http://www.tenthousandfencers.com/
The goal is to get 10,000 people to try fencing. With the attention fencing will likely receive in the USA this fall during the Olympics, this is achievable. We of the DMFC typically have about 20 new fencers every four months, so we'll be doing our share!
~ R. J. Lesch
Friday, July 18, 2008
Sunday, June 1, 2008
DMFC's Excellent Adventure
I was having some rosy thoughts about the club last night, and thought I’d share them.
In some respects, this has been the most successful year in DMFC’s history:
- most fencers attending Summer Nationals (three)
- most fencers qualifying for Summer Nationals (fifteen)
- most fencers attending a NAC (eight)
- most fencers attending Regional Youth Circuit events (ten)
- best attendance yet at our Crossroads Youth Classic in October
- three top-eight finishers on the Heartland Circuit points lists, including our second Champ ever
- … and our own Maestro!
Yet it feels as if our club’s best days are still ahead.
- The club's membership is stable, with potential to grow if we can find the coaches to support that growth.
- Our most competitive fencers are gaining experience and improving with every tournament.
- It's an Olympic year, and that will likely boost interest in fencing. We saw a huge bump after the 2004 Olympics, and coverage of fencing at the 2008 Olympics is likely to be better than in past years.
~ R. J. Lesch
Saturday, May 10, 2008
USFA Elections: Ballots are in the mail
USFA members will soon receive ballots in the mail for the upcoming national officer elections. All USFA members of age 18 and over can vote in the elections.
This year we have two slates from which to choose: the slate nominated by the USFA's nominating committee, and a challenger slate running collectively under the label "US Fencers for Change".
I'm not endorsing either slate here. However, if DMFC members have questions about the candidates, I wanted to make sure we have information available to help them cast an informed vote.
USFA Nominating Committee slate: I'd hoped to put links to information about this slate, but the only item I could find was this article on Fencing.Net from last December announcing the nominees. Two of the nominees are good folks who have been of great service to the Des Moines Fencing Club in the past.
US Fencers for Change slate: This slate's website gives the candidate biographies and platform.
Ballots were supposed to have been mailed on May 7, so we ought to be getting them in the mail soon. Study the slates, ask questions, and cast your vote.
~ R. J. Lesch
This year we have two slates from which to choose: the slate nominated by the USFA's nominating committee, and a challenger slate running collectively under the label "US Fencers for Change".
I'm not endorsing either slate here. However, if DMFC members have questions about the candidates, I wanted to make sure we have information available to help them cast an informed vote.
USFA Nominating Committee slate: I'd hoped to put links to information about this slate, but the only item I could find was this article on Fencing.Net from last December announcing the nominees. Two of the nominees are good folks who have been of great service to the Des Moines Fencing Club in the past.
US Fencers for Change slate: This slate's website gives the candidate biographies and platform.
Ballots were supposed to have been mailed on May 7, so we ought to be getting them in the mail soon. Study the slates, ask questions, and cast your vote.
~ R. J. Lesch
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Fencing Gear for Sale!
There is some fencing gear currently available for sale. Please see Jennifer at club if you are interested in either of these items or email her at jlsemon@mchsi.com
Dry foil, size 5. Great for practice! Hardly used! Originally purchased from American Fencers' Supply. German grip. Can be purchased new for $38 plus shipping, asking $25.
Dry epee, size 5. Great for practice! Hardly used! Also purchased from American Fencers' Supply. German grip. Can be purchased new for $54 plus shipping. Asking $35.
I purchased these dry weapons just before starting to fence at a club that only practiced on electric strips and just have never switched back to them. Dry weapons are great for practice so you don't wear out the wires, tips or blades on your electric weapons.
If you have gear you would like to part with, please provide us with the information and we will make periodic posts to the blog.
Dry foil, size 5. Great for practice! Hardly used! Originally purchased from American Fencers' Supply. German grip. Can be purchased new for $38 plus shipping, asking $25.
Dry epee, size 5. Great for practice! Hardly used! Also purchased from American Fencers' Supply. German grip. Can be purchased new for $54 plus shipping. Asking $35.
I purchased these dry weapons just before starting to fence at a club that only practiced on electric strips and just have never switched back to them. Dry weapons are great for practice so you don't wear out the wires, tips or blades on your electric weapons.
