FENCING PARENT'S NEWSLETTER
This Issue by Tara Celmer
April 1997
INDIANA FENCING ACADEMY
Escrime du Lac Fencing Club
Mishawaka, Indiana
SABER FENCER GOES TO JUNIOR WORLD
International competition is only a dream for most fencers. This year, however, the dream is coming true for one of our own. Dan Pratt a member of our Escrime Du Lac fencing team, has qualified in saber for the Junior World competition. He left March 23 for nine days training and competition in the Canary Islands. He has earned a spot on the United States Junior National Fencing Team, and is one of only three fencers from the U.S. invited to this event. Dan, a Trinity High School junior, is currently ranked third in the United States in the Cadet (under 17) Division and 11th in the Junior (under 20) Division.
In light of Dan's success in saber, it is surprising to find that saber was not his first weapon. He says he started out in foil and fenced foil for about a year before switching to saber. He says he switched to saber because "it's the fastest and a lot more intense, both physically and mentally." Coach Janusz agrees that Dan's fencing benefits from his physical as well as mental skills. Dan's talent is "a composition of three different factors" Coach Janusz says. "He is very bright and intelligent, he is able to read what is happening on the strip and he works very hard." He adds that not only is Dan able to interpet his opponent's strategy quickly, but he is able to modify his own style to overcome his opponent.
Dan's fencing has also been generating a lot of interest outside the local fencing community. On February 28, he was featured on Channel 22 news, and there was an article about him in the March 22 South Bend Tribune. With all this interest in Dan's fencing career is there more saber competition in his future? Maybe even the Olympics? Coach Janusz sees a bright future ahead for Dan. He says it's a pleasure to see how Dan is growing as a fencer and a person, and that in a couple of years Dan will be ready for Olympic level competition. He credits Dan's organization and drive with his success not only in fencing, but also in school and music. Dan only says that he knows he will fence in college, but he is quick to point out that fencing is not his only interest, and he splits his time among many activities, including playing the piano.
SEARCH THE WEB FOR FENCING INFORMATION
It seems that nothing is immune from the advance of technology and fencing is no exception.There is a wealth of information about fencing on the Web I found about 80 sites just doing a general search and those sites led to many others. Your first stop on the Web fencing search should be the site for the United States Fencing Association:
http://www.usfa.org/
This site has information for the beginner and advanced fencer alike. The site lists tournament schedules and results along with national rankings. It also has links to fencing clubs (including ours). In addition, it is a good source if you are looking for information on rules and policies of the USFA. Another good fencing site is the the Yahoo fencing site, sponsored by Bell South at
http://bellsouth.yahoo.com/Recreation/Sports/Fencing/Organizations
The Yahoo site is a good general site with information about topics like the Olympics and wheelchair fencing.It also has a frequently asked questions (FAQ) area in addition to links to international fencing organizations like the British Fencing Organization and the Federation Internationale d'Escrime in France.
CLUB GOES ONLINE
Our fencing club, like many around the world, has jumped on the information super highway with the formation of our own Web Site. David Leighton set the site up last month and it is full of useful information about the club. It lists tournament information, the club schedule, information on summer classes. There is also a biography of Coach Janusz. In addition, there are also back issues of the Indiana Division Newsletter and our own Parent's newsletter. You can check out our web site at this address:
http://www.nd.edu/~dtl/fencing/fencing.html
NO MORE SNAIL MAIL
We are working on getting the newsletter set up so that it can be e mailed to those who wish to receive it that way (text only). If you want the newsletter emailed to you or you just want your address in the directory the next time we update it, fill out the form on the bottom the last page and put it in my mailbox.
