Winter Camp News: Columbia Head Coach Michael Aufrichtig to Guest Coach and Host College Info Session

Columbia Head Coach is coming to TMFC’s Elite Winter Saber Camp

Exciting News!

As part of our ongoing commitment to provide our club members with top-tier resources and insights, we’re thrilled to announce that Columbia University’s Head Coach, Michael Aufrichtig, will be guest coaching and holding a college-info session on Saturday, Dec. 28, at the TMFC Elite Winter Saber Camp in Port Chester!

The special college-info session will take place from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm during the final hour of the Winter Elite Saber camp on Dec. 28, for all camp attendees and their parents. Additionally, this session will be open to all foil winter clinic attendees and their parents on that day.

To Register For the Camp: (CLICK HERE) (The next registration deadline is Nov. 15)
(We will email all attendees of the saber and foil camp an RSVP form the college info session in a few weeks)

For the saber Elite Camp day, Coach Aufrichtig will lead sessions focused on the tactics and strategies utilized by Columbia’s fencing team. He’ll share insights into preparing for and executing college meets, as well as provide an inside look at the practice routines and experiences of NCAA athletes.

During his college info session, Coach Aufrichtig will cover the following topics relevant to the NCAA college recruitment process:

1. Understanding the NCAA Recruitment Process: Key steps to navigating college recruitment and how to stand out.

2. What Columbia Looks for in Student-Athletes: Insights into the attributes and qualities Columbia values in its recruits.

3. Balancing Academics and Athletics: Tips on managing the rigorous demands of both academics and collegiate-level fencing.

4. Preparing for College Meets and Competitions: A look at how top collegiate teams train and prepare for high-stakes competition.

5. Life as an NCAA Athlete: The day-to-day experience, commitment, and rewards of being a student-athlete at Columbia.

He will also be available to answer questions from students and parents about college fencing, Columbia’s program, and the broader recruitment landscape.

To register for the Winter Elite Saber Camp, please visit: TMFC Elite Fencing Camps.

We hope you’ll join us for this unique opportunity to learn from one of the top coaches in NCAA fencing!

Coach Michael Aufrichtig Bio

About Michael Aufrichtig:
As one of the most knowledgeable and well-connected figures in fencing, in New York City and across the nation, Michael Aufrichtig is in his 14th year as the head men’s and women’s fencing coach at Columbia University.
 
After being named to his current position on June 28, 2011, Aufichtig has built Columbia Fencing into a national power. Since 2011, Aufrichtig has guided Columbia Fencing to three national team championships (2015, 2016, 2019), 14 total Ivy League team titles, including eight men’s titles and six women’s titles, and countless No. 1 national rankings on both the men’s and women’s sides. In addition, the Lions have claimed three NCAA fencing titles since 2015 and have finished no lower than third place at the NCAA Fencing championships since the 2014-15 season. On an individual scale, seven fencers have claimed individual national championships, 88 have earned All-America honors, 136 fencers out of a possible 156 spots have qualified for the NCAA Championships, seven have won Ivy League titles, and 102 earned All-Ivy League honorees.
 
This unprecedented success took Aufrichtig only four years to achieve as he guided Columbia Fencing to its first NCAA Championship in 22 years as the Lions claimed the 2015 team title. Then, the Lions won the NCAA title again in 2016, marking the first time the program attained back-to-back national championships since 1992 and 1993. Aufrichtig’s third national championship came three years later as the Lions turned in a dominant performance in 2019.
 
Aufrichtig has also restored Columbia’s dominance in Ivy League fencing. He has led the men’s team to six consecutive from 2014-19), while the women’s squad has claimed five championships including back-to-back titles in 2015 and 2016 and then three straight from 2018-20. The 2018-19 season marked the first time both the men's and women's squads won outright Ivy League Round Robin titles together since 2008.
 
Aufrichtig holds a career record of 566-120-1 (.825 winning percentage) in total dual fencing matches at Columbia. That mark currently ranks second among all-time fencing coaches at Columbia.
 
A four-time Ivy League Coach of the Year honoree (three-time women, one-time men) and recipient of the 2016 USA Fencing Coaches Association Varsity Coach of the Year award, Aufrichtig has also overseen the development and renovation of Columbia’s Fencing Room at Dodge Fitness Center. With the installation of first-of-its-kind shock-absorbent floors in October 2018, Columbia fencers enjoy a state-of-the-art fencing facility.
 
For the last 15 years, Aufrichtig has served as the Chairman of the New York Athletic Club Fencing program. As the Director of the NYAC Fencing Program, one of the most notable fencing organizations in the world, Aufrichtig manages the coaching staff, budgets, practice times, travel arrangements, and recruiting of the 55 athletes that compete with NYAC Fencing. He founded the NYAC Men's Epee High School Invitational in 2001, the strongest men's epee high school competition in the United States. He also served as the 2009 Women's Epee coach at the World Championships in Antalya, Turkey.
 
