Club News Week of March 1: Mission Accomplished at Rocky Point, Plus Upcoming Camps and Tournaments

Tim Morehouse Fencing Club’s Y10 Saber girls pose on the podium at Rocky Point RYC. The 4 fencers earned the top 4 spots in the event: Anika Von Marie Kabiling (Gold), Alaia Varah (Silver), Chloe Chen (Bronze), Katherine Ong (5th)

February 25, 2025— Tim Morehouse Fencing Club’s fencers delivered another slew of commanding performances at Mission RYC in Rocky Point, Long Island, this past weekend in both saber and foil. After an incredibly successful Junior Olympics, we were delighted to end February on a strong note. Even though Mission was not a designated event for TMFC—which meant our fencers had to compete without any strip coaching—they showed up in big numbers nonetheless.

The tournament results, which included 15+ medalists and more than a dozen top 16 finishes, proved the growing self-sufficiency of our fencers as the season has progressed. They have taken what they’ve learned from our elite coaching staff this year and applied it to become not just great students but great athletes in their own right. who have mastered the fundamentals of fencing and added their own styles to resounding success.

The success we had this month at Junior Olympics and Mission RYC starts young. While students get the bug for fencing at all different points in their life and everyone’s path is different, the value of fencing consistently at a young age in both group classes and private lessons cannot be understated if you want to eventually attain competitive success. The students who achieve the greatest results in competition (from our in-house Youth Cups to regional tournaments to the international circuits) stand apart for their commitment and dedication to the sport. This typically means taking at least 2 classes and 2 lessons a week. For example, Ella Calise (TMFC- Port Chester), who won Junior Women’s Foil at Junior Olympics this month, has the highest average for sessions/week among all TMFC fencers at 10 and more than 1,200 total!

But even if you’re not interested in one day competing at the Olympics, fencing is as good a sport as any to build essential athletic and life skills. What may seem like a purely individual sport can be so much more at a club like TMFC where we put great emphasis on building camaraderie and a sense of teamwork in our classes and camps, and we welcome all fencers regardless of their end goals.

We thought JOs were big for our Cadet and Junior fencers, but Mission RYC proved that the kids are alright and the future is bright! Take a look below at some of the biggest stories of this past weekend at Mission RYC. We are proud of everyone who competed, regardless of result. All of you have put in the work in your training and are building what we hope can become fruitful lifelong careers with fencing.

⭐ Royce Zhao's FIRST EVER gold medal, earned in Y14MS
⭐ TMFC girls DOMINATE Y10WS- Anika Von Marie Kabiling 1st, Alaia Varah 2nd, Chloe Chen 3rd, and Katherine Ong 5th. This marks Anika's first gold medal in Y10 AND all four girls are ranked in the top 50 Y10 women's saber fencers in the country
⭐ Three medalists in Y12MS- William Lucas gold, Aidan Song + Leo Shapiro top 8
⭐ Kai De Castro's 6th regional medal of the season- silver in Y12WF
⭐ Sienna Young's first regional medal this season- 5th place in Y14WS
⭐ Sibling Slayers- Lucas and Katherine Lin both medal (3rd in Y10MF and 7th in Y14WF) and Katherine renews her E rating
⭐ A total of 15+ medalists and 13+ top 16 results- notable ones include Will Qian (pictured in slide 3, top 8 in Y10MF) Bennett Sabino (6th in Y10MS) Leo Constantine (11th in Y10MS, his best regional result this season) and Luna Hagn (12th in Y12WS, her best regional result)
⭐Walker Passman's first regional of the season and Olivia Upbin's first regional with TMFC

TMFC YOUTH CUP MARCH 15/16

The next in-house tournament at TMFC will take place March 15th and 16th. Day 1 is at Port Chester and Day 2 is at Manhattan-West! Sign up for both days or just one. Great for beginners and intermediate fencers!

