Congratulations to Friends School of Minnesota 8th grader Emma Deschamps and FSM alumni Will Wharton for their wins at the Minnesota State High School Fencing Championship. Fencers from all over the state of Minnesota came to Saint Paul Academy and Summit School to compete last weekend.

Emma Deschamps competed with her teammates from the Twin Cities Fencing Club, where she is a member. The team of 12 and 14 year olds competed in the Epee competition (this refers to the type of blade used) against mostly high school teams. In the end, the three girls placed second in the state. Way to go, Emma!

Three competed from Twin Cities Fencing Club, including Emma on the left. They have been training together for the last two years.
Emma is on the right – she got the “touch” and the point. In competitions a valid épée touch is scored if a fencer touches the opponent with enough force to depress the tip. (Wikipedia)
Emma (right) and her teammates from the Twin Cities Fencing Club placed second in the state.

 

Will Wharton, FSM Class of 2010, placed first in the Junior (U20) Men’s Foil. His Twin Cities Fencing Club team also took first place in the Junior (U20) Men’s Team Foil. Congratulations, Will!

Will (left) won first place in the Junior (U20) Men’s Foil.

“Will started fencing in 2005 and started competing in 2007 when he was 12 years old. When he was very young, Will always liked to do stick fighting with me. My friend told me about the Twin City Fencing Club in St. Paul and he started taking lessons there and competing.

Last year, Will concentrated more on sports at DeLaSalle High School, especially basketball. He came back to fencing last fall and he won the State High School Fencing tournament! From here, we are hoping to go to the 2012 US Summer National Tournament this coming July.” – Lisa Wharton, Will’s mom

The line-up of the top eight individual winners. Will is on the left.
FSM alum Will Wharton (center) and his team took first place in the Junior (U20) Men’s Team Foil at the Minnesota State High School Fencing Championship