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Photos: Fencing tournament in Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

More than 20 fencers were at Batavia High School today for a tournament sponsored by En Garde. The event was part of the USFA WNY Epee Circuit division and winners scored points toward a division championship. Fencers came from as far away as Syracuse, Binghamton, Albany, Rochester and Buffalo. Fencers ranged in age from 15 to 57.

Batavia fencing school offers new classes for homeschoolers

By Billie Owens

En Garde Batavia, an Olympic Sport Fencing Center, will begin a new program March 7 for homeschoolers. This class is open to students 6-19* years old.

The Home School Fencing Class will be held at the club on 56 Harvester Ave. in the City of Batavia and classes are available in three sections:

  • Mondays, 1-3 p.m. and 3-5 p.m.
  • Wednesdays, 1-3 p.m. and 3-5 p.m.
  • Fridays, 1-3 p.m. and 3-5 p.m.

The first hour will be just the older students and the second hour will be the younger and older students. Parent or guardian supervision is required for both hours with students under 10 years old.

The class comes at an introductory rate of $20 per month for the first child, $15 per month for the second child, and $10 for additional children in the same household.

If you would like to register please email owner/instructor Colin Dentino at : Colin@EnGardeBatavia.com.

Classes are capped at 10 students for the best experience and are filled on a first-come-first-serve basis. You register for one day and time slot.
 
Participants should wear workout clothes and bring a water bottle. Legs should be covered with either pants or long socks.

(*To ask about age exceptions contact Colin Dentino.)
 
For questions or more information contact Colin Dentino at 409-3993 or  colin@engardebatavia.com  
 
Visit on the web at http://engardebatavia.com

Check for tournaments this weekend!

World-renowned fencing referee to lead referees' clinic at EnGarde:Batavia

By Billie Owens

World-renowned fencing referee Jon Moss will be appearing at EnGarde:Batavia, a local fencing school located on Harvester Avenue, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday Aug. 27.

Moss, who holds the highest possible rating for a fencing referee, is a 42-year veteran of the sport.  He currently coaches at the University of New Hampshire and Tanner City Fencing Club and  serves as head referee at Fencing Officials Commission.

Moss will be on hand to certify perspective referees in the sport at the area’s only fencing school, which is owned and operated by Genesee County native, Colin Dentino. 

The sport of fencing requires skilled referees as the official is involved on every call and must adjudicate every action.

“It is vitally important that we train and maintain referees -- especially now since we are currently forming the Genesee Fencing League," Dentino said. "We’ll require skilled officials who are armed with the latest rules and guidelines."

After completing this clinic, and passing the referee exam, participants will be certified with the United States Fencing Association.

EnGarde:Batavia continues to grow since it opened its doors in the Artisan Center one year ago.  Besides the Jon Moss Referees' Clinic, EnGarde:Batavia also offers fencing camps and clinics for all ages/skill levels as well as their popular Molten Sword Tournament.

Dentino believes that fencing is underrated as a sport and has several benefits helping develop stamina, flexibility, strength, dexterity, hand/eye coordination, as well as physical and mental agility.

FREE Theatrical Fencing Workshop #2 for GCC Students & Local Community Theatre Members

By Ann Winters

From En Garde to Encore: Theatrical Swordplay Workshop for GCC Students and Local Theatre Community Members

M,W,F October 24, 26 & 28 6pm-8pm E214 Studio & a final workshop production for both groups will take place on Friday, October 28th at 8pm, on stage at the Stuart Steiner Theatre

Fee Free BUT must register by October 17th – Space is Limited to 26 Students

Register at the Best Center by email: bestcenter@genesee.edu or phone 585-345-6868

Instructor Colin Dentino, Owner and Head-Coach of En Garde Batavia

Event Date and Time
-

FREE Theatrical Fencing Workshop #2 for GCC Students & Local Community Theatre Members

By Ann Winters

From En Garde to Encore: Theatrical Swordplay Workshop for GCC Students and Local Theatre Community Members

M,W,F October 24, 26 & 28 6pm-8pm E214 Studio & a final workshop production for both groups will take place on Friday, October 28th at 8pm, on stage at the Stuart Steiner Theatre

Fee Free BUT must register by October 10th – Space is Limited to 26 Students

Register at the Best Center by email: bestcenter@genesee.edu or phone 585-345-6868

Instructor Colin Dentino, Owner and Head-Coach of En Garde Batavia

Event Date and Time
-

FREE Theatrical Fencing Workshop #2 for GCC Students & Local Community Theatre Members

By Ann Winters

 

From En Garde to Encore: Theatrical Swordplay Workshop for GCC Students and Local Theatre Community Members

M,W,F October 24, 26 & 28 6pm-8pm E214 Studio & a final workshop production for both groups will take place on Friday, October 28th at 8pm, on stage at the Stuart Steiner Theatre

Fee Free BUT must register by October 17th – Space is Limited to 26 Students

Register at the Best Center by email: bestcenter@genesee.edu or phone 585-345-6868

Event Date and Time
-

FREE Theatrical Fencing Workshop #1 for Students 12+ and Adults

By Ann Winters

From En Garde to Encore: Theatrical Swordplay Workshop for Students (12+) and Adults

