January 2026 SJCC, Day 2 Recap

MEMPHIS, TN - The  2026 Super Junior and Cadet Circuit continues to showcase elite young talent and the resilience needed to succeed at a national level. For many young fencers, the event represents more than adding points or podium finishes; it’s about responding to earlier setbacks from earlier in the season. 

One fencer who knows this story well is Aram Clark (Tim Morehouse Fencing Club). After missing the top 8 at the 2026 Kansas City Junior Olympics, Clark turned that loss into motivation. Rather than letting the result upset him, he returned to training with renewed focus, adjusting his approach and sharpening his mindset. 

“We did a lot of fencing, a lot of drills. We locked things in,” he says. “Maybe JOs didn’t go so well, but I think that transferred here.”

Between the Kansas City Junior Olympics and the Memphis SJCC, Clark added more private lessons with his coach to address his footwork, adjustments that paid off as he captured the gold.

Skipper Cortright (Bay Area Fencing Club) entered the round of 64s ranked 22nd. Unfazed by the seeding, Cortright worked his way through direct elimination, defeating higher-ranked opponents. His performance culminated in a tightly contested final bout that went down to the last touch, securing a 15-14 victory.  

“I was nervous the entire time. I started off great, started off strong,” Cortright says. “Luckily, I was able to pull it out at the end.”

With momentum on his side, Cortright is looking to the future in the hopes of getting his coach the medal he deserves. 

With one more day of the SJCC, fencers continue to show resiliency and adaptability. Memphis stands as a reminder that setbacks can be the breakthrough needed to win gold.