That same year, Ward started her freshman year at Duke University and two-time Polish Olympian Aleksandra Socha was a guest coach at Fayetteville’s All-American Fencing Academy.
In Fayetteville, this was the catalyst for the growth of women’s fencing. Young girls are enrolling monthly for beginning fencing classes and three young women are positioning themselves to be among North Carolina’s top women’s fencers in each weapon category.

Megan Connell is a newcomer to Fayetteville fencing. The Maryland native took the position as All-American Fencing Academy’s newest assistant coach.

Connell has ushered in a new era for Fayetteville fencing as she expands the fencing program to several satellite locations, including Fayetteville Academy, Flaming Sword Academy, Pine Forest Recreation Center, home school programs and Fort Bragg’s Child, Youth and School Services SKIESUnlimited program.

Although she’s expanding the beginning foil and intermediate classes, Connell has also ignited sabre fencing in Fayetteville. Not only is she instructing Fayetteville’s next generation of sabre fencers, she’s continuing her own training to begin regional and national competition this year.
In foil fencing, Brianna Osinski is Fayetteville Academy’s top female fencer.  A veteran fencer, Osinski has several state and regional tournaments under her belt and she has also fenced at the national level.

Osinski said she is looking to follow one of her former All-American Fencing teammate’s footsteps. As a senior at Terry Sanford High School, Osinski has her sights set on UNC-Chapel Hill.  This fall, her former teammate, Paul Hovey, was recruited by UNC-Chapel Hill to fence for its Division I fencing program.

This year, Osinski is preparing for a number of regional tournaments as well as Junior Olympic qualifiers, state championships and a North American Cup.

Lastly, Anna Gore, one of All-American Fencing Academy’s first students from the Pine Forest Recreation Center, returns after a few years’ hiatus. Now a student at Methodist College, Gore returned to fencing as an instructor for the after school fencing program at the Fayetteville Academy.

She is now returning as one of the city’s leading women’s epee fencers.  Gore previously competed in Junior Olympic qualifiers and state championships and will be competing regularly in state and national tournaments. In youth fencing, three standout girls are fighting it out at each competition for first place. Having fenced together in several local competitions, Malaya Bleeker, Caroline Berger and Sophia Paz are great teammates, but are also tough competitors.
According to head coach Gerhard Guevarra, Bleeker has been consistent.

“She’s fast, smart, and tough,” he said. “She’s tough enough to question some of the calls I make on strip.”

Paz has been Bleeker’s main competition, but lately, Berger is surging to the front of the pack as she overtakes even her male teammates. At the last tournament, Berger toppled the boys in her pool.

In the finals bout with Bleeker, Berger went toe to toe with her teammate, winning one bout and losing one bout. In the third and determining bout, Bleeker was able to tie the score at 4-4 with the next touch winning the round.  Although Berger scored a few close touches, Bleeker was able to fend her off with a quick parry riposte.

Jasmine Wofford is also new to the fencing academy and said she is enjoying the sport. She has already started to compete at local tournaments.

For more information, call 728-4924 or visit www.allamerican fencing.com.