Youth fencers hit the mark

The Maplewood Youth Fencing Stars came out to shine on the strips of the New Jersey Fencing Alliance this past weekend when faced with competitors from numerous states, including New York and Connecticut.
Eight-year-old Jack Woods was all smiles when he took gold in the Y8 mixed foil at the fifth event in the 2009-10 NJFA Youth Cup Series. Woods warmed up with 20 older and more experienced competitors in the Y10 mixed foil, placing seventh and then just making it in time to compete in the Y8 event which had already begun. A strong fencer from Connecticut, Delphine Devore, upset the initial seeding by beating fencing favorites, but proved no match for Woods in the Direct Eliminations who again faced her in the fiercely-contested final bout.
Maplewood’s female fencing family, the Viqueriras, continued to show their fencing strength with Samantha showing her true star quality when, at only 12, she took home the silver medal in the Y14 Women’s foil.
Nine-year-old Marissa Viqueira again proved that, although the youngest in this successful fencing family, she was more than capable of defeating her older opponents by taking third in the Y10 mixed foil.
Epee star Bryn Hammarberg was in top form, winning the Y12 mixed Epee with a very impressive fencing performance.

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