CFFA update for June 7

Gregory Spahr Coaches Communication
CFFA update for June 7
The Wednesday night practice had half a dozen fencers.  So long as we have at least those numbers, I will keep doing it.  More footwork and drills,
less free fencing.  I am running it like a college practice.  It starts at 7 pm, so if you are not there and ready to go at that time, be prepared to run laps.  If you are an evening
member it will be a free add on to the other practices, for everyone
else the $5 floor fee will apply.

This Saturday, the 13th, the New Bern people will be coming down for a joint practice so I
would love to see a large turn out so they have a good opportunity to
fence.  10 am start time.  That start time will not be as strict as Wednesday’s, but the Salle New Bern folks actually tend to show up on time.  If you are an evening
member it will be a free add on to the other practices, for everyone
else the $5 floor fee will apply.
For those of you looking for a last tune up event for the State Games; Columbia, South Carolina is holding C and under foil and epee events on the 13th.  Right now, the epee has 12 fencers, of which half are Cs.  The Foil has 11 fencers and needs a D to become a C event.    The Cs are Ian Dube and Mark Scott, the D is Bobby Gibbs.  More info on askfred.

The
week of the 15th NCFDP (UNC’s fencing affiliate), Mid-South, and RTF
(Duke’s fencing affiliate) are all having competing camps to get ready
for Nationals.  See askfred for details.




The

State games are the 20th of June in Raleigh.  They have recently split
the men’s and women’s events.  Check askfred for an idea
about who is coming, but the official preregistration is on the State
Games site.  If you haven’t already officially preregistered there is a $20 late fee added on. 
The women’s events will probably all end up as E events, although the
epee will be really nasty as an E event.  For the guys, the epee needs an A to be an A2, the foil should be a B1, and the sabre needs 1 A and 1 B to become an A2.


July
11 is a one day coaching clinic at All American Fencing in
Fayetteville.  The clinic is being run by Ron Miller, UNC’s head coach,
and is only $25.  This is a great bargain to learn from a coach of his
caliber.  If some of our younger fencers want to learn more about
coaching I will drive.  If you are at all interested in learning about coaching or how to drill better in fencing, this will be the best deal you can get.  More details on askfred under clinics.

Our
beginner camp is July 13-17, so spread the word.  If you are getting
this e-mail you are beyond the level of the beginner camp.  Advanced
sabre camp is July 20-24, advanced foil camp is July 27-31, and advanced
epee camp is August 3-7.  Cost for the Camps is $195.  For epee camp,
you will need to renew your USA Fencing membership as it is at the start
of the next season.  We provide gatorade, water, and snacks.  The
fencers need to bring lunch as camps go 9-5, although maybe a bit
shorter on Friday.  Please e-mail with what camp you want to attend so I
can look at numbers and the level of the fencers for planning
purposes. 

Also if you are an adult with keys and might be available on one of the Fridays at about 3-3:30 pm, let me know.  I need to leave a bit early to get up to Camp Lejeune.  I may or may not be able to have campers picked up a bit early, so I would like a back up plan.  Thanks.

pax vobiscum,
 
Greg Spahr
Head Coach
Cape Fear Fencing Association
“The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong,
but that’s the way to bet.” Damon Runyon

CFFA update for May 31

Gregory Spahr Coaches Communication
CFFA update for May 31
We held the last youth event for this season yesterday.  Some very good matches occurred in all the weapons.  In foil Will Golder took 1st, Elijah Wells took 2nd, and Reaghan Juelke and Logan Pfeifle tied for 3rd.  For the 9 and under crowd, Lexi Williams took gold and Don Evans took silver.  In sabre, Reaghan won with Noah Nunez second.  Avery Walston and Seaborne Maguire tied for the 3rd place.  Finally, in epee, Nicole Milewski looked ready for her National Championship event.  She was first, Kent Walston was second, Lydia Huggins and Christopher Donelson tied for 3rd.  Will Golder won swords for both accumulating the most points over the season for the boys and for being voted as showing the best sportsmanship.  Reaghan Juelke won the sword for the girls.  It is the end of an era as I believe Reaghan was the last fencer who has been fencing since we started these events and she aged out as of yesterday.  Thanks to all the parents who come and cheer for all the youngsters.
We
will switch to a summer schedule this week.  The beginner
class starts Tuesday, June 2nd, at 6:30 pm.  If there is
interest, the intermediate class will follow at 7:30 pm. 