Registration fee: $65 until March 8 + Event fee: $20/event

Registration fee $85 after March 8

Event times are listed for each day. All fencers must have their own equipment.

Port Chester Tournament Sign Up

Manhattan Tournament Sign Up

SPRING BREAK CAMP IS COMING + SUMMER CAMP EARLY DEADLINE #2 ENDS MARCH 18TH!

Join us for a transformative experience full of fun and fencing with Olympians and Olympic Coaches! Our camps are designed for youth fencers to learn and practice their fundamentals in an engaging and exciting group environment. We encourage beginners aged 7-11 to sign up for any and all of our camps, but Spring Break Camp will also be a great opportunity for our competitive youth students to gain an edge on the competition with extra training.

For Spring 2025, we are offering 2 sessions of Spring Break Camp.

Session 1: March 17-21 Time: 9:30-3 PM Locations: ALL

Session 2: April 14-18 Time: 9:30-3 PM Locations: Both Manhattan locations (great for NYC Public Schools spring break!)

All you need to bring is a packed lunch. See you there!

Additionally, you still have a few weeks until prices raise for Summer Day Camp! A week of camp costs $899 until March 18th, after which the price will rise to $999. Full details and discounts can be found on the camps dropdown of our site.

TMFC’s Brynnley McKee and Keira Lauri Top the List of USA Fencing’s Latest Rankings

After their incredible performances at the Junior Olympics, both Brynnley McKee and Keira Lauri have risen in the US rankings to massive heights. As per USA Fencing’s latest published national points rankings (02/16/2025), Lauri has risen to 5th and McKee to first in the country among all Cadet Women's Saber fencers. Brynnley has also been selected as 1 of the 3 fencers to represent Team USA in CDTWS at the 2025 Junior and Cadet Fencing World Championships in Wuxi, China that are taking place in April. We could not have more pride for their dedication and achievements, and we know this is just the beginning of both Keira and Brynnley's bright futures.

Welcome Olympian and Olympic Coach Akhi Spencer-El to Tim Morehouse Fencing Club!

We are thrilled to announce that Olympian and Olympic Team Saber Coach Akhi Spencer-El is officially joining the coaching staff at Tim Morehouse Fencing Club, starting Monday, February 3!

This is far more than just a professional addition to our team—it’s a truly meaningful full-circle moment. Akhi and I share a special history that dates back to our elementary school days at Central Park East in East Harlem. From being schoomates to becoming Olympic fencers, our journeys have intertwined in incredible ways over the past 40 years!

Akhi is widely regarded for his exceptional coaching expertise and just as importantly, he is also deeply respected for his integrity, kindness, and dedication to his students. As Akhi joins us as a coach, I am very grateful that I will be able to work with him to inspire and develop the next generation of champions at our newest facility, TMFC’s East Side location, where he will play a key role in leading the growth of the club.

We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Akhi to the TMFC family!

A Legacy of Excellence in Fencing

Akhi Spencer-El brings an extraordinary wealth of experience and accomplishments to TMFC. A seasoned coach at both the prestigious New York Fencers Club and the Peter Westbrook Foundation, Akhi has also spent years shaping top-tier athletes at Columbia University with the team claiming 3 national titles during his tenure. His coaching career includes serving as a multi-time U.S. National and Olympic Men’s Saber Team Coach at the Paris Olympics. His students include US Olympic Medalist Daryl Homer, Olympian Khalil Thompson and Olympic Medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad in addition to the numerous national and international medalists he has coached and developed throughout the years.

Coaching education

Akhi’s education and training are equally impressive—he holds a Maestro’s degree from the renowned Semmelweis University in Budapest, Hungary, a program that has also produced TMFC coaches Iba Keita, Mamodou Keita, and Coach Sall.

Athletic Accomplishments

As an athlete, Akhi represented the United States at the highest levels of competition. He made history as the first U.S. saber fencer to achieve the #1 world ranking as a Junior, a groundbreaking achievement at the time. He competed in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, became a two-time U.S. National Champion, and solidified his legacy as one of the sport’s greatest.

