Club News

Inspired by the USA Fencing pathways included in their membership welcoming kit, here are the few exapmles of starting goals, and our ad-ons from years of working with people of all ages.
From recreational fencing, to making the Team USA and Olympic qualification, fencing offers a place for everyone, across ages and athleticism.

Pathway 1 · Just love the sport

Recreational fencing

Most members aren’t training for the Olympic or Paralympic games. They show up to club practice, fence locally a few times a year and love it. That’s a complete and valid version of being a USA Fencing member.

If you want a deeper relationship with the sport without the points chase, look into refereeing, coaching certification or volunteering at events. The community needs people who care.

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Pathway 2 · High school to NCAA

High school fencing is more than just another school sport—it provides students with opportunities for athletic growth, leadership, academic balance, and, for some, a pathway to collegiate competition. Whether a student fences recreationally or aspires to compete at the highest level, participating in a high school team complements club training and broadens the overall experience.
Read more on the USA Fencing website.

Benefits of High School Fencing

Team Experience

Unlike most individual fencing tournaments, high school fencing emphasizes team competition.
Athletes learn to:

• Support teammates under pressure
• Contribute to a collective goal
• Develop leadership and communication skills
• Build school pride and lasting friendships

Personal Development

Fencing helps students develop qualities that extend well beyond athletics:

• Discipline and responsibility
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving
• Confidence and resilience
• Time management
• Sportsmanship and respect

Physical and Mental Fitness

Fencers improve:

• Agility and coordination
• Balance and reaction speed
• Endurance
• Decision-making under pressure
• Concentration and emotional control

Leadership Opportunities

Many high school teams offer opportunities to:

• Serve as team captain
• Mentor younger teammates
• Organize practices and events
• Represent the team in league activities

These experiences strengthen college applications regardless of athletic recruitment.
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Olympia Fencing Center has a strong high school championship legacy, particularly through the Cambridge Rindge and Latin Falcons program, which Olympia supports.

Olympia’s published results document three consecutive years of Massachusetts State Championship success from 2015–2017.

• 2015: Matthew Mansoor won the Massachusetts State Championship in Men’s Épée and was captain of the State Champion Falcons men’s épée team.
• 2016: Rebecca Barnes became State Champion in Women’s Épée. Isabela Trumble and Jonas Hansen also earned third-place finishes. Leo Chen won the Men’s Foil State Championship.
• 2017: Noah Scott became State Champion in Men’s Épée, while Jonas Hansen and Lilla Csoknyai earned third-place finishes. All three represented Cambridge Rindge and Latin’s Falcons.

This success is particularly meaningful because Olympia’s connection to high-school fencing isn’t simply about producing individual medalists. Olympia coaches and alumni have helped build and support a pathway from club fencing → high-school team competition → college fencing.
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🎓 From High School Champion to College Fencer

The results also demonstrate what this pathway can produce. Olympia’s high-school athletes have gone on to fence at schools including Penn State, Stanford, Duke, Notre Dame, Harvard, Yale, UNC, Stevens, Northeastern and NJIT, with several competing and winning the NCAA Championships.

Olympia Fencing Center has helped generations of young fencers develop from beginners and youth competitors into high-school champions and collegiate athletes. Our athletes have won Massachusetts State Championships, represented their schools at the highest levels of high-school fencing, and continued their fencing careers at some of the nation’s leading universities—including Harvard, Yale, Notre Dame, Penn State, Duke, Stanford and others.

The goal isn’t simply to win a high-school championship. It’s to build the skills, confidence, discipline and competitive experience that can open the door to the next level.

Olympia: Where the path from club fencing to high-school success can lead all the way to college fencing.

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Pathway 3. The Path to College Fencing

Only a relatively small percentage of high school fencers compete in college, but many students successfully continue their fencing careers at the collegiate level through varsity or club programs.

Step 1: Build a Strong Foundation

Students should:

• Train consistently at their fencing club.
• Participate in high school competitions.
• Develop solid technical and tactical skills.
• Maintain strong academic performance.

Step 2: Compete Regionally and Nationally

College coaches often evaluate athletes based on performances in:

• Local tournaments
• Regional events
• National competitions
• USA Fencing rankings

Consistent results over several seasons are more valuable than a single standout tournament.

Step 3: Academic Preparation

Strong grades remain essential. NCAA institutions expect student-athletes to succeed academically as well as athletically.

Students should:

• Take challenging coursework when appropriate.
• Maintain a competitive GPA.
• Prepare for college entrance requirements.

Step 4: College Recruiting

Beginning during the sophomore and junior years, athletes can:

• Research schools that fit both academically and athletically.
• Attend college camps and clinics.
• Communicate with college coaches.
• Share competition results and academic information.

Step 5: Compete in College

There are several collegiate pathways:

• NCAA Varsity Programs – Highly competitive teams at colleges and universities that compete in NCAA championships.
• Club Programs – Many schools offer competitive club fencing through organizations such as the USACFC, providing strong competition without NCAA varsity status.
• Recreational Opportunities – Students can continue fencing while focusing primarily on academics and personal enjoyment.

