Junior and Cadet World Championships 2009 tally many U.S. medals

April 12, 2009

BELFAST, IRELAND - Many elite young fencers from around the world came to Belfast with great hopes and dreams to take home a medal, but only a few would realize this dream.  It appears the USA took quite a few with the women rockin' the house to gold several times, the most recent being USA Junior Team Women's Foil who stomped on Poland, Russia and Italy to win the prize.

Easter Sunday will hold the second day of team events, with the closing on Monday.

As an unofficial of the team, I was able to watch from the sidelines as the entire cadre of fencers and staff did a fabulous job.  Andrea Lagan and Alan Kuver worked tirelessly to keep the team in the right place at the right time with the right credentials and provisions for the fencers.  They put out a newsletter each evening and slid it under the all the US doors.  The trainers were on top of all the medical needs of the fencers keeping watch on individual problematic muscles.  They were amazing.  The armorers, Bill Murray and Scott Harkey put in long hours each day insuring all equipment would pass control and perform well during competition.  E.D. Harkey came in to pinch hit for Bill who had to leave a little early. The coaches, both personal and team were all incredibly patient and helpful.  I was very impressed with everyone, of course including our fencers and some of their parents to came.

The medal count ended this way:

Gold

Cadet Women's Foil - Nzingha Prescod

Cadet Women's Sabre - Diamond Wheeler

Junior Women's Foil Team - Nicole Ross, Nzingha Prescod, Lee Kiefer, Epiphany Georges

Silver

Cadet Women's Foil - Lee Kiefer

Cadet Women's Epee - Katherine Holmes

Jr Men's Team Foil - Gerek Meinhardt, Miles Chamley-Watson, Alex Massiaslas and Zain Shaito

Bronze

Cadet Men's Foil - Alexander Massialas

Cadet Women's Sabre - Nicole Glon

Junior Men's Sabre - Darrel Holmes

Junior Men's Foil - Gerek Meinhardt

Jr Women's Team Epee - Courtney Hurley, Susie Scanlan, Francesca Bassa, Hannah Safford

                            ~Terry Harkey, unofficial team cheerleader