On Wednesday
the 3rd at 7 pm, I will start running a two hour
practice in the style of a college practice.  More footwork and drills,
less free fencing.  If you are an evening
member it will be a free add on to the other practices, for everyone
else the $5 floor fee will apply.

We
will start Saturday practices back up on June 6th at 10 am.  On the
13th the New Bern people will be coming down for a joint practice so I would love to see a large turn out so they have a good opportunity to fence.  If you are an evening
member it will be a free add on to the other practices, for everyone
else the $5 floor fee will apply.
The week of the 15th NCFDP (UNC’s fencing affiliate), Mid-South, and RTF (Duke’s fencing affiliate) are all having competing camps to get ready for Nationals.  See askfred for details.




The
State games are the 20th of June in Raleigh.  They have recently split
the men’s and women’s events.  Check askfred for an idea
about who is coming, but the official preregistration is on the State
Games site.  June 5th is the last date to sign up before the fees jump.  The women’s events will probably all end up as E events, although the epee will be really nasty as an E event.  For the guys, the epee is a solid B, the foil should be a B, and the sabre needs 1 A or B, and one more D and above to be a B.
July 11 is a one day coaching clinic at All American Fencing in Fayetteville.  The clinic is being run by Ron Miller, UNC’s head coach, and is only $25.  This is a great bargain to learn from a coach of his caliber.  If some of our younger fencers want to learn more about coaching I will drive.  More details on askfred under clinics.
Our beginner camp is July 13-17, so spread the word.  If you are getting this e-mail you are beyond the level of the beginner camp.  Advanced sabre camp is July 20-24, advanced foil camp is July 27-31, and advanced epee camp is August 3-7.  Cost for the Camps is $195.  For epee camp, you will need to renew your USA Fencing membership as it is at the start of the next season.  We provide gatorade, water, and snacks.  The fencers need to bring lunch as camps go 9-5, although maybe a bit shorter on Friday.  Please e-mail with what camp you want to attend so I can look at numbers and the level of the fencers for planning purposes. 
pax vobiscum,


 
Greg Spahr
Head Coach
Cape Fear Fencing Association
“The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong,
but that’s the way to bet.” Damon Runyon

CFFA update for May 24th

Gregory Spahr Coaches Communication
CFFA update for May 24th
Stephen Kmiec was unstoppable at the season ending Stab-a-thon yesterday.  First he won the epee event with Paul Perkins 2nd, and Samantha Milewski and Robert Thomas tied for 3rd.  Then he won the foil, Oliver Galbraith took the silver, and Mark Scott and Nick Chambers tied for the bronzes.  In the nightcap , Nick beat Brett Silverman to win the D and under foil.

A huge thank you to Brendan and Herman for fixing the overheads and everyone who helped with cleaning the floor.  The club looks much nicer now.  We will be repainting the floor later this summer so your assistance will be requested then.

This week is the last one for the season for homeschool and afterschool
classes.  No practice Monday due to Memorial Day.  Wednesday
practice  for the homeschoolers will be mainly an end of year party
with fencing.  The same for the Thursday afterschool practice.
The
new set of classes on board Camp Lejeune will start on Friday, May
29th.  1800 for more advanced fencers and 1900 for the new beginners.

 
For high school fencers, Mid-South Fencing will host a clinic for foilists on Friday night.  See their facebook page for more details.

The
last youth event of the season will occur on Saturday, May 30th.  Under
12 foil at 10 am, sabre at 1:30 pm, and epee at 3:30 pm. 
We will give the season long swords away at that point.  We may have a
number of first time competing fencers for the event so volunteer refs
and assistance is very welcome.
We
will switch to a summer schedule the first week in June.  The beginner
class starts Tuesday, June 2nd, at 6:30 pm.  If there is
interest, the intermediate class will follow at 7:30 pm.  On Wednesday
the 3rd at 7 pm, if there is interest, I will start running a two hour
practice in the style of a college practice.  More footwork and drills,
less free fencing.  If you are an evening
member it will be a free add on to the other practices, for everyone
else the $5 floor fee will apply.



