This past weekend, the LFC ventured to the “Gateway to the West” in search of growth, gold and glory!
The Bill Starr 4th Memorial RYC/RJCC, held this past weekend in St. Louis, Missouri, was a thrilling event that featured a mix of nail-biting competitions and impressive displays of skill by young fencers from various categories.
On Saturday, April 13th, the competition saw Elise Clemmer-Becht finishing 14th in the Y-12 Women’s Foil. Sophia Biesiada excelled with a second-place finish in the Y-14 Women’s Saber, catapulting her to the second spot in regional standings, while Yeteva Bowker made a remarkable debut with a fifth-place finish in the same category. Charlie Chitwood secured the ninth spot in the Y-10 Men’s Foil. The Cadet Men’s Foil was fiercely contested, with Roman Moldoveanu, Edward Depp, and Jackson Turner finishing 13th, 16th, and 25th out of 30 competitors respectively.
Sunday, April 14th, continued the trend of fierce competition and remarkable performances. Sophia Biesiada dominated the Y-12 Women’s Saber, taking home the gold and her second medal for the weekend. Elise Clemmer-Becht took the 13th spot in Y-14 Women’s Foil, maintaining her consistent performance. Sean McNary showed his prowess in the Men’s Épée, finishing fifth in the Cadet category and sixth in the Junior category, securing his spot in summer nationals. Bianca Phoenix performed admirably, securing a sixth place in Junior Women’s Épée and bringing home a top 8 medal. The Y-14 Men’s Foil was equally competitive, with Jackson Turner and Edward Depp finishing 16th and 20th out of 35, respectively. Edward’s performance was especially crucial as it earned him enough points to qualify for summer nationals.
The event was not only a display of skill and determination but also a stepping stone for many young fencers aiming for higher achievements in their fencing careers. The highlights included Sophia Biesiada’s gold medal performance and Jackson Turner’s closely contested bout, which was a display of both skill and composure under pressure. The weekend ended with several fencers not only winning medals but also securing their places in the upcoming summer nationals, setting the stage for more exciting performances in the future.