A Vision for TMFC

At Tim Morehouse Fencing Club, Akhi will bring his unmatched expertise, passion, and coaching philosophy to help elevate both our developmental and competitive programs. From guiding youth fencers to supporting elite athletes, Akhi’s leadership will be a game-changer for our community. His addition reflects our commitment to providing world-class training and mentorship for fencers at every level.

A Family Affair

Akhi is not only a remarkable coach but also a dedicated family man. He and his wife are proud parents to four wonderful children: twins Zoe and Olivia, who are both 11 years old; Elijah, a 13-year-old saber fencer who is excited to join the TMFC community; and Skye, who is 16 years old.

Achievements as a Coach

• Olympic Coach: Coached the U.S. Men’s Saber Team at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

• Columbia University: Guided one of the nation’s top collegiate fencing programs to three national championships.

• Peter Westbrook Foundation: Continues to mentor young athletes, fostering their development in fencing and life.

Welcome to the team, Coach Akhi Spencer-El—we are thrilled to have you with us!

WELCOME TO TMFC
COACH AKHI EVENT!

Friday, February 7
Tim Morehouse Fencing Club - East Side
(235 East 49th between 2nd and 3rd Ave)
5pm-9pm.

To celebrate, the club will operate on a modified schedule with open bouting from 5 PM to 9 PM, accompanied by wine and refreshments for parents and guests in addition to a few remarks!
(Feel free to bring a bottle of wine or a dessert to share!)

If you’re interested in fencing or simply joining us for this special welcome event, please register to fence using the link below and email info@timmorehousefencing.com to RSVP.

Schedule Updates Starting Monday, February 3

With Akhi’s arrival, we are updating the class schedule for the Elite classes on the East Side. The Youth and Musketeers classes will all remain at the same time.

Here’s the new schedule at a glance:

Note:
The bouting classes will primarily consist of open bouting, supervised by our coaching staff.

The updated schedule is listed above. If you would like to register for these new classes, please click on the “Class Registration” link below.

TMFC Rings in the Holidays with Big Wins at Morris Cup RYC/RJCC

December 17, 2024— TMFC had a great weekend at the 2024 Morris Cup, with strong performances and several podium finishes across multiple events.

A standout moment was Grace Feng’s gold-medal win in Junior Women’s Foil, earning her A24 rating—a huge milestone in her fencing career and a great end to the weekend that saw her bring home 2 separate medals. We were also delighted to have former TMFC coach Daniel Bass (now an assistant coach at Cornell University) join us in strip coaching again as well as to have some of our student coaches get the chance to hone their skills mentoring our younger group. Congratulations to all of our medalists and competitors for their hard work and determination throughout the tournament!

We’re proud of every TMFC fencer who competed, regardless of results. Many of our athletes have made big strides this season, showing improvements in skill, strategy, and confidence. These efforts are just as important as medals, and we’re excited to see their continued progress. Thank you for representing TMFC so well, and let’s keep up the momentum as we head into the new year and tackle the full slate of tournaments ahead.

Grace Feng with Coach Mohamed Essameldin after earning her gold medal in Junior Women’s Foil.

TMFC Morris Cup Medalists:

Y12 Women’s Foil
3T - Ella Zhu

Y8 Women’s Saber
1st Place - Akari Tomonari
3T - Isadora Blair

Cadet Men’s Saber
5th Place - Ryan Waxler
6th Place - Lucas Henderson

Y8 Men’s Saber
3T - Ethan Zhang
5th Place - Conrad Silverzweig
7th Place - Christian Eng

Y10 Men’s Foil
8th Place - Ziyue Lin

Cadet Women’s Foil
6th Place - Grace Feng
7th Place - Iris Yang

Y14 Men’s Foil
6th Place - Declan Hart-Syed
7th Place - Kai Toomre

Y12 Men’s Saber
1st Place - Miles Chambers
3T - William Lucas
5th Place - Marcus Avery