We
will start Saturday practices back up on June 6th at 10 am.  On the
13th the New Bern people will be coming down for a joint practice.



The
State games are the 20th of June in Raleigh.  They have recently split
the men’s and women’s events.  Check askfred for an idea
about who is coming, but the official preregistration is on the State
Games site.  June 5th is the last date to sign up before the fees jump.


pax vobiscum,
 
Greg Spahr
Head Coach
Cape Fear Fencing Association
“The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong,
but that’s the way to bet.” Damon Runyon

CFFA update for May 17

Gregory Spahr Coaches Communication
CFFA update for May 17
We had a number of people travel to Apex yesterday and they all did well.  Rayne Schoonmaker got it started by taking the silver in Y-10 foil.  He had victories of 10-1 and 10-0 in his first two DEs.  Reaghan Juelke and Kyler Schoonmaker participated in the Y-12 foil.  Reaghan won the majority of her pool bouts, pulled an upset in her first DE, then ran into the eventual winner and ended in seventh out of the 19 competitors. Kyler ran into the same fencer in the next round and ended up tied for the bronze medal.  Samantha Milewski wasn’t feeling well, but was still able to come out of pools for the junior epee as the 3rd seed.  Unfortunately not feeling well made her DE hard to get through and she finished 7th.  Nicole Milewski won the bronze for the Y-12 epee.  The eight women in the open epee decided to just do a large pool and forgo DEs due to the time.  Erica Julien took second coming in just two indicators ahead of Nicole who took 3rd.  Edith de Grammont participated in her first event and took 5th, just missing a medal.  I think everyone had a good time and got some good fencing.
Standard week of practice this week in Wilmington.  No practice at Camp Lejeune because of the reduced schedule for Memorial Day.
Our
Stab-a-thon season ending event will occur on Saturday, May 23rd.  Open
Epee, open foil, and a D and under foil.  If we can get 4
Ds, 4Es, and 25 total foilists the winner can get a C without having to
fence Cs.  Right now both of the opens are really top heavy.  No Es or
Us in the epee and only one U in the foil.  Get signed up on askfred
ASAP so we can lure in other fencers.  Right now we need bodies to be able to hand out ratings.
The next week is the last one for the season for homeschool and afterschool classes.  No practice Monday due to Memorial Day.  Wednesday practice  for the homeschoolers will be mainly an end of year party with fencing.  The same for the Thursday afterschool practice.
The new set of classes on board Camp Lejeune will start on Friday, May 29th.  1800 for more advanced fencers and 1900 for the new beginners.
 
The
last youth event of the season will occur on Saturday, May 30th.  Under
12 foil at 10 am, sabre at 1:30 pm, and epee at 3:30 pm.  We will give the season long swords
away at that point.  We may have a number of first time competing fencers
for the event so volunteer refs and assistance is very welcome.
We will switch to a summer schedule the first week in June.  The beginner class starts Tuesday, June 2nd, at 6:30 pm.  If there is interest, the intermediate class will follow at 7:30 pm.  On Wednesday the 3rd at 7 pm, if there is interest, I will start running a two hour practice in the style of a college practice.  More footwork and drills, less free fencing.  If you are an evening member it will be a free add on to the other practices, for everyone else the $5 floor fee will apply.
 
We
will start Saturday practices back up on June 6th at 10 am.  On the 13th the New Bern people will be coming down for a joint practice.
 

The
State games are the 20th of June in Raleigh.  They have recently split
the men’s and women’s events.  Check askfred for an idea about
who is coming, but the official preregistration is on the State Games
site.  June 5th is the last date to sign up before the fees jump.

pax vobiscum,
 
Greg Spahr
Head Coach
Cape Fear Fencing Association
“The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong,
but that’s the way to bet.” Damon Runyon

CFFA update for May 10

Gregory Spahr Coaches Communication
CFFA update for May 10
We had three fencers go up to Mid-South this weekend and all cam back with awards.  Samantha Milewski took thirs in the open epee.  Joe McLaughlin took second and Alex Hoelscher took thirds in the E and under sabre.

