USA Fencing

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – More than 1,000 athletes, including 11 members of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team will compete in the USA Fencing November North American Cup in Cleveland from Nov. 8-11.

“We are excited to welcome the athletes and spectators of the USA Fencing North American Cup to Cleveland and our new Cleveland Convention Center,” said Greater Cleveland Sports Commission President and CEO David Gilbert. “An outstanding culinary scene, great entertainment options and a fantastic competition venue make downtown Cleveland a great host for this event.”

The November NAC is the first domestic tournament of the 2013-2014 season for Division I and Junior fencers and is a key qualifier for both the 2014 Senior and Junior World Championships.

Competition will begin at 8:30 a.m. daily in Halls B and C of the Cleveland Convention Center. Admission is free and open to the public.

“We’re looking forward to returning to Cleveland for the NAC and encourage the local community to come out this weekend and see some of the world’s best athletes firsthand,” said USA Fencing Interim Executive Director Kris Ekeren. “Not only will our London Olympians be fencing, but spectators will have the chance to watch many hopefuls for the 2016 team in action as well.”

Among the athletes fans will get to see in action are the following 2012 Olympians:

• Courtney Hurley (San Antonio, Texas / Epee), 2012 Olympic Team bronze medalist
• Kelley Hurley (San Antonio, Texas / Epee), 2012 Olympic Team bronze medalist
• Gerek Meinhardt (San Francisco, Calif. / Foil), two-time Olympian and two-time Senior World medalist
• Dagmara Wozniak (Avenel, N.J. / Saber), 2012 Olympian and three-time Senior World Team medalist
• Alexander Massialas (San Francisco, Calif. / Foil), 2012 Olympian and 2013 Senior World Team silver medalist
• Race Imboden (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Foil), 2012 Olympian and 2013 Senior World Team silver medalist
• Lee Kiefer (Lexington, Ky. / Foil), 2012 Olympian and 2011 Senior World bronze medalist
• Nzingha Prescod (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Foil), 2012 Olympian
• Nicole Ross (New York City, N.Y. / Foil), 2012 Olympian
• Daryl Homer (Bronx, N.Y. / Saber), 2012 Olympian
• Jeff Spear (Wynantskill, N.Y. / Saber), 2012 Olympian

Several dozen fencers with Northeastern Ohio connections will be fencing this weekend, including 2012 Olympian Lee Kiefer (Lexington, Ky.) who was born in Cleveland and 2013 Senior World Team epee fencer Jason Pryor (Colorado Springs, Colo.) who graduated from Charles F. Brush High School and competed for Ohio State University before moving to the U.S. Olympic Training Center to train full-time. 

Competition schedule for the weekend is as follows with all times listed as event start times. Each event will run to completion:

Friday, Nov. 8
8:30 a.m.
Division I Women’s Individual Foil
Junior Men’s Individual Epee

1:30 p.m.
Senior Men’s Team Foil
Junior Women’s Team Saber

2 p.m.
Senior Women’s Team Epee

Saturday, Nov. 9
8:30 a.m.
Division I Women’s Epee
Junior Men’s Individual Foil

11 a.m.
Senior Team Women’s Saber

1:30 p.m.
Division I Men’s Individual Saber
Senior Men’s Team Epee

Sunday, Nov. 10
8:30 a.m.
Division I Men’s Individual Epee

11:30 a.m.
Division I Women’s Individual Saber

2 p.m.
Junior Women’s Individual Foil

4 p.m.
Senior Men’s Team Saber

Monday, Nov. 11
8:30 a.m.
Division I Men’s Individual Foil
Junior Women’s Individual Epee

11 a.m.
Junior Men’s Individual Saber

11:30
Senior Women’s Team Foil