If you have gear you would like to part with, please provide us with the information and we will make periodic posts to the blog.
Friday, March 14, 2008
DMFC Photos on 3/17
Monday night (3/17) we're going to take some club photos between 7:45 and 8:15. Please wear your whites for the photos! Dawn will be doing the honors for us. The youth will do photos after classes and the adults before classes begin.
Hope to see everyone there!
Hope to see everyone there!
Monday, March 10, 2008
Updated: DMFC fencers at the NAC in Rosemont
After four days of fencing at the NAC E in Rosemont, Illinois, here are the results for DMFC's fine cadre of fencers:
Friday:
Division III men's sabre: R. J. Lesch, 43 of 88; Preston Kirkpatrick, 50 of 88.
Saturday:
Division II men's sabre: Preston Kirkpatrick, 44 of 115
Division II women's epee: Sydney Royal, 82 of 114; Jennifer Semon, 83 of 114.
Division III women's foil: Bethany Dorin, 66 of 110; Dawn Tigas, 89 of 110.
Sunday:
Division II men's epee: Jim Musgrave, 20 of 119
Veterans men's sabre: R. J. Lesch, 19 of 49
Monday:
Division II men's foil: David Bell, 27 of 118; Jim Musgrave, 42 of 118.
Full results are available on the USFA website (www.usfencing.org).
Overall, I felt that we all fenced at or near the best of our abilities and handled ourselves well. I'll have some more specific comments later, and I hope the other fencers will add theirs. I also thought this was a well-run NAC.
~ R. J.
Friday:
Division III men's sabre: R. J. Lesch, 43 of 88; Preston Kirkpatrick, 50 of 88.
Saturday:
Division II men's sabre: Preston Kirkpatrick, 44 of 115
Division II women's epee: Sydney Royal, 82 of 114; Jennifer Semon, 83 of 114.
Division III women's foil: Bethany Dorin, 66 of 110; Dawn Tigas, 89 of 110.
Sunday:
Division II men's epee: Jim Musgrave, 20 of 119
Veterans men's sabre: R. J. Lesch, 19 of 49
Monday:
Division II men's foil: David Bell, 27 of 118; Jim Musgrave, 42 of 118.
Full results are available on the USFA website (www.usfencing.org).
Overall, I felt that we all fenced at or near the best of our abilities and handled ourselves well. I'll have some more specific comments later, and I hope the other fencers will add theirs. I also thought this was a well-run NAC.
~ R. J.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
No Youth Hour Thursday
Just a reminder that there will be no fencing from 7-8pm on Thursday, March 6th. There will be open fencing from 8-10pm that day. This is because most of the coaching staff will be in Rosemont, Illinois for the NAC. Wish us luck and we'll see you next week!
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Eight to Rosemont
Eight fencers from the Des Moines Fencing Club will fence in the North America Cup tournament in Rosemont, Illinois, from March 7-10, 2008. This is double our previous best for a NAC.
Granted the location has a lot to do with so many of us going. It still shows how far we've come as a club.
The Iowa Division is sending fourteen fencers in all, which has to be a record for the division.
~ R. J.
Granted the location has a lot to do with so many of us going. It still shows how far we've come as a club.
The Iowa Division is sending fourteen fencers in all, which has to be a record for the division.
~ R. J.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
ISU F.R.O.S.T.Y. Open Results
The ISU F.R.O.S.T.Y. Open was held on Saturday (2/2) at ISU. Congratulations to the Des Moines and Johnston fencers who participated. Our clubs posted some excellent results:
Mixed Foil:
2nd Jim Musgrave
6th Larry Stevens
6th Mark Walter
Mixed Epee:
3rd Ethan Nutter
5th Kevin Sullivan
8th Kevin Powell
12th Eric Everett
Mixed Saber:
3rd Preston Kirkpatrick
3rd RJ Lesch
12th Nile Engelhardt
13th Allison Crawford
15th Dawn Tigas
18th Samantha Crawford
Well done, everyone!
Steve
Mixed Foil:
2nd Jim Musgrave
6th Larry Stevens
6th Mark Walter
Mixed Epee:
3rd Ethan Nutter
5th Kevin Sullivan
8th Kevin Powell
12th Eric Everett
Mixed Saber:
3rd Preston Kirkpatrick
3rd RJ Lesch
12th Nile Engelhardt
13th Allison Crawford
15th Dawn Tigas
18th Samantha Crawford
Well done, everyone!