READ MORE ON THE COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY WEBSITE (CLICK HERE).

Tim Morehouse Fencing Club's Brynnley McKee First Female to Win Gold for Club at Cadet International Event

Gold Medalist Brynnley McKee on the podium with Coach Hamdy Refaee in Budapest, Hungary

On Saturday, October 12th in Budapest, Hungary, TMFC’s Brynnley McKee became the first female fencer to win a cadet international event for Tim Morehouse Fencing Club. The Greenwich, Connecticut native defeated the USA’s Xuanyi Zhang 15-8 to capture the gold medal in a competition of 239 that featured more than a dozen Americans, including TMFC’s Keira Lauri who also boasted a top 16 finish. While TMFC athletes have captured numerous junior and senior international medals, they had been missing up until this point a gold on the cadet circuit for their female fencers. McKee sat down with us to talk about her victory.

Congrats on being the first girl to win a cadet international event for Tim Morehouse Fencing Club! Can you describe what it means to you to have achieved this feat, for the club and for your personal journey as a fencer?

Winning this world cup means so much for my confidence, and it showed me that I can fence with anyone, and win at the international level. Being the first girl to win a World Cup will hopefully show all my lovely youth girls at TMFC that they can do it too, and that they know they can ask me about it. 

Can you speak to Coach Ziad Elsissy and Hamdy Refaee's support for you at this competition and throughout your career? How did they prepare you for success at this level?

I wasn’t allowed coaching when I fenced Americans, which really forced me to reflect on the coaching I had received previously and put it to use alone. Ziad and Hamdy are the perfect pair in coaching, and I'm so grateful for both of their patience and understanding with me.  

This is one of the best results of your career, and on one of the biggest stages. How do you stay calm under pressure? What motivates you to compete your best when the stakes are highest?

Pressure is inevitable. I definitely had unhealthy thoughts and anxieties, but when I started stressing over the high stakes, such as my semi-final bout at 14-14, I focused on gratitude: how grateful I was to even be in the semis, healthy, and fighting for a finals spot. I knew exactly what I had to do for the final touch after evaluating the bout as a whole, and calmed myself down before stepping on the line for the final touch. 

What did it mean to you to have multiple TMFC fencers there with you? Do you have any shoutouts to give to them or to specific family members who came to watch?

TMFC is my family! They’ve seen me at my worst, and I'm glad they could see me at my best so far. Shout out to my fellow TMFC competitors Keira, Ethan, and Marcus on a great competition, and thank you guys so much for being the best supporters. My dad also requires a huge shoutout- this was his first  world cup with me, and he did wonderfully. From celebrating each mini win to reminding me to keep my focus and stay humble- I felt like he always had my back. 

Walk us through your morning routine before a competition. Do you have any warm-up rituals or superstitions?

I don't have any superstitions, because I try not to get into my head too much. I simply focus on having a balanced, yummy breakfast, and being happy and calm before competing. I also focus on taking my time to warm up with my favorite songs, and making sure my body feels as ready as possible for competition.

Any Budapest sightseeing recommendations?

I loved the Budapest Castle. The view is spectacular, and it has so many parts to it that lure you to stay for a while. It's interesting to think that the bones of the castle have been there since the 1200s.

9-State RYC/RJC Hosted By Tim Morehouse Fencing Club To Major Success

The 9-State Cup RYC/RJC, hosted by Tim Morehouse Fencing Club at our Chelsea Piers location in Stamford, Connecticut, was a major success—both for our fencers and for the event’s growing reputation as a premier regional tournament. This year, over 1,000 unique fencers participated, nearly doubling the 600 participants from our inaugural event 2 years ago. Our fencers delivered fantastic performances, with many podiums featuring multiple TMFC fencers and several athletes making their regional debuts. The tournament provided an excellent opportunity for us to bond as a community and also a chance to showcase our Connecticut location on a grand scale. We were also happy to shine a spotlight on our sport by broadcasting the entire event, which is still watchable on our YouTube channel. Moments from the competition will be edited into a half-hour special on NYC regional sports networks soon. Full medalist list below:

Y12 Womens Foil 

• Kai De Castro (3rd Place) 

Y12 Mens Saber

• William Lucas (1st Place) 

• Jack Brady (3T)

• Aidan Song (3T)

• Leo Shapiro (6th place)

Y10 Mens Foil 

• Ziyue Lin (8th place) 

Y10 Womens Saber

• Chloe Chen (2nd Place)

• Alaia Varah (3T) 

