Local Fencers Continue to Dominate

The Qualification Season for USA Fencing’s National Championships are drawing to a close, and Candlewood Fencing’s Sabre program has emerged as not only one of the region’s strongest programs, but the Top Fencing Program in the State of Connecticut.

Just this past weekend on Long Island at the World’s Largest Fencing Facility, Mission Fencing Center in Rocky Point, Candlewood Fencers dominated taking home 6 Medals (1 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze, 2 5th Places, 1 8th place) Owen Prevey-Sullivan of Redding medaled in both of his events winning the Division 2 Category and taking 8th in the Div 1A. Connor Rounds of Clifton Park NY took home the Silver in the Division 1A beating Olympian Abdoulaye Thiam from Sengal, with an epic comeback down 14-10 to battle back to win 15-14, before falling to US Olympian and USA Fencing Hall of Famer Ivan Lee in the Gold medal match/ This comes on the heels of last weekend’s Bronze Medal performance for Connor who took home the Bronze Medal at the Division 2 North American Cup National Event in Milwaukee, WI.

Gaby Chau of Newtown finished third in the Division 2 event updating her national rating in the process and in the top 16 in the Division 1A. Natalie Chun of Westport did her best Jordan Impersonation battling a flu to take 5th Place featuring fencers from top NCAA programs. Rahul Tasker of Trumbull took home a 5th place medal in the Div 2 as well punching his ticket to Nationals.

No program in Connecticut has qualified as many fencers, had as big of increases in National Point and Regional Point Standings or placed fencers into contention for World Championships Team then the Candlewood Sabre Programs.

Total List of Qualifiers

Owen Prevey Sullivan- Div 1A, Div 2, Junior, Cadet, Youth 14

Connor Rounds- Div 1A, Junior

Brad Devito- Div 2, Junior

Rahul Tasker- Div 2, Junior

Natalie Chun- Div 1A, Junior, Cadet

Sydney Hirsch- Div 1A, Div 2, Div 3, Cadet, Youth 14

Gaby Chau- Div 1A, Div 2, Div 3

Susannah Kleiner- Div 1A, Div 2, Junior, Cadet, Youth 14th

Donna Pepe- Veteran, Veteran 50s in World Team Contention

Marty Williams- Division 1 in World Team Contention

We are looking for the next generation of great athletes to represent Connecticut across the country, we have classes for all ages and from the complete novice to the advanced fencers. Please contact Dennis KolakowskiDWKolakowski@Gmail.com or check out our website www.candlewoodfencing.com