May 2025 SJCC Recap, Day 1: On-Target Attacks and Jewelry-Calmed Nerves Spark Four Golds in Reno

RENO, Nev. — Sometimes a fencer can’t seem to miss, while other times the aim just isn’t quite there.

Grace Feng (Tim Morehouse Fencing Club) knows both feelings — because she experienced both on Friday on her way to the Junior Women’s Foil gold medal, one of four titles awarded on the first day of the May 2025 Super Junior & Cadet Circuit tournament in Reno.

“There were quite a few moments where I kept missing the target, and that was really difficult,” she says. “So I had to work around that.”

By regaining her focus, Grace rediscovered perfect distance and was right on target the rest of the day. As for her celebration plans?

“I think I’ll go eat something, because I’m really hungry,” she says with a grin. “That’s about it.”

And that’s an on-target answer, too.

Aiden Tse (Premier Fencing Academy) — who captured Junior Men’s Saber gold — began the day hoping simply to fence well and reach the podium. Mid-tournament, the goal evolved.

“As the tournament went on, my goals changed,” he says. “I wanted to get that gold.”

Aiden, who’s been drilling balance work, credits staying calm and trusting his actions to overcome inevitable bumps in a long competition day. His emoji-of-the-day?

“Just a classic smiley face,” he says. “It’s been a good day.”

Cadet Women’s Epee champ Macy Franger (Escrime Du Lac) could relate. Relying on what she calls a “passive-aggressive style,” Macy listened closely to her coach — and to her nerves.

“As the field thins out, I get a little anxious, so I’ll wear my jewelry so I can play with it when I fence,” she says. “That kind of helps to calm the nerves.”

Like all of the day’s winners, Macy knows that champions rarely stand alone.

“I want to thank my coach — she’s always there for me and pushes me to work my hardest,” Macy says. “And I want to thank my mom, because even though she’s a little loud, she still supports me.”

Gold: Macy Franger (Escrime Du Lac)

Silver: Ifechi Olele (Elite Fencing Academy (VA) & Elite Fencing Academy (GA))

Bronze: Rie Merriman (Kaizen Academy LLC)

Bronze: Ariel Lin (Maximum Fencing Club)

5th: Michelle Wu (New York Fencing Academy)

6th: Aerin Presman (Medeo Fencing Club)

7th: Chantal Wang (Kaizen Academy LLC)

8th: Sama Abuelfutuh (Olympic Epee Masters)

Gold: Grace Feng (Tim Morehouse Fencing Club)

Silver: Addison Ho (Silicon Valley Fencing Center)

Bronze: Lana Lee (Elite Fencing Club)

Bronze: Chloe Chen (Elite Fencing Club)

5th: Renee Chen (Gutkovskiy Fencing Academy)

6th: Chloe Sun (SoCAL Fencing Center)

7th: Elizabeth Field (Tim Morehouse Fencing Club & Way of the Sword.Org)

8th: Rachel Kim (Silicon Valley Fencing Center)

Gold: Aiden Tse (Premier Fencing Academy)

Silver: Jeein Joo (South Bay Fencing Academy & Globus Fencing Academy)

Bronze: Semeon Ermakov (Fencing Academy of Denver & Nellya Fencers)

Bronze: Heonjun Cheong (Sabio Fencing Academy)

5th: Kainoa Poff (Premier Fencing Academy)

6th: Landon Su (Miracle Fencing Club)

7th: William Yan (Nazlymov Fencing Foundation)

8th: Obadiah Gremillion (Cali Fencing)

Gold: Arjun Deshmukh (Austin Fencers Club)

Silver: James Lin (Gutkovskiy Fencing Academy)

Bronze: Kyle Chen (Gutkovskiy Fencing Academy)

Bronze: Dylan Co (Massialas Foundation (M Team))

5th: Matthew Chen (Elite Fencing Club & Harvard-Westlake Wolverines)

6th: Hugo Rautureau (Rain City Fencing Center)

7th: Kristjan Dinsay (Elite Fencing Club)

8th: Lucas Mao (AIC Fencing Club)