Blake Meet Snacks

We need a few volunteers to sign up for snacks for the Blake meet on January 28th.

Drinks - Ahmed, _______________________, __________________________

Snacks - ________________________, ______________________________, ____________________

Thanks!

Snacks for the Upcoming Meets

Ares Meet on Jan. 4th

Drinks

Jeannie Foussard, Owens-Kurtz, Annette Swanson

Food

Heilig, Marissa Rosenblum, Annette Swanson

Team Meet at Roseville High School - Monday, January 12th

Drinks

Siliciano, M. Rosenblum, Levy Haskell

Food

Siliciano, Wolf/Wilhelm, M. Schoenkin

Don't forget there is no bus back to SPA from Roseville, but there is a nummy dinner at the Dougherty's following the meet. They live right down the street from Roseville - about a mile.

SPA Invite - Saturday, January 17th

No practice on Friday, but set-up is at 8:30 - everyone is required to be there, it should take about an hour.

You are required to be at SPA at the end of the meet to help clean up. If your event is an early event, you may leave and come back.

Drinks - Kathy Larkins, Vivan Johnson, Patricia Teefy, Nesmelov, Hite, Driscoll

Food - CJ Zheng, Owens-Kurtz, Patricia Teefy, Wolf-Whilhelm, Hite, Janet Cass

Midwest High School Championships - High School Students Only - Leaving on Friday morning. Food needs to be packed for the meet the next day.

Drinks - Casey White, Perl/Socha

Food - Casey White, Perl/Socha, Marissa Rosenblum

SPA Invite

I know that the SPA Invite is a few weeks away, but I won't be able to remind you after today to register, so please get it done. Everyone is grades 7-12 are expected to compete. It is a required meet to letter. Megan may or may not accept registration at the door depending on how many people have signed up, so please sign up now. If you'd like a nice dry-fit shirt with Gavi's design on it, you must order it by the 1st, I am placing the order for the shirts on the 2nd and I won't be able to change it .

Great job to the following fencers who have already signed up:

Arshia

Claire W
Emma W

Michaela

Paige

Emma JR

Gavi

Hannah

Jonny

Mudassar

Nat

Dev

Francesco

Henry

Marie

Saif

Alex

Claire F.

The following fencers need to sign up asap:

Charlie F

Erin

Grace H

Jonathan

Abe

Alec

Harrison

Laura

Paige

Andrei

Isabella

Phillip

Eddie

Marie

Peter

Saif

Tommy

Charlie R

Chole

Cynthia

Grace OK

Ben

Sarah

Ares Meet - Last Reminder

Thank you to everyone who has already signed up.

The following fencers still need to register for the meet next Sunday. Bob and I will be on the way to Vietnam so I won't be able to hound you any more. Remember fencing in this meet is a great experience and a requirement to letter.

Harrison

Andrei

Isabella

Eddie

Peter

Tommy

Ben

Sarah

If age eligible:

Alex

Chole

Cynthia

E-Mail

We won't be able to do mass emails from Vietnam, so any new information will be on the blog while we're gone, so please make it a habit to check the blog often.

Good News - Bad News

The good news is that Bob and I are finally leaving for Vietnam to pick up our son. He's in an orphanage in Ho Chi Min City and he'll turn 11 months old on the 3rd.

The bad news is that we'll miss a few fencing days and meets. The good news is that Bob P. will still be here and my sister Megan will also help coach. She is running the SPA Invite and is planning on going to Midwest.

We are leaving on the 4th and are scheduled to return on the 22nd. We hope to be home sooner, but we'll see what happens.

We will have email access while we are there, so if you have any questions try Bob P and Megan first, then feel free to email us.

I know that you will all fence well and try your best, I can't wait to follow along with the results via email.

If you'd like to follow our travels on our blog, email me and I'll add you to the list.

Socks

The socks arrived today for the new fencers. (We were pretty surprised, we weren't expecting them until mid-January). I have labeled all of the socks with your name. If you are a 6th grader I ordered you one pair, and everyone else got 2 pairs. You are being billed for the socks through spa. Look for Bob P. to have the socks on the 4th of January.

SPA Invite Shirts

Attached is the t-shirt design for the SPA Invite meet. I think it's very well done. It will be navy ink on a grey dry fit t-shirt. The only way to get one is to sign up for the SPA Invite on www.askfred.net by January 1st. Gavi email me your size so I can get you your winning shirt.

My last email for a while!

