Tim Morehouse Fencing Club Crushes the Competition at Home and Overseas at Atlanta SJCC and Eislingen Cadet International Event

The Tim Morehouse Fencing Club (TMFC) continued its winning tradition both domestically and internationally this weekend at the 2024 Atlanta SJCC and cadet international event in Eislingen, Germany, with standout performances from several athletes across multiple events.

ATLANTA SJCC:

In the Cadet Men’s Saber, TMFC fencer Ethan Kim earned a 3rd place finish, securing an A24 rating, while teammate Miles Chambers placed 8th, earning a B24 rating.

The Junior Women’s Foil event saw Grace Feng finish in 6th place, a solid result among tough competition. In the Junior Men’s Saber, Ethan Kim once again impressed, taking 2nd place, while Gabriel McCarthy earned a 5th place finish.

In the Cadet Men’s Foil, Leon Shapiro secured a 5th place finish, showcasing his skill and consistency. Finally, in the Cadet Women’s Saber, Charlotte Choi earned a 7th place finish, joining Miles Chambers as one of our 2012 birth year fencers who are achieving incredible national results for their age.

EISLINGEN CADET INTERNATIONAL EVENT:

Brynnley Mckee and Keira Lauri traveled to Eislingen, Germany with coaches Ziad Elsissy and Hamdy Refaee for another competition on the international cadet circuit.. Brynnley earned the bronze medal in the women’s saber individual saber and joined Keira to win gold in teams (Keira’s third straight international team gold of the season.)

These impressive results further highlight the strength and depth of the Tim Morehouse Fencing Club, with athletes continuing to excel both nationally and internationally. A huge congratulations to all and onwards to Morris Cup next weekend!

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

Parents, Ready? Fence! Your Time to Shine Starts Now!

Are you a fencing parent who’s ever wondered what it feels like to step onto the strip?

Or perhaps you’re curious about the sport your child loves and want to learn more about what makes fencing so special. At Tim Morehouse Fencing Club, we’re thrilled to introduce our Parent Fencing Lesson Program—a fun, engaging, and informative way for parents to dive into the world of fencing!

Learn About Your Child’s Passion

Our Parent Fencing Lesson Program is designed to give you hands-on experience with the sport your child is mastering. Understand the techniques, strategies, and excitement of fencing firsthand, and gain a deeper appreciation for their hard work and commitment.

No Equipment Needed

No need to worry about buying equipment! We’ll provide everything you need to get started. Just come dressed in athletic attire, and we’ll handle the rest.

Flexible Membership Rates

Our parent lessons are available at competitive rates, with options to suit your schedule. Whether you’re looking for a single trial or a regular membership, we’ve got you covered.

A Great Workout

Fencing isn’t just fun—it’s a full-body workout that improves agility, coordination, and endurance. You’ll leave each session feeling energized and accomplished.

Discover a New Passion

You might find yourself falling in love with fencing, just like your child did! Many of our parents enjoy it so much that they continue training and even compete themselves.

Whether you’re looking to bond with your child, try a new workout, or explore a potential new hobby, our Parent Fencing Lesson Program is the perfect place to start. Join us and see what fencing is all about!

Sign up today and take the first step onto the strip. We can’t wait to see you in action!

Tim Morehouse Fencing Club's Ziad El-Sissy OLY Inducted into Wayne State University Athletics Hall of Fame

November 5, 2024 — Tim Morehouse Fencing Club Coach and 2x Olympian Ziad El-Sissy was named to the Wayne State University Athletics Hall of Fame yesterday. A graduate of the Detroit, Michigan institution, El-Sissy was a major contributor to the Warriors team, achieving the status of four-time letterwinner, three-time All-American and two-time national runner-up in saber (2017 and 2018).  The Alexandria, Egypt native returned to the university to receive a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering in 2021. Since graduating from Wayne State, El-Sissy has competed in 2 Olympics (Tokyo and Paris), finishing 4th in the Paris games this August.

When not competing, El-Sissy works as a full-time coach at Tim Morehouse Fencing Club, where he has developed many of our athletes into elite fencers, including Robert Wang (currently 8th in USA Fencing’s Junior Men’s Saber rankings, Stamford Class of 2029 commit) and Brynnley McKee (currently 4th in USA Fencing’s Cadet Women’s Saber rankings). Coach Ziad is a central figure at TMFC and helps shape our curriculum to make us one of the premier fencing clubs in the United States. He represents the future we aim for all our fencers: a balanced path that includes collegiate fencing success alongside strong academic achievements—to become well-rounded, multi-skilled individuals.

You can catch El-Sissy at TMFC’s Westchester County location most days of the week and at TMFC Chelsea Piers in Stamford, CT, where he currently calls home. To see the Olympian in action, you can watch (or even fence!) in the Ziad + Eli Cup on January 1, 2025 at TMFC Port Chester. El-Sissy will ring in the new year by fencing against Team USA 3x Olympian Eli Dershwitz among other elite athletes who make up our TMFC staff and network. SIGN UP HERE: TMFC Ziad and Eli Saber Cup (New Years Day) (4th Annual) | Tim Morehouse Fencing Club | Port Chester, NY | AskFRED

We’d like to wish Ziad a sincere congratulations from everyone at Tim Morehouse Fencing Club!

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)