Y14 Women’s Foil
6th Place - Anastasia Roberts

Junior Women’s Saber
1st Place - Varvara Mankova
7th Place - Charlotte Choi

Y10 Women’s Saber
3T - Alaia Varah
5th Place - Nia Maluki

Cadet Men’s Foil
6th Place - Jonah Lee

Junior Men’s Saber
7th Place - Jonas Broening-Chai

Junior Women’s Foil
1st Place - Grace Feng (Earned A24 rating)
6th Place - Amabel Wang

Y14 Men’s Saber
3T - Zihou Dai
5T - Miles Chambers
8th Place - Jacob Levin

Tim Morehouse Fencing Club Earns 27 Medals at 2024 NJFA RYC/RJCC

Tim Morehouse Fencing Club had an impressive showing this past weekend at the NJFA RYC/RJCC in Suffern, NY, with our athletes delivering standout results across several events and earning 27 medals in total. This success reflects the hard work and preparation of our fencers, coaches, and support team, marking a particularly strong weekend for the club.

Ella Zhu and Kai De Castro at the podium with Coach Slava.

Foil Fencers Lead the Way

The first day saw TMFC’s foil fencers put on an exceptional performance, earning gold medals in every event they entered at the RYC. From Youth-10 to Youth-14 categories, their consistency and execution on the strip stood out. Ella Zhu took gold in Y12WF, marking her first regional gold medal. Will Qian took gold in Y10MF, and Declan Hart-Syed gold in Y14MF also his first on the regional level. The results underscored the strength of TMFC’s foil program in Port Chester led by Slava Grigoriev, Eddie Grigoriev, and Mohamed Essam. See the bottom of this post for the full list of medalists!

Y10 Saber Girls Shine

Nia Maluki, Chloe Chen, Anika Von Marie Kabiling, and Anita Gao are all smiles on the Y10WS podium.

Youth-10 Women’s Saber also made an impressive statement, claiming gold for Nia Maluki, both bronze medals for Chloe Chen and Anika Von Marie Kabiling, and a fifth-place finish for Anita Gao on day 2. The near-podium sweep highlighted the depth of talent within the team and their ability to rise to the occasion in a competitive field. This marks Nia’s 2nd gold medal of this season on the regional circuit and Chloe’s 2nd bronze.

Building on Success

Kylee Demry shows off her Top 8 Y14WS medal with Coach Noah Te Velde.

While this weekend’s results are not entirely unprecedented, they are a testament to TMFC’s ongoing commitment to growth and excellence. The achievements of our athletes demonstrate what’s possible with disciplined training, thoughtful coaching, and a supportive community. Notable wins for the club included Jacob Levin’s 8th place finish in Y14MS which comes directly after earning his E rating at the TMFC Youth Cup last Saturday in Port Chester, and Kylee Demry earning her E rating from her best-ever regional finish in a stacked Y14WS lineup. It was amazing to see some of our most dedicated fencers make tremendous breakthroughs in their competitive results, and we know this is just the beginning for them. 

With several key tournaments still ahead this season, TMFC is in a strong position to build on this momentum. Congratulations to all the fencers, parents, and coaches who contributed to this weekend’s success. Let’s continue striving to improve, one tournament at a time!

