Columbia – November 7^th (Saturday)

Cadet (U17) Mixed Foil   Sat 11/07  9:30 AM
Y12 Mixed Foil   Sat 11/07 9:30 AM
10 Mixed Foil   Sat 11/07 12:00 PM
Y14 Mixed Foil   Sat 11/07 1:00 PM

Bluffton (Hilton Head) – November 15^th (Sunday)

Senior Mixed Epee   Sun 11/15 9:45 AM
Senior Mixed Foil   Sun 11/15 2:30 PM

Oct 10 – practice

Oct 17- no practice due to the Komen race

Oct 24 – practice

Oct 25 – Clemon Tiger Open

It turns out that the phone number on the About page for Coach Thad Schmenk had two of the digits reversed.  The correct number is 843-697-1528.

The About page has been updated. My apologies.

Here is a list of the Saturday practices and tournaments.

Sept. 12 – practice #1

Sept. 19 – practice #2

Sept. 26 – practice #3

Oct. 3 – practice #4

Oct. 10 – practice #5

Oct. 17 – practice #6

Oct. 24-25 – Tiger Open – no practice

Oct. 31 – practice #7

Nov. 7 – practice #8

Nov. 14 – Charlestonian Open

Nov. 21 – no practice, unless we need to make up a Saturday up due to an unforeseen cancellation

Nov. 28 – no practice – Thanksgiving

Dec. 5 – practice #9

Dec 12 – end of season in-house tournament

Important Notice:

I have just learned that all returning fencers must register between August 1 and August 7.  As of August 8, new students can start filling the slots.  Please register this week!  Thanks!

I apologize for the previous message stating that all fencers must register by August 1.  Apparantly, I misunderstood the coordinator at the rec. dept.  Sorry for any inconvenience.

Coach Thad

All returning students must be signed up by August 1st. If you are a returning student and you do not sign up by August 1st, you will be placed on the waiting list. (This is Mt. Pleasant Recreation’s rule).  If you sign up after August 1, this creates two problems: 1. there may not be a spot for you. 2. we will end up with beginners in our advanced classes.

Also, if you show up before August 1 and are told that the classes are full, this is okay. Just make sure that you are placed on the wait list. Any returning student who signs up before August 1 is guaranteed a spot. [Coach Thad has set the class limits low in order to control the number of new students in his Mt. Pleasant program]. Our program has grown so much that he is trying to limit new students to the Saturday classes via the City of Charleston program in order to be able to provide better instruction for my intermediate and advanced students. If you are a new student or returning student and have questions, please call Coach Thad at 216-3345 or 697-1528. Since Coach Thad Schmenk will be out of town from time to time, it is probably best to email him at thadsensei@hotmail.com.

Well, our fencing season has come to a close (well almost, see below) Thanks for the great year! I have enjoyed fencing with everyone. I am pround of what our club has accomplished this year: Our club grew, numerous parents have joined in, we celebrated Mr. Ed’s accomplishments as the oldest fencer in the USA, and we put on two successful USFA sanctioned tournaments. Quite the year! You should all be very proud of yourselves.

To end the year off well, we will host a small invitational foil competition with a columbia fencing club on May 30th. We will have a Y10 and Y14 event at 10:00 and a Y12 and Y17 event at 1:00. After, we will grill out by out at the pierce park pool (with a short walk of the gym on daniel island). I hope that all can join in. Please call and let me know if you are going to attend. 216-3345. I am looking forward to our next season which will start after labor day. Please make sure to register by August 1st.

Coach Thad

We caught some of the action from the Pirate Olympics on film. Click here to see the photos of you, your friends and your competitors.

Arrrrrgggh!

Photo credits:  Kate Fairchild, Emily Fairchild, Reggie Fairchild, and Mathew Beech.

At the end of the Open Epee tournament, the top 2 fencers heartily congratulated each other.  There’s nothing like competing with someone you respect.  Check out this photo.

David Hueske and Justin Mann appreciate the moment and the competition

This would have been a point in Epee, but in Foil it doesn't count because the tip is off target (off the silver lame)

Thad Schmenk and Justin Mann hosted a great tournament today.  There were 5 different ways to compete.  First, the under 10 foilers went toe to toe.  Then the under 12 foilers.  Next up was the sanctioned Open Epee tournament.  Justin Mann took the title in a very close 15-14 bout with David Hueske.  Tieing for 3rd were Thad Schmenk and Patrick _______.

There was a one touch tournament.  If you got a point scored against you, even in a double touch, you were gone.  Mr. Eljin won and received a warm round of applause from the crowd.  Finally, there was a 3-person round-robin team competition.  The first team to 45 points wins.  The teams routed heartily for their fellow pirates.

Here’s a photo from the U10 action.  More photos coming soon.