January 2026 SJCC, Day 2 Recap: Adaptability On and Off the Strip

MEMPHIS, Tn. - The last day of the 2026 January Super Junior and Cadet Circuit wrapped up in style. With the snowstorm hitting Memphis, fencers proved they would not let that stop them from competing. Adjustments were made both on the strip and at the airports. 

Royce Zhao (Z1 Fencing Club) adapted to his opponent’s attacking strategy during the tableau. In the final bout, when the gap began to close, Zhao kept his composure, turning to his coach for guidance. With the bout coming down to the final touch, trusting his preparation and adjustments, Zhao secured the gold. 

“I changed my preparation based on how deep or how precise the opponent is,” he says. “He was different from the earlier bout or from the earlier touches, so I changed based on that.”

Charlotte Choi (Tim Morehouse Fencing Club) faced difficult bouts throughout the tableau within her first national tournament. In the round of 64, Choi adopted a more assertive mentality, allowing her to stay composed under pressure. As the rounds progressed, she kept the same mindset while making key adjustments. Choi says that her clubmates at Tim Morehouse are a big reason she won. 

“Our club has this amazing support system, and I think it’s been really beneficial to my success.” 

Leon Fu (Swords Fencing Studio) not only won his first gold medal at an SJCC, but also won against a clubmate. While it was stressful, it was also fun, especially with the history of fencing with one another at Swords. Fu kept his mindset strong while taking a short walk around the strip between touches. 

“Sometimes when I would lose a touch, I would kind of walk around, reset,” he says. 

With the final day of the 2026 January Super Junior and Cadet Circuit completed, Memphis will be remembered as a weekend of adaptability, on and off the strip. Despite the weather conditions, the resilience of fencers with adaptability and support systems can take them a long way.