Unless something gets cancelled due to the weather, it will be a regular week of practice.

May
16th is a set of unsanctioned events up at Apex.  Unsanctioned means
you cannot earn a rating, but it would be a new set of people
for you to fence.  The events will be a Y-10 foil, Y-12 foil and epee,
Junior mixed foil, and Junior mixed epee.  They have just added an
unsanctioned women’s epee and changed the women’s junior foil to open
women’s foil.  This is a good opportunity for a
number of our 12 and younger fencers who want to move to the next level
(moving out of our club events).  The junior events look like they will
be pretty strong.  You will need a full uniform, so talk to me if
interested. get signed up soon if you are interested
so they know how many refs they will need.
 
Our
Stab-a-thon season ending event will occur on Saturday, May 23rd.  Open
Epee, open foil, and a D and under foil.  If we can get 4
Ds, 4Es, and 25 total foilists the winner can get a C without having to
fence Cs.  Right now both of the opens are really top heavy.  No Es or
Us in the epee and only one U in the foil.  Get signed up on askfred
ASAP so we can lure in other fencers.
 
The
last youth event of the season will occur on Saturday, May 30th.  Under
12 foil, epee, and sabre.  We will give the season long swords
away at point.  We may have a number of first time competing fencers
for the event so volunteer refs and assistance is very welcome.
 
We
will start Saturday practices back up in June.  Sometimes fencers from
other clubs come down to fence.  I will keep you posted.
 
The
State games are the 20th of June in Raleigh.  They have recently split
the men’s and women’s events.  Check askfred for an idea about
who is coming, but the official preregistration is on the State Games
site.  June 5th is the last date to sign up before the fees jump.
pax vobiscum,

Greg Spahr
Head Coach
Cape Fear Fencing Association
“The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong,
but that’s the way to bet.” Damon Runyon

CFFA update for May 3

Gregory Spahr Coaches Communication
CFFA update for May 3
Yesterday was Salle New Bern’s Skirmish at Jack’s Island epee event.  We had a number of people go and they all had their moments.  In the end, CFFA’s Paul Perkins and Josh Harvey took both 3rd place kegs, Andrew Fullmer of Raleigh Fencers, was second, and Stephen Kmiec completed a long winding road to reach his B15 by winning the event.  This was sandwiched around an excellent lunch provided by the New Bern people.
The beginner class for May will start on Tuesday, May 5th, at 6:30 pm.  Intermediate class if interest. The rest of the week will be pretty standard.

May 9th and 10th will be an event at Mid-South with epee, sabre, and E and under sabre.  The foil event seems to have disappeared.

May

16th is a set of unsanctioned events
up at Apex.  Unsanctioned means you cannot earn a rating, but it would
be a new set of people for you to fence.  The events will be a Y-10
foil, Y-12 foil and epee, Junior
mixed foil, and Junior mixed epee.  They have just added an unsanctioned
women’s epee and changed the women’s junior foil to open women’s foil. 
This is a good opportunity for a
number of our 12 and younger fencers who want to move to the next level
(moving out of our club events).  The junior events look like they will
be pretty strong.  You will need a full uniform, so talk
to me if interested. get signed up soon if you are interested so they know how many refs they will need.


Our
Stab-a-thon season ending event will occur on Saturday, May 23rd.  Open
Epee, open foil, and a D and under foil.  If we can get 4 Ds, 4Es, and
25 total foilists the winner can get a C without having to fence Cs. 
Right now both of the opens are really top heavy.  No Es or Us in the epee and only one U in the foil.  Get signed up on askfred ASAP so we can lure in other fencers.

