January 5, 2011
For Immediate Release
Fencers come to Dallas for North American Cup Fencing
The original extreme sport comes back to Dallas! The Dallas Texas Convention & Visitors Bureau, a long time partner with USA Fencing, will host the largest North American Cup in USA Fencing history this week.
More than 3,000 of the nation's best fencers will compete. Several foreign competitors are expected from such nations as Canada, Great Britain, Israel and more. The Dallas North American Cup is the third senior-level Cup of the season, and will take place January 14 – 17 , 2011.Dallas area for the four-day weekend.
Dallas is no stranger to fencing. North American Cups have been held in nearby Arlington before, and there are many active fencing clubs in the Dallas area.
This is the fourth of six North American Cup competitions held around the country this season. Elite-level athletes will compete at this event for spots on the U.S. team to the World Fencing Championships in Catania, Italy, in November 2011.
Junior (Under-20) and Cadet (Under-17) will be fencing for the right to be on the U.S. team to the World Junior and Cadet Fencing Championships in Jordan in April 2011, as well.
Events will be held in Junior, Cadet and Open age groups in all three weapons: epee, foil and saber; formats and techniques vary for each weapon. More information will be available on site for spectators who are not familiar with fencing.
The public is invited to attend all events free of charge. Fencing will begin at around 8:30 am each day in Halls A and B and run at least into the early evening. This is a great opportunity to see some of the World’s best athletes in action, including World, Pan American and Olympic medalists.
Dallas Natives Rank High
Some of the top-ranked athletes in the competition will be Dallas-area athletes.
Mona Shaito, women’s foil (16, Garland, Texas/Fencing Inst. Texas): Shaito earned the bronze at the 2010 Junior Nationals, silver at the November 2010 Junior NAC. She also won silver at a European Cadet event in Germany this past November.
Zain Shaito, men’s foil (20, Garland, Texas/FIT/NYAC): Mona Shaito’s older brother Zain earned the bronze at the first senior North American Cup of the season in October.
Erica Zhao, women’s saber (15, Plano, Texas/Dallas FC): Zhao won a European Cadet Cup in Germany on December 13. She is ranked seventh in the US Under-17 standings.
Rodney Chen, Men’s Foil (17, Dallas, Texas/Fencing Inst. Texas): Chen earned fifth at the 2010 National Championships and is ranked 10th Under-20.
For a list of North Texas clubs, you can see usfencing.org/texas-clubs/north-texas.
About North American Cups: NACs held by USA Fencing each year at changing locations around the country. NACs are selection competitions for World Championship teams in the Cadet (Under-17), Junior (Under-20), Senior (Division I), Veteran, and Wheelchair divisions. USA Fencing also holds developmental NACs for Youth in three different age groups, and developmental Division II and Division III events which are open to all ages.
About USA Fencing: The United States Fencing Association is the recognized NGB for the sport of fencing in the United States. The USFA is affiliated with the Féderation Internationale d'Escrime (FIE), the international federation for fencing. USA Fencing is based at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. For more visit www.usfencing.org, www.facebook.com/usfencing or www.twitter.com/usfencing.
For more information on USA Fencing’s North American Cup December visit usfencing.org/events/4656.
For More Information Please Contact:
Cindy Bent Findlay *pr@usfencing.org
614.746.6733 * www.USFencing.org
Tag(s): News
