Youth fencers, all members of the New England Division of the United States Fencing Association, competed in a Y-14 tournament held recently at Boston Fencing Club in Brighton, Mass.  

The Y-14 restriction limited participating athletes to those who were aged 14-years-old or younger. The event was a qualifying tournament for Summer Nationals, the final, championship competition of the American fencing season.  

A team of fencers from the Rhode Island Fencing Academy & Club successfully challenged other athletes from clubs in Massachusetts and Rhode Island for top-eight podium finishes. 

Brian McDermott, from Barrington, led RIFAC’s tournament charge with a gold medal victory in men’s epee.  Teammate Aidan DiBenerdini, also from Barrington, made the podium with an eighth place finish in the same event. 

Brian and Aidan join the entire RIFAC team for training at the club’s E. Providence facility.