USA Fencing

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – On the heels of a successful Olympic Games in Rio, the North American Cup circuit will kick off the 2016-17 season in Detroit from Oct. 7-10 at the Cobo Center, 1 Washington Blvd.

The four-day competition begins on Friday and runs through Monday with events including more than 1,800 fencers, including members of the 2016 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams.

Events will be held in each of the three weapons (epee, foil and saber) in the following categories: Division I, Wheelchair, Cadet (U17) Individual, Cadet Team and Division II.

Among the athletes scheduled to compete include the following members of the 2016 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams:

• Race Imboden (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Div I Men’s Foil), 2016 U.S. Olympic Team bronze medalist
• Kelley Hurley (San Antonio, Texas / Div  Women’s Epee), 2012 U.S. Olympic Team bronze medalist
• Courtney Hurley (San Antonio, Texas / Div I Women’s Epee), 2012 U.S. Olympic Team bronze medalist
• Kat Holmes (Washington, D.C. / Div I Women’s Epee), 2016 Olympian
• Joey Brinson (Florence, Miss. / Wheelchair Men’s Saber), two-time Paralympian

Competition will begin daily at 8 a.m. and will conclude at approximately 8 p.m. The Division I events will serve as the one of the first qualifying events for the 2017 Senior World Championships while the cadet events are a key portion of the qualifying process for the 2017 Cadet Worlds.

In addition to fencing action, members of the community will have the opportunity to meet members of the 2016 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams as the USA Fencing Celebrates Rio tour comes to Detroit.

This hometown tour, which previously included stops in San Francisco, New York City, Houston and Portland, is an opportunity for fans to celebrate Team USA’s four medal wins at the Olympic Games as well as meet the fencers and be introduced to the sport for the first time.

The schedule for the USA Fencing Celebrates Rio in Detroit is as follows:

Friday, Oct. 7
Fencing Demonstration at Cadillac Square
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Come check out live fencing demonstrations and get autographs from Rio Olympians Jason Pryor (South Euclid, Ohio) and Race Imboden (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Paralympian Joey Brinson.

Saturday, Oct. 8
Team USA Celebration – Cobo Hall Ballroom
5 – 6 p.m.
Reception with U.S. Olympic Team fencers Race Imboden and Jason Pryor and Paralympic Team members Joey Brinson and Lauryn DeLuca (Parma, Ohio)
Admission: $25
RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/celebrate-rio-with-americas-olympic-paralympic-fencers-registration-28337541349

USA Fencing Family Celebration – Cobo Hall B and C Finals Stage
7 – 8 p.m.
Members of the 2016 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams will be recognized on the finals stage in Halls B and C. Come meet U.S. Olympians and Paralympians and Celebrate Rio with cake and autograph signings.
Free and open to the public.

Visit www.usfencingresults.com for complete rosters and seeding for each event.

Competition schedule for the NAC is as follows (note: all times listed are estimated start times, not check-in times):

Friday, Oct. 7
8 a.m.
Division I Women’s Foil
Cadet Men’s Epee

9 a.m.
Wheelchair Men’s Epee

1 p.m.
Cadet Men’s Saber
Wheelchair Women’s Epee
Division II Women’s Epee

Saturday, Oct. 8
8 a.m.
Division I Men’s Foil
Division I Women’s Epee

9 a.m.
Wheelchair Women’s Foil

11 a.m.
Cadet Women’s Saber

Noon
Division II Men’s Epee

1 p.m.
Wheelchair Men’s Foil

2 p.m.
Division II Women’s Foil

Sunday, Oct. 9
8 a.m.
Division I Men’s Epee
Division II Men’s Foil

9 a.m.
Wheelchair Men’s Saber

10:20 a.m.
Division I Men’s Saber

1 p.m.
Wheelchair Women’s Saber

4 p.m.
Cadet Women’s Foil
Division II Men’s Epee