Three youth fencers, including one from Barrington, scored fifth place finishes at the Winter Regional Youth Circuit (RYC) fencing tournament sponsored by Lilov Fencing Academy, Cedar Grove, NJ, recently.  

The New Jersey RYC is one in a series of youth events for fencers aged 14-years-old and under with competitions divided by age group and weapon category. Athletes attended from New England, New York, and Pennsylvania.  

Emma Mueller from Barrington, the youngest of the three fencers from RIFAC, placed fifth in the Y-10 women’s foil category (for fencers aged 10-years-old and under). Henri Degremont from Wakefield finished fifth in Y-12 men’s foil (for fencers aged 12-years-old and under). Teammate Ian Marshall from East Providence finished fifth in Y-14 men’s foil (for fencers aged 14-years-old and under). The three RIFAC fencers train with Barrington resident Alex Ripa, RIFAC owner and head coach, and the coaching staff including Jeff Mooney, Matt Duquette, and Jimmy Whittle. 

On Sunday, Dec. 11, Boston Fencing Club held a Junior Olympic qualifying tournament restricted to members of the New England Division of the United States Fencing Association.  The New England Division, despite its name, comprises only fencing clubs in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. 

Hannah Solley, who lives in Barrington, won a silver medal in women’s sabre. Emilee Eastman from Lincoln placed seventh in women’s epee. Sean Feeney, a Riverside resident, earned a seventh place medal in men’s sabre. Nick Kilgore from Norton, Mass. finished in eighth place in men’s foil, and Alex Konert from Bristol finished eighth in men’s epee.

All the athletes qualified for Junior Olympics.

The women’s fencing team from RIFAC scored multiple, top-eight medals at a Regional Junior Cadet Circuit tournament held at Boston Fencing Club in Brighton, Mass. on Dec. 17-18.

Victoria Mueller, who lives in Barrington, reached the seventh spot in cadet women’s epee and Hannah Solley, finished sixth in cadet women’s sabre. Cassie Navalta from Medfield, Mass., outscored significant competition with a first place gold medal win in cadet women’s foil, and Alexandra McDonald from Tiverton placed sixth in junior women’s foil followed closely by Julia Shalansky, a Providence resident, who finished eighth. Hannah Philip, from Rehoboth, Mass., won bronze in junior women’s epee, and Sarah Engelmann from East Greenwich finished in eighth in cadet women’s sabre.