• Nia Maluki (5th Place)

• Anika Von Marie Kabiling (8)

Y8 Mens Saber 

• Conrad Silverzweig (2nd Place)

• Alexander Wu (3T)

• Jack Morehouse (3T)

• Ethan Zhang (7th Place) 

Y8 Womens Saber 

• Zoe Morehouse (1st Place)

• Akari Tomonari (3T)

• Isadora Blair (7th Place) 

Junior Womens Foil

• Iris Yang (3T)

• Zizi Dai (8th Place)

Junior Mens Saber 

• Shaun Kim (2nd Place)

• Ethan Kim (3T)

• Sam Sugiura (5th Place) 

• Isaac Yook (6th Place) 

Y12 Mens Foil 

• Michael Grigoriev (5th Place) 

Y10 Mens Saber 

• Bennett Sabino (5th Place) 

• Julian Passman (6th Place)

Y14 Mens Saber 

• Aidan Song (2nd Place)

• Vedh Srivats (3T)

• Aram Clark (6th Place) 

• Marcus Pinto (8th Place) 

Y14 Womens Foil 

• Amabel Wang (3T)

• Grace Feng (5th Place)

Junior Mens Foil

• Leon Shapiro (2nd Place) 

Y12 Womens Saber

• Charlotte Choi (1st Place) 

• Nia Maluki (8th Place)  

Y8 Mens Foil 

• Owen Tardiff (2nd Place)

Junior Womens Saber 

• Sofia Schaible (7th Place)

A Triumphant Ben Gutenberg SYC for Tim Morehouse Fencing Club

This past weekend, Tim Morehouse Fencing Club (TMFC) athletes delivered another slew of outstanding performances at the Ben Gutenberg SYC in Rochester, New York. TMFC fencers claimed multiple medals across various events, solidifying our reputation as a top contender in the Metro division. We’d like to give a special shoutout to our gold medalists Isaac Yook, Owen Tardiff, and Connor Chung for winning their respective events! We are tremendously proud of those who continue to represent our club with excellence, whether they are topping the podium or attending their first regional events ever. We wish all of our fencers the best of luck as they head to The 9 State RYC/RJC this weekend at TMFC’s very own Chelsea Piers location in Stamford, Connecticut. Several of the events at the 9 State will be broadcast regionally on NYC sports networks so stay tuned for information on how to watch.

Below is the full list of TMFC competitors at ben Gutenberg SYC, with medalists highlighted in bold:

Cadet Mens Foil

• Kenneth Chen (46th Place)

• Michael Grigoriev (39th Place)

• Ancen Wang (54T)

• Tyson Youm (51st Place) 

• Kai Toomre (15th Place)

Cadet Women's Saber

• Charlotte Choi (14th Place)

• Lily Laffy (13th Place)

• Sophia Ng (28th Place) 

• Sofia Schaible (10th Place)

Y10 Mens Foil

• Ziyue Lin (14th Place)

• Nolan Moon (25th Place)

• Owen Tardiff (36th Place)

Y10 Womens Saber 

• Grace Chang (8th Place)

• Chloe Chen (3T)

• Anika Von Marie Kabiling (9th Place)

• Nia Maluki (3T)

• Katherine Ong (14th Place) 

• Alaia Varah (2nd Place)

Y12 Womens Foil

• Kai De Castro (24th Place)

• Amelia Youm (36th Place) 

Junior Womens Foil

• Savannah Li (7th Place) 

Y14 Mens Saber

• Christopher Ao (33rd Place)

• Marcus Avery (20th Place) 

• Timothy Chang (36T)

• Ethan Dai (79th Place)

• Zihou Dai (7th Place)

• Aidan Datillio (63rd Place) 

• Gianni Mele (51st Place) 

• Daniel Oren (54th Place)

• Aidan Song (47th Place) 

• Vedh Srivats (30th Place)

• Theodore Wang (28th Place)

• Isaac Yook (1st Place)

• Royce Zhao (6th Place) 

Y14 Mens Foil

• Kenneth Chen (39T) 

• Thomas Czarnecki (53rd Place)

• Michael Grigoriev (27th Place)

• Ancen Wang (34th Place) 

• Tyson Youm  (82nd Place) 

• Kai Toomre (19th Place) 

Y14 Womens Saber 

• Sofia Cafagna (42nd Place)

• Charlotte Choi (22nd Place) 

• Ava Dibadj (67th Place)

• Lily Laffy (43rd Place)

• Jiyoung Lee (63T) FIRST REGIONAL EVENT!