The
last youth event of the season will occur on Saturday, May 30th.  Under
12 foil, epee, and sabre.  We will give the season long swords away at
point.  We may have a number of first time competing fencers for the
event so volunteer refs and assistance is very welcome.
We will start Saturday practices back up in June.  Sometimes fencers from other clubs come down to fence.  I will keep you posted.
The State games are the 20th of June in Raleigh.  They have recently split the men’s and women’s events.  Check askfred for an idea about who is coming, but the official preregistration is on the State Games site.
pax vobiscum,
 
Greg Spahr
Head Coach
Cape Fear Fencing Association
“The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong,
but that’s the way to bet.” Damon Runyon

CFFA update for April 26th

Gregory Spahr Coaches Communication
CFFA update for April 26th
A pretty calm Division meeting yesterday.  Next year’s officers are Zemi Lawrence as chair, Steve Kmiec is staying as VP for coaching and referee development, Paul Perkins is chair for youth development, Liz Morey will be both Secretary and Treasurer, and Donny Zelinski moves to Past President.  NBS gym is going to try and reopen in Lexington, NC later this year.
Standard week of practice this week.

May 2nd is Salle New Bern’s outdoor epee
event.  Right now it is a solid B event and could be a B2 with a couple more bodies.  I am observing
so will have some room if people need rides.

The beginner class for May will start on Tuesday, May 5th, at 6:30 pm.  Intermediate class if interest.

May 9th and 10th will be an event at Mid-South with epee, foil, sabre, and E and under sabre.

May

16th is a set of unsanctioned events
up at Apex.  Unsanctioned means you cannot earn a rating, but it would
be a new set of people for you to fence.  The events will be a Y-10
foil, Y-12 foil and epee, and Junior
mixed foil, and Junior mixed epee.  They have just added an unsanctioned women’s epee and changed the women’s junior foil to open women’s foil.  This is a good opportunity for a
number of our 12 and younger fencers who want to move to the next level
(moving out of our club events).  The junior events look like they will
be pretty strong.  You will need a full uniform, so talk
to me if interested.


Our
Stab-a-thon season ending event will occur on Saturday, May 23rd.  Open
Epee, open foil, and a D and under foil.  If we can get 4 Ds, 4Es, and
25 total foilists the winner can get a C without having to fence Cs. 
Get signed up on askfred ASAP so we can lure in those kind of numbers.

The
last youth event of the season will occur on Saturday, May 30th.  Under
12 foil, epee, and sabre.  We will give the season long swords away at
point.  We may have a number of first time competing fencers for the
event so volunteer refs and assistance is very welcome.
pax vobiscum,
 
Greg Spahr
Head Coach
Cape Fear Fencing Association
“The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong,
but that’s the way to bet.” Damon Runyon

CFFA update for April 19

Gregory Spahr Coaches Communication
CFFA update for April 19
We had a very good, competitive, large event yesterday.  Eighteen foilists with Gabe Lima of Research Triangle Fencing winning and upping his C to a C15.  Mike Nicholson returned to fencing and came in second earning a D15.  CFFA’s Oliver Galbraith and Mid-South’s Stephen Pashby took the 3rds.  28 epeeists; David Swearngan of the Charlotte Fencing Academy beat Oliver to earn his B with Oliver updating his C.  Andrew Fullmer of the Raleigh Fencers Club and Scott Butler of the Wilmington Fencing Club tied for third.  As it was a B2, Clayton Hamerski of the Wilmington Fencing Club took 5th and won his D, while Gannon Hart of CFFA on board Camp Lejeune slipped into 12th and won his E.  10 unrated sabre fencers; Mike Nicholson won the gold and his E.  CFFA’s Joe McLaughlin won the silver with Jason DePertuis of Mid-south and Steve Kmiec of ECU taking the bronzes.   Thanks to everyone who helped with the set up, running, reffing, and tear down of the event.
This week should be a pretty standard week of practice.  The Tuesday Thursday class is over for the month so I should have more time to work with the people who want it.
We will have a Saturday practice starting around 10 am on the 25th.  I will have to duck out around 2 pm to make the Divisional meeting which is at 5 pm up in Raleigh.  People are welcome to go with me (I’m not holding my breath on that one.)
May 2nd is Salle New Bern’s outdoor epee
event.  Right now it is a solid B event.  I am observing
so will have some room if people need rides.
The beginner class for May will start on Tuesday, May 5th, at 6:30 pm.