Steve
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Upcoming Tournaments!
There are some great tournaments coming up for both youth and adults!
The following is just a partial list. Many more tournaments are shown on AskFred.net
Ironman Epee, February 10th (St. Paul, MN, epee only)
Iowa Divisionals, February 23rd (Des Moines, IA - Events TBD)
Aramis Youth Tournament, March 9th (St. Paul, MN)
Minnesota Open, March 15-16th (St. Paul, MN)
Hawkeye Novice, March 29th (Iowa City, IA)
Midwest Sectionals, April 12-13th (St. Paul, MN - Adult and Y12 Events)
Capitol City RYC, April 12-13th (Lincoln, NE)
If you are interested in any of these tournaments, please let the coaching staff know. We may be able to have a coach there to work with you. In particular, we are hoping to have coaches available at both Midwest Sectionals and the RYC in Lincoln.
~ Jennifer ~
The following is just a partial list. Many more tournaments are shown on AskFred.net
Ironman Epee, February 10th (St. Paul, MN, epee only)
Iowa Divisionals, February 23rd (Des Moines, IA - Events TBD)
Aramis Youth Tournament, March 9th (St. Paul, MN)
Minnesota Open, March 15-16th (St. Paul, MN)
Hawkeye Novice, March 29th (Iowa City, IA)
Midwest Sectionals, April 12-13th (St. Paul, MN - Adult and Y12 Events)
Capitol City RYC, April 12-13th (Lincoln, NE)
If you are interested in any of these tournaments, please let the coaching staff know. We may be able to have a coach there to work with you. In particular, we are hoping to have coaches available at both Midwest Sectionals and the RYC in Lincoln.
~ Jennifer ~
DMFC Closed President's Day (2/18)
The Des Moines Fencing Club will not be holding practice on President's Day (2/18) due to the building being closed.
Steve
Steve
Monday, January 28, 2008
Icicle Invitational Results!
Congratulations to the Des Moines Fencing Club members who took part in the Icicle Invitational in Lincoln, Nebraska this weekend. We had some great results!
Special congratulations go to Ben Dorin, who earned his E2008, and Preston Kirkpatrick, who earned his D2008.
Great job, Des Moines fencers!
Mixed Epee
Jennifer Semon – 30th
Sydney Royal – 34th
Mixed Foil
Jim Musgrave – 9th
Bethany Dorin – 10th
Ben Dorin – 11th (earned his E2008)
Dawn Tigas – 32nd
Mixed Sabre
Preston Kirkpatrick – 3rd (earned his D2008)
RJ Lesch – 9th
Allison Crawford – 15th
Dawn Tigas – 17th
Women’s Epee
Jennifer Semon – 6th
Sydney Royal – 7th
Women’s Foil
Bethany Dorin – 2nd
Dawn Tigas – 14th
Women’s Sabre
Dawn Tigas – 3rd
Special congratulations go to Ben Dorin, who earned his E2008, and Preston Kirkpatrick, who earned his D2008.
Great job, Des Moines fencers!
Mixed Epee
Jennifer Semon – 30th
Sydney Royal – 34th
Mixed Foil
Jim Musgrave – 9th
Bethany Dorin – 10th
Ben Dorin – 11th (earned his E2008)
Dawn Tigas – 32nd
Mixed Sabre
Preston Kirkpatrick – 3rd (earned his D2008)
RJ Lesch – 9th
Allison Crawford – 15th
Dawn Tigas – 17th
Women’s Epee
Jennifer Semon – 6th
Sydney Royal – 7th
Women’s Foil
Bethany Dorin – 2nd
Dawn Tigas – 14th
Women’s Sabre
Dawn Tigas – 3rd
New blog!
We've decided to try something new! We now have a Des Moines Fencing Club Blog! The board members and coaches will be using this blog to post interesting links, tips, articles, tournament announcements, results, just about anything you can think of!
Help us get started! Tell us what you want to see!
If you have any questions, as always, you can email the club at dmfc@mchsi.com!
Help us get started! Tell us what you want to see!
If you have any questions, as always, you can email the club at dmfc@mchsi.com!
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