Fairfield Fencing Academy
Link to the video HERE
A New Space
Fairfield Fencing Academy is pleased to announce that we have moved into a new facility that is only six minutes away from our old location. The move has been in the works for some time and will provide current and future students an exceptional place to develop their fencing.
Although the location does not have the large windows and modern feel of the previous, the new one, with its stain glass, has an atmosphere that can only be described as medieval. It sets itself apart as a truly unique location amongst the entire northeast.
The new space boasts an additional two strips, balcony for spectators, larger locker rooms, and additional space downstairs for future expansion. Bathrooms and water fountain are only a few steps away from the main fencing floor. Students and coaches alike are excited about its new potential and can't wait to find out what this coming season has in store.
Our new location can be found at 700 Old Stratfield Road Fairfield, CT 06825 inside the Old Family Church.
Fairfield High School Fencers Tops in the State 2015
Three members of the Fairfield Ludlowe/Warde Co-op fencing team recently won all-state honors at the individual state fencing championship at Hopkins School in New Haven. Ludlowe junior Gabrielle -Crowe took first place in the women's sabre division, while Warde senior Gazal Gulati and Ludlowe freshman Madison Lee also earned all-state honors. In team states, the women's sabre squad consisting of -Crowe, Anna and Gulati took first place in the women's sabre division. The women's foil squad consisting of Lee, Amy Ngaopraseut, Lian Ngaopraseut and Jillian Wrigley also took first place in the women's foil division, and the men's foil squad consisting of Ethan Grezda, Tomas Koeck, Chase O'Such and Nick Terepka took second in the men's foil division.
Justin Dion FFA Coach To Participate In U.S. Olympic Fencing Training Camp
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fairfield Fencing Academy is proud to congratulate coach and member Justin Dion on being selected to participate in the United States Olympic Fencing Training Camp in Colorado Springs, Colo. Prior to working at the Fairfield Fencing Academy, Dion was a four-time All-Northeast Fencing Conference First Team performer in epee at Sacred Heart University. He qualified for the NCAA Championships twice, finishing thirteenth in 2010 and eleventh in 2011. He was the Pioneers' first epee All-American.Dion caught the eye of the Olympic Fencing Program after going 4-2 in pools at a World Cup event in Italy. At that event, he blanked 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Jose Luis Abajo of Spain 5-0. Dion looks to participate in another World Cup event in May."Justin continues to improve as a world class epee fencer and I look for him to become one of the top five epeeists in the United States," said Sacred Heart Head Coach Thomas Vrabel. "He has not yet reached his full potential as a competitor. He has a special combination of amazing point control, height (6'5"), speed, and quickness that is rarely seen. Over his career as a Pioneer he had an incredible 11-1 record when the match was tied at 13 all and it was up to Justin to get the final win. Only Stuart Holmes has been a similar performer in that ultimate pressure situation. It will not surprise me at all if Justin Dion is on the US National Team for the World Championships or the Olympics over the next few years."
Fairfield High School Fencers Nab Medals in State Championships
NORTH HAVEN – Three squads on the combined Fairfield High School fencing team captured spots in the state team championships Saturday, led by the boys’ épée squad, which took third in the state.
Led by Chris Dannhauser, Matt Love and George Whiteside, the épéeists swept host North Haven 5-0 in the battle for third. Earlier, Fairfield defeated Hopkins 5-1, before falling to Norwich Free Academy in the semi-finals 5-4. Each Fairfield épéeist lost just two bouts all day. Cheshire was the eventual champ.
The Fairfield girls’ foil team took fifth, losing to Ledyard 5-3 in the first round, then sweeping Hand 5-0 before losing to Norwich Free Academy 5-2. Ivy Wong, and Kirsti Carr led the foilists.
The Fairfield girls’ épée team placed eighth on the day, losing a squeaker to Fitch5-4, then dropping matches to East Lyme and St. Bernard. Fencers Jessica Zaccagnino, Camilla Crosby, Leah Hintz and Brooklyn Curtain competed in épée for Fairfield.
“I’m very proud of my fencers, for what they’ve accomplished, especially the girls’ épée team. This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for them and they made it this far,” said Fairfield Coach Jim Roberts, who led all three squads to the state championship in just his first year at the helm. “I couldn’t be more proud because of all the work they’ve put in.”
More than 300 high school fencers from throughout Connecticut competed at Hopkins in New Haven a week before the team championships to determine which eight high school squads would battle for the top team spots. Fairfield’s Whiteside won the individual high school state championship in épée, while Hintz earned a spot on the All-State Team, along with Fairfield’s Drew Salko and Gabby Rotar-Crowe.
Members of the Fairfield High School boys épée squad, from left, Matt Love, Chris Dannhauser, George Whiteside and Liam Rafferty, captured third at the Connecticut High School Team Championship on Saturday. (Contributed photo)
Fairfield's George Whiteside, left, scores a point against Hopkins at the Connecticut High School Team Championship on Saturday. (Contributed photo) Whiteside won the individual state championship last week.