M,W,F October 17, 19 & 21 6pm-8pm E214 Studio & a final workshop production for both groups will take place on Friday, October 28th at 8pm, on stage at the Stuart Steiner Theatre

Fee Free BUT must register by October 10th – Space is Limited to 26 Students

Register at the Best Center by email: bestcenter@genesee.edu or phone 585-345-6868

Instructor Colin Dentino, Owner and Head-Coach of En Garde Batavia

Event Date and Time
-

FREE Theatrical fencing Workshop #1 Ages 12+ and Adults

By Ann Winters

From En Garde to Encore: Theatrical Swordplay Workshop for Students (12+) and Adults

M,W,F October 17, 19 & 21 6pm-8pm E214 Studio & a final workshop production for both groups will take place on Friday, October 28th at 8pm, on stage at the Stuart Steiner Theatre

Fee Free BUT must register by October 10th – Space is Limited to 26 Students

Register at the Best Center by email: bestcenter@genesee.edu or phone 585-345-6868

Instructor Colin Dentino, Owner and Head-Coach of En Garde Batavia

Event Date and Time
-

FREE Theatrical Fencing Workshop #1 for Students 12+ and Adults

By Ann Winters

From En Garde to Encore: Theatrical Swordplay Workshop for Students (12+) and Adults

M,W,F October 17, 19 & 21 6pm-8pm E214 Studio & a final workshop production for both groups will take place on Friday, October 28th at 8pm, on stage at the Stuart Steiner Theatre

Fee Free BUT must register by October 10th – Space is Limited to 26 Students

Register at the Best Center by email: bestcenter@genesee.edu or phone 585-345-6868

Instructor Colin Dentino, Owner and Head-Coach of En Garde Batavia

Event Date and Time
-

Local youths win medels in fencing competition

By Howard B. Owens

From Colin Dentino:

Batavia Olympic Sport Fencing Center hosted the first Annual Spring Fling Fencing Tournament Saturday April 9th, 2011. Claire Zickl won gold for the youth bracket trailed by Ben Cook (silver) and Josh Kurtz (bronze). For the teen/adult bracket Michael Rivers took gold 15-11 from Maria Dentino (silver) with Earl Roth winning bronze.

Students say fencing is a great way to make new friends and have fun

By Howard B. Owens

Ben Cook, 9, saw fencing in a movie and thought it would be fun. Peter Koziol, 12, thought it would be like sword fighting. Clair Zickl, 10, was inspired by her older brother and has already competed in her first tournament.

The three young fencing students are taking classes from Colin Dentino at his En Garde Fencing Academy on Harvester Avenue.

Dentino said fencing is appropriate for youngsters because it's a sport that anybody can enter at any age and learn.

"For me, I always liked the mental aspect," Dentino said. "It's really like a three-dimensional chess game with your opponent."

For Ben, Peter and Clair, it's just fun.

"I like fencing because I'm making new friends," Ben said. "It's physically active, and it's just really, really, really fun."

Claire is advancing fast, according to Dentino. She placed 17th out of 22 in her first tournament, competing against girls in her own age bracket, but who have been fencing up to five years.

Claire started just this summer.

"For her to finish anything higher than 22nd is fantastic," Dentino said.

She is mentally tough and has absorbed her lessons quickly, Dentino said, which allowed her to take one match against a girl with more experience who eventually went on to finish third in the tournament.

Her performance qualified her to compete in an April 15 tournament in Portland, Ore.

BATAVIA GIRL TO COMPETE IN NATIONAL FENCING TOURNAMENT

By Howard B. Owens

Press Release:

ROCHESTER…Batavia resident Claire Zickl is participating in the Flower City Super Youth Circuit, a United States Fencing Association National tournament, on Sunday, September 26. The competition begins at 12:30 p.m. Claire, who began fencing earlier this year, attends En Garde: Batavia Fencing Academy.

For those unfamiliar with the fencing tournament rotation Y10 fencers (youths 10 years old or younger) fence in one of 8 Super Youth Circuit tournaments before being allowed to sign up for Nationals at the end of the season. By fencing at this tournament Claire will be allowed to compete in Nationals.

Claire, a 5th grader at John Kennedy Elementary School in Batavia, began taking fencing lessons this summer “but has wanted to take them since she was 6, when her brother started lessons in Rochester,” according to her mother, Rachel Zickl. “She was very excited when En Garde came to town!"

Fencing is an ancient sport with an illustrious history and is only one of four sports to be included in every modern Olympic Games, since 1896. It was also an event in the original Olympic Games in Greece. Fencing is conducted on a 14m x 22m strip or “piste”. Competitors win a fencing bout by being the first to score 15 points (in direct elimination play) or 5 points (in preliminary pool play) against their opponent. Or, by having a higher score than their opponent when the time limit expires, usually nine minutes. Claire will compete against 11 other fencers in her age group.

"Fencing has certainly impacted Claire’s self esteem and confidence particularly as she has to fence against boys," Rachel says. Claire also plays soccer so, according to her mother, "fencing has also improved her balance and agility."

The Flower City Super Youth Circuit serves as both a qualifying event for the 2011 Summer National Championships, as well as a national point standing events for Y10, Y12, and Y14. National Points will be awarded to those placing in the top 40% of the competitive field.

For more information about En Garde:Batavia, contact Colin Dentino at 585.409.3993 or email engardebatavia@me.com

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