GOOD NEWS FOR BROKEN BLADES
Anyone who has ever had broken equipment (and that's everyone at one time or another) can appreciate the value of having someone teach us to repair our weapons. Help has arrived. Our armory is up and running. If you need a weapon repaired, talk to Arnold Casas, Mike Hagerty, or Coach Janusz. Arnold will be in the armoury Tuesday and Thursday nights from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. If you need small parts like screws, springs, or wires, they can be purchased at the armory or special ordered. The first stock order has already arrived, so the parts are in the armory now. You will be billed at the end of each month for purchases/labor. Check in the armory for a list of prices
COACH'S CORNER
Springtime is here! March 22 was the first day of spring, and hope is growing that this year will be even better for the club than last year. The club looks nicer and cleaner than before thanks to the families who have entered the club life and have taken the time to keep the club clean and make it joyful as never before. Our armory is now open, our telephone answering machine is full of calls from interested people, and there are new faces on the strips. Our club is growing and we have everything that a modern club should have to operate properly. Spring is also the time when the youth fencing season ends with the Cadet/Junior World Championships. This year the club is represented in Spain by Dan Pratt who made his first National World Team. Congratulations Dan! Let others follow you in the new season, which starts with the first day of spring.
SO,YOU WANNA BE IN PICTURES?
Well, that might be asking a bit much, so how about an evening on TV instead? WNIT, the local public television station is looking for area clubs and civic groups to help out during their August membership drive. The duties are simple, just answering the telephone, but it's fun and a great way to build awarness for our club.
Here's how it works. The club would send 8 or 9 members (fencers, parents, or coaches are all welcome to take part) over to the WNIT studio at the Elkhart Area Career Center to serve as phone operators for an evening. The time we would be on would depend on what night we choose to volunteer. On weeknights that would be from 6:30 until 11:00 and on weekends there are two shifts, 3:30 until 8:00 and 8:00 until midnight. While the regular program is running we would just hang out in the studio enjoying the food provided by local restaurants. About twice an hour we earn our keep when the program is interrrupted so the station staff can encourage viewers to become members of the station. During these breaks the phone operators answer the incoming calls and take down the pledge information. A quick five minute training session beore the first break gives you all the information you need to take those pledges.
Obviously, this is very helpful for WNIT but what does the club get out of it? An audience of over one hundred thousand potential new fencers. The organization answering the phones is acknowledged at least once every break and is free to place banners and such up on the set. A short interview segment is also arranged for the group to tell a little about what they do and any upcoming events they might have. If we have a couple of more fencers than are required to answer the phones we could even do an on camera demonstration. For those members of high school age it could count for National Honor Society service requirements. Best of all, it's fun! You can even learn to operate a television camera. So pitch in and do something fun for the club and the community. Any and all interested members should contact Doug Farmwald who will make the arrangments with WNIT.
NOT JUST GOOD FENCERS!
Our fencing club is like a family and we like to highlight achievements of our members both on and off the strip. Maggie Kebrdle took first place in the 1997 Zeisig Foil Open in Milwaukee in March. Not only does she get her name on a permanent trophy, but but she also got $250.00 in prize money. Way to go Maggie!
Jim Leighton won numerous awards at the Northern Indiana Regional Science Fair with his project on cavitation, which is the effect of propeller size and speed. He took home the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics award of merit, with $100.00 certificate, the Dean of Engineering Award with a $150.00 certificate, he is the alternate to the International Science and Engineering Fair and will be competing in the Indiana State Science Fair. Good job Jim!
Brian Casas will be putting his spring break to good use this year. He is going to New York City to train in Epee and visit some to the clubs there. Have fun and learn a lot Brian!
THE WRITE STUFF
Many of our club members have shown an interest in writing. Some works have already been submitted and there seems to be enough interest to justify creating a special issue of creative writing. If you have some writing you want to submit, please put it in my mailbox, or talk to me (no, it doesn't have to be about fencing). Artwork is also welcome, keeping in mind the limitations of space and color.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU
Once again we want to thank the many people who volunteer their time to help keep the club clean. The Goetz family is cleaning up the club for April. If you haven't had a turn with the dust mop, please sign up for one month to help keep the club clean. If you and your dust mop are not on speaking terms, you can still help out by donating supplies. The DONATION BOX is still by the front door and supplies are always needed.
A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO:
Denise Hagerty for the wonderful work she did on the last newsletter and to Edie Casas, Coach Janusz and Doug Farmwald for all their help with this newsletter.
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