May 9th and 10th will be an event at Mid-South with epee, foil, sabre, and E and under sabre.

May
16th is a set of unsanctioned youth events
up at Apex.  Unsanctioned means you cannot earn a rating, but it would
be a new set of people for you to fence.  The events will be a Y-10
foil, Y-12 foil and epee, and Junior  (age 13-19) women’s foil, Junior
mixed foil, and Junior mixed epee.  This is a good opportunity for a
number of our 12 and younger fencers who want to move to the next level
(moving out of our club events).  The junior events look like they will be pretty strong.  You will need a full uniform, so talk
to me if interested.

Our Stab-a-thon season ending event will occur on Saturday, May 23rd.  Open Epee, open foil, and a D and under foil.  If we can get 4 Ds, 4Es, and 25 total foilists the winner can get a C without having to fence Cs.  Get signed up on askfred ASAP so we can lure in those kind of numbers.
The last youth event of the season will occur on Saturday, May 30th.  Under 12 foil, epee, and sabre.  We will give the season long swords away at point.  We may have a number of first time competing fencers for the event so volunteer refs and assistance is very welcome.

pax vobiscum,

 
Greg Spahr
Head Coach
Cape Fear Fencing Association
“The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong,
but that’s the way to bet.” Damon Runyon

CFFA update for April 12

Gregory Spahr Coaches Communication
CFFA update for April 12
Thanks to Aidan Bush, Don Evans, Elijah Wells, and Reaghan Juelke for helping with the demos at Roger Bacon.  It was good to have fencers about the same age as the audience.

Mid-South is holding their next set of Youth sabre events today.

Lynn
Krupey’s memorial service is today from 1-3 pm at Halyburton Park.
The
last afterschool beginner class of the year will commence this week as afterschool picks back up after Spring Break.  The overall schedule should be back to normal.  I have one young man who will be finishing his beginner class on Thursday evening.  It would be nice to have some fencers come in about 7 pm to give him some different people to fence electrically.
Our next event is on Saturday, April 18th.  The boys can come
back out and fence this time.  The epee is now a strong B
event.  The foil needs to get a bunch of people signed up to become a C with the outside possibility of a B.  The E and
under sabre has a reasonable number of people, but more of you who want to try sabre are welcome..

The event in Raleigh on the 25th has been
cancelled due to the unfortunate fact that NBS gym is closing its
doors.  The Division meeting will still happen that Saturday at 5 pm at
a different location.  I have proxies for people to sign this week or at the tournament Saturday.  You need to be 18+ and have a competitive membership.  I will be going so let me know if you wish to attend.  We will probably have a Saturday morning practice that weekend.

May 2nd is Salle New Bern’s outdoor epee
event.  Right now it is a solid B event.  I am observing
so will have some room if people need rides.
May 9th and 10th will be an event at Mid-South with epee, foil, sabre, and E and under sabre.

May 16th is a set of unsanctioned youth events
up at Apex.  Unsanctioned means you cannot earn a rating, but it would
be a new set of people for you to fence.  The events will be a Y-10
foil, Y-12 foil and epee, and Junior  (age 13-19) women’s foil, Junior
mixed foil, and Junior mixed epee.  This is a good opportunity for a number of our 12 and younger fencers who want to move to the next level (moving out of our club events).  You will need a full uniform, so talk to me if interested.

For about the last year and a half the board
that is supposed to operate CFFA has been reduced to Brendan, Herman,
and I.  And we are all starting to burn out.  We really need adult
fencers or parents to step up and help with a number of things around
the club.  Armoring, helping organize tournaments – getting trophies,
referees, this summer we will want to redo the floor which needs someone
to manage that undertaking, etc.  If you want to step in and help let
one of us know.
pax vobiscum,
 
Greg Spahr
Head Coach
Cape Fear Fencing Association
“The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong,
but that’s the way to bet.” Damon Runyon