Ares Meet

Junior (U20) Men's Epee	Sun 1/04	8:00 AM	NR ?
Junior (U20) Women's Foil	Sun 1/04	8:00 AM	NR ?
Cadet (U17) Men's Foil	Sun 1/04	8:00 AM	NR ?
Cadet (U17) Women's Saber	Sun 1/04	8:00 AM	NR ?
Junior (U20) Women's Saber	Sun 1/04	10:30 AM	NR ?
Cadet (U17) Women's Foil	Sun 1/04	11:30 AM	NR ?
Junior (U20) Women's Epee	Sun 1/04	11:30 AM	NR ?
Cadet (U17) Men's Epee	Sun 1/04	11:30 AM	NR ?
Junior (U20) Men's Saber	Sun 1/04	1:00 PM	E1 ?
Junior (U20) Men's Foil	Sun 1/04	3:30 PM	E1 ?
Cadet (U17) Men's Saber	Sun 1/04	3:30 PM	NR ?
Cadet (U17) Women's Epee	Sun 1/04	3:30 PM	NR ?

Saint Paul Academy: St. Paul, MN

The close of registration times are listed above. You should be at SPA at least 30 minutes before. The cost if you pregistered is $15 per event. You will need your knickers, long socks (I have ordered those for the new fencers - but they will probably won't be here for this meet - sorry), 2 weapons, 2 body cords, jacket, lame, etc. We will have snacks, but you can also bring money to buy food from the concession stand. For this meet you may leave after your event it done, the only people that have to stay the whole day are the coaches. This is a required meet to letter for the high school fencerfs.

Thank you to the following families who signed up for snacks and drinks.

Drinks:

Jeanne Foussard

Owens-Kurtz

Annette Swanson

Food:

Heilig

Marissa Rosenblum

Annette Swanson

Fantastic work to the following fencers who have already pre-registered.

Arshia

Charlie

Jonathan

Abe

Alec

Claire W

Emma W

Laura

Michaela

Paige

Emma JR

Gavi

Hannah

Jonny

Mudassar

Nat

Phillip

Dev

Henry

Marie

Saif

Grace OK

The following fencers need to preregister - you won't get another reminder from me.

Erin

Grace H

Harrison

Andrei

Isabella

Eddie

Francesco

Peter

Tommy

Alex F

Chole

Cynthia

Midwest High School Championships

Midwest High School Championships are held in Gurnee, Il this year. Only fencers in grades 9-12 are eligible to go. We'll leave SPA on Friday, January 23rd and return early in the morning on the 25th. I sent out one email already asking you to email me if you are planning on going or not going. I have only received 2 responses. I need to know now I can make the appropriate reservations. I can not keep track of everyones status verbally. Please email me by January 1st. If you say you are going you are comitted to the finiacial obligations of the trip, even if you end up cancelling, so check with your parents first.

I know that Emma J.R. and Jonny are going.

The following fencers need to email me as soon as possible.

Erin

Grace H.

Laura

Micaela

Charlie

Alec

Jonny

Phillip

Claire W

Emma W.
Paige

Jonathan

Nat

Arshia

Gavi

Hannah

Isabella

Abe

Harrison

Andrei

Mudassar

Eddie

Thank you!

Dinner at the Dougherty's

A big thank you to the Dougherty's who have invited us over to their house for dinner directly after the team meet at Roseville on January 12th.

This has become a yearly tradition and I know that Bob and I look forward to it every year.

Please let me know if you and your family are planning on going to the Dougherty's so that I can give Mona an approximate number.

Thank you!

Ares Meet

A huge THANK YOU to the following fencers who followed directions and have signed up for the meet:

Charlie F, Jonathan, Abe, Claire W., Michaela, Emma J.R., Gavi, Hannah, Phillip, Dev and Henry.

The following fencers still need to sign up for this meet. Sign up today or you'll have to pay more money at the door. If you are age eligble to fence this meet, you must fence this meet in order to letter.

Arshia, Erin, Grace H., Alec, Emma W., Harrison, Laura, Paige, Andrei, Isabella, Mudassar, Nat, Eddie, Francesco, Marie, Peter, Saif, Tommy, Alex, Chole, Grace O.K., and Ben.

Last Call

There is no practice this week, we will see you at SPA at the Ares meet on January 4th. For the meet you will need all of your equipment, knickers, 2 blades and 2 body cords. Those of you who don't have SPA socks, I will hopefully have them there for you.

I know that many of you need equipment. I have asked many times for you to send me an e-mail letting me know what you need. I am ordering equipment tomorrow. Please send me your needs today. If I don't get an email from you, and you are missing equipment, and we don't have enough for you it is not my fault and you will need to purchase it yourself.

Please sign up for the Ares meet ASAP.

Congratulations to Gavi who won the T-shirt contest.

Ares and Athena Meet

There has been some confusion about these meets and the age requirements. We misunderstood the age requirements, you need to have born in 1995 or earlier in order to fence. 7th graders who this affects still can fence the SPA invitational and States.

