Two girls from Barrington representing the Rhode Island Fencing Academy & Club made their mark at the Cobra Challenge Super Youth Circuit fencing tournament held at the Meadowlands Exposition Center, in Secaucus, NJ, late last month.  

Emma Mueller from Barrington impressed the competition with a second place silver medal win in Y-10 girls’ epee (for fencers ages 10 and under).  

Daria (Dasha) Smuk, also from Barrington, made the top eight with an eighth place finish in Y-14 girls’ epee (for fencers ages 14 and under). 

The girls train at RIFAC’s East Providence facility under the guidance of owner and head coach Alex Ripa, coaches Jeff Mooney, Matt Duquette, Jimmy Whittle, and epee specialist Max Hampton.

The Super Youth event is one in a series of competitions for athletes ages 14 and under. Participating fencers with high-level finishes earn national points as part of a qualifying path to a larger national event in March or the national fencing championships in June.

Fencer wins gold

Hunter Roccabello, a sabre fencer from Barrington, won gold at an "E" and under tournament in Connecticut late last month.

Hunter represented the Rhode Island Fencing Academy & Club at the tournament, which was sponsored by Candlewood Fencing Center located in Danbury, Conn. 

An “E” and under event allows as participants only those fencers holding a national rating of “E” or those who are unrated. The United States Fencing Association awards ratings to fencers who have achieved high-level finishes at local, regional, or national tournaments. Ratings range from “A” at the highest to “E.” 

Hunter earned the "E" rating with the win in Connecticut.