USA Fencing

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – In 2012, USA Fencing named its Olympic and Paralympic Teams for the London Games at the National Championships in Virginia Beach.

From Jan. 17-20, more than 1,200 fencers, including 2012 Olympians and 2016 hopefuls, will return to the Virginia Beach Convention Center (1000 19^th St.) for the January North American Cup.

The fourth stop on the 2013-2014 NAC season circuit for fencers from throughout the United States as well as more than 30 nations, the January NAC will include competition in individual Division I, junior (U20) and wheelchair events as well as senior team events.

Competition will be held in Halls A-D of the Virginia Beach Convention Center. Each day’s sessions will begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at approximately 8 p.m. All events are free and open to the public.

The tournament will serve as a key component for the selection of athletes for the 2013 Senior World Championships as well as the 2014 Junior and Cadet Worlds.

The following 2012 U.S. Olympians are scheduled to compete in Virginia Beach:

• Lee Kiefer (Lexington, Ky. / foil), 2011 Senior World bronze medalist
• Dagmara Wozniak (Avenel, N.J. / saber), three-time Senior World team bronze medalist
• Nzingha Prescod (Brooklyn, N.Y. / foil), 2013 Marseille Grand Prix Champion
• Nicole Ross (New York City, N.Y. / foil), four-time Pan American Team Champion
• Daryl Homer (Bronx, N.Y. / saber), 2011 Pan American Champion
• Jeff Spear (Wynantskill, N.Y. / saber), 2012 Pan American silver medalist

The NAC lineup also includes three former Senior World Team medalists in women’s saber: three-time Senior World bronze medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad (Maplewood, N.J.), two-time Senior World bronze medalist Daria Schneider (New York City, N.Y.) and 2013 Senior world bronze medalist Eliza Stone (Chicago, Ill.)

In the wheelchair competition, London Paralympian Joey Brinson (Florence, Miss.) will fence in both the epee and foil events.

In addition to athletes from throughout the nation, 40 athletes from Virginia will be among the fencers taking the strip in their home state.

Click here to view a complete list of competitors and preliminary seeding. 

Competition schedule is as follows (all start times approximate, events run through completion):

Friday, Jan. 17
8:30 a.m.
Division I Men’s Foil
Junior Women’s Epee

9:30 a.m.
Wheelchair Men’s Epee

11:30 a.m.
Junior Men’s Saber

1:30 p.m.
Wheelchair Women’s Epee

Saturday, Jan. 18
8:30 a.m.
Division I Men’s Epee
Division I Women’s Saber

9:30 a.m.
Wheelchair Men’s Foil

1:30 p.m.
Wheelchair Women’s Foil

2 p.m.
Senior Men’s Team Saber
Junior Women’s Foil

Sunday, Jan. 19
8:30 a.m.
Division I Women’s Epee
Junior Men’s Foil

9:30 a.m.
Wheelchair Men’s Saber

11 a.m.
Senior Women’s Team Saber

1 p.m.
Division I Men’s Saber

1:30 p.m.
Senior Men’s Team Saber

Monday, Jan. 20
8:30 a.m.
Division I Women’s Foil
Junior Men’s Epee

1:30 p.m.
Senior Men’s Team Foil

2 p.m.
Senior Women’s Team Epee
Junior Women’s Saber