• Nora Louisa McCarthy (52nd Place) 

• Sophia Ng (17th Place) 

• Bianca Sager (68th Place)

• Keira Wang (45th Place) 

• Sienna Young (58th Place)

Y12 Mens Saber 

• Marcus Avery (21st Place) 

• Ethan Dai (44th Place)

• Bennett Sabino (62nd Place)

• Leo Shapiro (27th Place)

• Aidan Song (3T) 

• Jack Brady (25th Place) FIRST REGIONAL EVENT!

• Harrison Wang (35T) 

Y8 Mens Saber 

• Alexander Wu (7th Place)

• Conrad Silverzweig (8th Place) 

Y14 Womens Foil

• Kai De Castro (46th Place) 

• Savannah Li (8th Place) 

• Amelia Youm (42nd Place)

Y8 Mens Foil 

• Owen Tardiff (1st Place)

Junior Mens Saber 

• Christopher Ao (33rd Place)

• Connor Chung (2nd Place)

• Kinoti Kiara (23rd Place)

• Vedh Srivats (20th Place)

• Isaac Yook (10th Place) 

Junior Womens Saber 

• Lily Laffy (5th Place)

• Sophia Ng (11th Place)

• Sofia Schiable (3T)

Y12 Mens Foil

• Thomas Czarnecki (19th Place)  

• Michael Grigoriev (2nd Place)

• Ziyue Lin (47th Place) 

• Ancen Wang (31st Place)

Cadet Mens Saber 

• Timothy Chang (30th Place) 

• Connor Chung (1st Place) 

• Zihou Dai (37th Place) 

• Kinoti Kiara (17th Place)

• Daniel Oren (34th Place) 

• Aidan Song (42nd Place)

• Vedh Srivats (7th Place)

• Royce Zhao (3T)

Y12 Womens Saber

• Grace Chang (37th Place) 

• Kylee Demry (23rd Place) 

• Nia Maluki (32nd Place) 

• Nora Louisa McCarthy (19th Place) 

• Keira Wang (22nd Place)

• Anna Willer (25th Place) 

• Sienna Young (18th Place)

Y10 Mens Saber 

• Bennett Sabino (10th Place)

Tim Morehouse Fencing Club Sweeps the Podium in Y12 Men's Saber @ Windy City SYC

TMFC fencers stormed into Chicago this weekend and made a remarkable showing at the Windy City SYC tournament. Competing against top youth talent from across the country, our athletes showcased their skill and determination, earning several podium finishes and personal bests. Notably, our Y12 boys swept the podium in Y12 Men’s Saber. Miles Chambers took the gold medal, William Lucas took the silver, and Marcus Avery took the bronze, with Aidan Song placing 5th. We are immensely proud of everyone who made the trip out to Chicago! See full list of medalists below:

• Miles Chambers, Gold, Y12MS

• William Lucas, Silver, Y12MS

• Marcus Avery, Bronze, Y12MS

• Aidan Song, 5th, Y12MS

• William Lucas, Silver, CDTMS

• Aidan Song, Bronze, CDTMS

• Miles Chambers, Bronze, Y14MS

In other news, vet TMFC fencer Aaron Waxler placed 7th at the MFC Liberty Cup & Tri State Veteran Saber Cup! We have had a tremendous season so far for our veteran fencers, who prove that fencing is a rewarding sport for athletes of any and all ages. TMFC’s adult fencers are always welcome to begin their competitive journey by attending local and regional events alongside our youngsters.

We look forward to an extremely busy October and November jam-packed with competition. Tim Morehouse Fencing Club is always working to produce the most (and most successful) youth fencers in the country, and all of you are part of that legacy. Thank you and see you at the club!

Miles, William, Marcus, & Aidan representing TMFC with their medals.

Tim Morehouse Fencing Club Leaders Take on Premier Challenge ROC in Suffern, NY + First TMFC Youth Cup Announcement!

September 17, 2024 — This weekend, Tim Morehouse Fencing Club showcased its talent at the Premier Challenge ROC competition in Suffern, New York. Our Cadet, Junior, and Veteran fencers in both foil and saber demonstrated the hard work and discipline that defines TMFC, serving as inspiring role models for younger athletes.

The competition highlighted not only their impressive skills but also the strong camaraderie within the club. Our fencers supported one another, embodying the spirit of sportsmanship that is integral to TMFC.

Overall, the event was a valuable opportunity for growth, showcasing the dedication and teamwork that will continue to propel our athletes forward. Congratulations to all TMFC fencers on a fantastic performance!

ALL of our younger fencers can gain valuable experience for regional tournaments by signing up for our upcoming in-house youth tournaments, featuring Y8, Y10, and Y12 events. Each of our Premier medalists started out at our TMFC Youth Cup competitions. The first tournament will take place on November 16th and 17th and you can sign up on askfred.net by searching “TMFC Youth Cup.”

See all of our Premier ROC medalists below!

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!