Skills College Coaches Value

Recruiters look beyond tournament results. They also value athletes who demonstrate:

• Consistent improvement
• Coachability
• Positive attitude
• Competitive composure
• Strong work ethic
• Leadership
• Academic achievement

How Parents Can Support the Journey

Parents play an important role by:

• Encouraging consistent practice rather than focusing solely on results.
• Supporting academic success alongside athletic goals.
• Helping students develop independence and responsibility.
• Keeping the experience enjoyable while maintaining realistic expectations.

A Long-Term Perspective

Not every student aims to fence in college, and that’s perfectly acceptable. High school fencing offers valuable life lessons regardless of future athletic goals. For those who do aspire to compete collegiately, combining strong academics, regular club training, high school team participation, and competitive tournament experience creates the strongest foundation for success.

Whether the destination is an NCAA varsity roster, a collegiate club team, or simply a lifelong appreciation for the sport, high school fencing provides students with experiences that foster confidence, character, and lasting friendships while opening doors to future educational and athletic opportunities.

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Pathway 4. College fencing

Nearly 50 colleges field varsity fencing teams across NCAA Division I, II and III. Fencing is one of the few sports where a strong Cadet or Junior record can open doors at academic schools that don’t field football teams.
Read more on the USA Fencing website.

Not aiming for varsity? Hundreds of schools also have collegiate club teams: lower commitment, real competition, same community. The U.S. Association of Collegiate Fencing Clubs runs a national championship every year.

If you’re a high school fencer or the parent of one, the recruiting pathway is real and the timeline matters. Start early.
https://www.usafencing.org/college-programs

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Pathway 5 · The big one

Team USA 

Olympic team, Paralympic team, Cadet/Junior/Senior world teams. The selection criteria run on points and rankings, and the road from local tournament to the Olympic or Paralympic podium is real, long and well-mapped.

If this is the goal, talk to your coach early about starting.

Our club has had the honor to work with and support these athelets to international sucess since it’s first year, of existence!

Athlete	International achievement	Year
Natalya Cafasso	World Silver Medalist, Cadet Women’s Épée	2026
Natalya Cafasso	No. 3 FIE Junior World Ranking; 3-event Junior World Cup podium streak	2025–26
Gabriel Feinberg	Junior World Championships Team Silver, Men’s Épée	2022
Gabriel Feinberg	Junior World Cup Team Gold, Riga	2022
Luka Loncar	Cadet World Cup Gold, Grenoble	2022
Isabel Di Tella	Pan American Championships Team Gold, Senior Women’s Épée	2022
Emily Vermeule	World Silver Medalist, Women’s Épée	2018
Emily Vermeule	Youth Olympic Games Team Bronze; 5th individual	2018
Robert Hondor	Cadet World Cup Team Silver, Bratislava	2016
Spencer Vermeule	Cadet Circuit Team Gold, Grenoble	2019
Spencer Vermeule	European Cadet Circuit Team Silver, Budapest	2019
Spencer Vermeule	Pan American Cadet Championships Team Bronze	2019
Cristina Gordet	World Veterans Bronze Medalist, Women’s Épée	2013

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 Pathway 6 · Age 40 and up

Veteran fencing

Some of the most competitive fencing in the country happens after age 40. Veteran categories run from Vet 40 through Vet 80, with national championships, world team selection and the kind of camaraderie that comes from a few decades of shared bouts.
Read more on the USA Fencing website.

Started fencing late? Common. Many Veteran fencers picked up the sport in their 30s, 40s or later.

Our club is proud to be home to one of the largest groups of competitive adults in the country, and one of the first Veteran world medalists: in 2013, Cristina Gordet achieved one of the highest honors in veteran fencing by winning the Bronze Medal in the Veteran 50 Women’s Épée at the World Fencing Championships in Bulgaria.

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Pathway 7 · For the parents in the room

                          An alternate pathway for parents

If you signed up so your kid could fence, this one’s for you.
There’s more here than driving to practice.
Three ways to get closer to the sport without picking up a weapon:

1	Volunteer at events. Help with check-in, awards or hospitality at a local or regional tournament. Even a two-hour shift keeps things running smoothly and gives you a front-row seat.
2	Try fencing yourself. A lot of parents discover they love the sport after watching a few bouts. Most clubs offer beginner classes for adults, and Veteran age groups (40+) have local, national and world-level competitions.
3	Learn the rules, if you’re curious. Down the road, some parents choose to referee or coach. For now, study the rules or talk to coaches at your club. Knowing what’s happening on the strip makes watching twice as good.

Worth knowing

Pathways aren’t permanent. A college fencer becomes a recreational fencer becomes a Veteran. A Veteran can become a referee. A Team USA hopeful can pivot to coaching. A parent watching from the sidelines picks up a foil. You’ll probably move through more than one over the course of your time in this sport. That’s normal.

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DISCLAIMER
This post combines our recommendations with the USA Fencing welcome pack, for informative purposes only.