FULL RESULTS:

Y12 Women's Foil

• Ella Zhu 1st

• Kai De Castro 3T

Y8 Women's Saber 

• Akari Tomonari 1st

• Isadora Blair 2nd

Y10 Men’s Foil

• Will Qian 1st

• Luca Yang 7th

Y12 Women's Saber 

• Nia Maluki 7th 

• Nora Louisa McCarthy 8th

Y8 Men’s Saber 

• Conrad Silverzweig 2nd 

• Christian Eng 3T

• Alex Wu 5

Y14 Men’s Foil 

• Declan Hart-Syed 1st 

• Michael Grigoriev 7th

Y12 Men’s Saber 

• Aidan Song 7th

Y14 Women’s Foil

• Anastasia Roberts 2nd 

• Ella Zhu 7th 

Y10 Men’s Saber

• Bennett Sabino 3T

Y10 Women’s Saber 

• Nia Maluki 1st 

• Chloe Chen 3T

• Anika Von Marie Kabiling 3T

• Anita Gao 5th

Y12 Men’s Foil 

• Michael Grigoriev 3T

Y14 Women’s Saber

• Kylee Demry 6th (Earned E24 Rating)

• Sophia Ng 7th

Y14 Men’s Saber 

• Jacob Levin 8th

Junior Women's Saber 

• Pompie Yannopoulos 1st 

Junior Men's Saber 

• Andrew Wasco 2nd

Tim Morehouse Fencing Club Foil Program Excels at Neil Lazar RYC/RJCC!

This past weekend, the foil fencers from Tim Morehouse Fencing Club delivered an exceptional performance at the Neil Lazar RYC competition, showcasing their skill, determination, and hard work. Under the expert guidance of Coaches Slava Grigoriev, Mohamed Essam, and Eddie Grigoriev, our fencers stood out among the competition, earning medals in an impressive eight events. Their dedication and teamwork continue to elevate the TMFC standard, proving once again why we are a force to be reckoned with in foil fencing in the New York City metro region and beyond.

Y14 Women’s Foil: Anastasia Roberts (5th) Kai De Castro (8th)

Cadet Men’s Foil: Ethan Chen (Silver), Luca Ghedini (5th)

Y12 Men’s Foil: Misha Grigoriev (6th)

Junior Women’s Foil: Ella Zhu (Silver)

Y10 Men’s Foil: Ziyue Lin (5th)

Junior Men’s Foil: Jonah Lee (Bronze)

Cadet Women’s Foil: Amabel Wang (Silver), Eleanor Li (Bronze)

Y12 Women’s Foil: Ella Zhu (Bronze), Amelia Youm (5th)

We’d like to extend a huge congratulations to all of our foil fencers on their impressive showing in Connecticut and we look forward to their successes that will follow in the rest of the season!

Tim Morehouse Fencing Club’s Saber Fencers Shine at Neil Lazar RYC/RJCC

This weekend, Tim Morehouse Fencing Club’s saber fencers showcased their talent and hard work at the Neil Lazar RYC/RJCC tournament. The event was a great success, with several of our athletes earning top positions and demonstrating the dedication they've put into their training. We’re so excited to have started the 2024-2025 season with more than a dozen medals across all events! Below are the medalists from each saber event:

Y12 Women’s Saber: Charlotte Choi (5th)

Y14 Men’s Saber: Marcus Pinto (Gold), Aram Clark (Bronze), Miles Chambers (7th)

Junior Men’s Saber: Matthew Fields (Bronze) Connor Chung (7th)

Y12 Men’s Saber: Miles Chambers (Gold), William Lucas (Silver) Aidan Song (Bronze)

Junior Women’s Saber: Brynnley McKee (5th)

Y10 Women’s Saber: Nia Maluki (Gold), Chloe Chen (Silver), Anika Von Marie Kabiling (5th)

Cadet Men’s Saber: Christopher Ao (8th)

We’d like to give a shoutout to not only our medalists but ALL of the fencers who represented Tim Morehouse Fencing Club on the regional stage this past weekend. As we celebrate the outstanding achievements of our saber fencers at this early-season competition, we are filled with excitement for what's to come. With Premier ROC coming up this weekend, we know our athletes are more motivated than ever to build on their success and continue making us proud. Here's to even more incredible performances and bringing home more medals as the season unfolds. Go TMFC!

Follow Tim Morehouse Fencing Club Olympians (And, The 7 Best Resources for Following Fencing at the Paris Olympics)

Tim Morehouse Fencing Club is proud to announce that six of our club members are competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics! As the excitement builds, here’s how you can follow the action and support our athletes without missing a moment.

Meet Our Paris Olympians:

• Ziad Elsissy (Saber) - Team Egypt

• Eli Dershwitz (Saber) - Team USA

• Amer Mohammad (Saber) - Team USA

• Sabrina Fang (Foil) - Team Canada

• Mohammad Essam (Foil) - Team Egypt

• Filip Dolgeiwicz (Saber) - Team USA

How to Watch and Follow the Action:

Given our Olympians are representing different teams and countries, tracking all their matches can be a bit challenging. Here are some excellent resources to keep you updated:

1. Peacock TV: For comprehensive coverage in the United States, you can stream all fencing events live. Authenticate with your cable subscription to access the streams at NBCOlympics.com.

2. NBCOlympics.com:This streaming service will provide live coverage of every Olympic event, including fencing. You will still need to subscribe and log in at Peacock TV to watch.

3. Olympics.com: The official Olympics website offers detailed schedules and live streaming options for all events. Follow the fencing events on their fencing page.

Men’s Saber kicks things of tomorrow…here is the schedule for the first round and following rounds!

Fencing Schedule for Men’s Saber

Round of 32: (4:30am-8:30am EST)

• Ziad Elsissy 6:30am

• Colin Heathcock 6:30am

• Mitchell Saron 6:45am

• Amer Mohammad 7:20am

• Eli Dershwitz- 7:45am

The Round of 16: 9am-10:15am
Round of 8: (10:15am-11:15am)
Round of 4: 1:50pm-Start
Bronze Medal: 3:05pm
Gold Medal: 3:55pm

WHERE TO WATCH:
Team USA matches should be on the Peacock Network but …

Watching all the matches for athletes not on Team USA you should utilize the NBC Olympics Stream: (CLLICK HERE):
(Either one will require a paid membership to Peacock.)

Day 1 of Fencing (July 27, 2024)
Men’s Saber Individual Bracket (Click Here)

Good luck to our champions!

7 Great Resources for Following Fencing at the Paris Olympics

To follow the fencing matches at the 2024 Paris Olympics, you have several great options:

1. Cyrus of Chaos (Facebook/Youtube/Instagram): Cyrus of Chaos is one of the best resources for the sport of fencing. He always has a great eye for the practical things you need to watch and enjoy fencing. He has posted great brackets and overviews of the competition. Start with his facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CyrusofChaos

   (The only problem I have with Mr. Chaos is he picked Ziad to lose in the first round. Sorry bro. Ziad all the way!)

2. NBC and Peacock (United States): NBC will provide extensive coverage of the fencing events, available both live and on-demand. You can watch fencing on the USA Network, CNBC, and E!. For streaming, subscribe to Peacock or authenticate with your cable subscription on NBCOlympics.com or the NBC Sports app​ (NBC Olympics)​.

3. Olympics.com (Global): The official Olympics website offers detailed schedules and streaming options for all events. You can find the full fencing schedule and live streams on their dedicated fencing page​ (Paris 2024 Olympics)​.

4. Tech Radar: (TechRadar)​​ : a great website for finding free streaming links from many places in the world

5. NBCOlympics.com: This website offers live streaming of all Olympic events, including fencing. You can authenticate with your cable subscription to access the live streams. Visit NBCOlympics.com for comprehensive coverage​ (NBC Olympics)​​ (NBC Sports)​.

6. GOOGLE! If you just Google “Paris Olympics 2024 Fencing Schedule” you get an easy to use breakdown of the event son each day and timings. (Image pasted below!)

7. Wikipedia: Below is an image of the brackets they created. Very clear and straight forward!

Let’s go Team USA and Tim Morehouse Fencing Club Olympians!