We are adding another optional meet to the schedule - the Porthos Youth Tournament on February 15th to those fencers who are born in 1997-1994 - would fence the U14 meet, and the U12 years are 1996-1999. 6th graders are eligble to fence this meet, but it is not required for anyone. If you feel it is not worth the cost to join the USFA for this meet, we understand, we just want to provide an opportunity to fence more meets. If you are choosing to fence this meet please sign up as soon as possible on www.askfred.net

To everyone else who is eligible to fence the Ares meet, sign up now! While you're at it, sign up for the Athena and SPA Invite so you don't have to listen to me as I continue to remind people.

Important Information!

I know this is a long email - you are responsible for all of the information on this email so please take the time to read the entire thing!

Blake Meet

We are rescheduling the meet with Blake because their space is not available. It is now Wednesday Jan 28, not Thursday Jan 29. It is the same time and same everything else. Sorry for the change. Hopefully it will be the last! :)

Practice start time clarification!

Practice for everyone starts at 3:30. That means dressed (athletic clothing), shoes on, ready to go. There are a few of you who have already checked with me or Jenni about alternative warm up options. Only those people who have already checked with us have permission to be 10 minutes late. We expect you to attend footwork. You are only missing warm ups. This means ready to go (dressed, shoes on) at 3:40. Footwork IS an important part of the training.

Equipment reminder!

With our team so large this year we need to enforce our policies. This week we will begin getting equipment back from fencers who are expected to purchase some equipment on their own. If this is a hardship, please let us know. We are not trying to force people off the team, we just need to provide equipment for everyone.

These are the purchases you are expected to have made:

1st years - glove and underarm protector (chest plate for girls)

2nd year - fencing bag, 1 weapon and 1 body/mask cord

3rd year - an additional weapon and body/mask cord

4th year - an additional weapon and body/mask cord - each additional year - weapon and body/mask cord

This is what we'll provide: - if you don't have something from this list, I need to know as soon as possible so I can find/ order you the equipment.

6th graders - bag, jacket, mask, knickers, lame- if applicable, 1 blade and 1 body cord.

1st years that are not 6th graders - bag, jacket, mask, knickers, lame- if applicable, 2 blades and 2 body/mask cords.

2nd year - jacket, mask, knickers and lame if applicable, 1 blade and 1 body/mask cord (you should have a set of your own)

3rd year and above - jacket, mask, knickers and lame if applicable - you should have 2 of your own weapons and body cords.

Team Socks

You are required to wear SPA team socks at all of our meets. I will order those this week, if you do not have any team socks please email me your shoe size. You will be billed for the cost of the socks.

Team Gear

We will be gathering sizes for team gear this week, they are grey sweats with navy writing. The captains will have more information soon.

JO's

If you are planning on attending JO's and would like Bob and I to attend, please let us know this week so we can make plans.

Midwest High School Championships

If you are in High School and are planning on attending the Midwest High School Championships in Gurnee IL on January 24th, please let me know this week so I can start to make hotel arrangements.

Practice this Week

This is your last week of practice before our next meet on January 4th at SPA. You must register at www.askfred.net this week, this includes the new fencers, grades 7-12. Each weapon will fence electrically one day this week. Parent's Day is Friday.

Set Up for Ares Meet

The USFA is looking for 10 volunteers to help set up the Ares meet on Saturday, January 3rd at 2:15. We are working on getting an entry fee reduction for those of you who volunteer, please email me if you're interested.

JO Qualifier Results

Congratulations to the following fencers who qualified to attend the US Junior Olympic's in New Mexico in February: Gavi Levy Haskell (U17 WS), Hannah Lutz (U20 & U17 WS), Emma Johnson-Rivard (U20 & U17 WF), Michaela Kim (U17 WF), Muddassar Sandozi (U17MS), Erin Lowenthal (U20 WF), Laura Barksdale (U20 WF), Marie Siliciano (U20 & U17 WE), Arshia Sandozi (U20 WS), Jonathan Wald (U20 ME) and Grace Hartman (U20 WF - automatic qualifier). Great work to all of our fencers, especially our event winners - Emma Johnson-Rivard (U20 & U17 WF), Jonathan Wald (U20 ME) and Marie Siliciano (U20 WE) - where she earned her E08 rating.

Complete SPA results - if you'd like to see all of the results go to www.askfred.net - they may not post them for a few days.

U17 WS

2 Gavi Levy Haskell Q

3 Hannah Lutz Q

4 Grace Owens-kurtz

U17 WF

1 Emma Johnson-Rivard Q

3 Michaela Kim Q

U17 MS

3 Muddassar Sandozi Q

U17 WE

3 Marie Siliciano Q

U17 MF

4 Phillip Dougherty

5 Jonny Socha

6 Henry Swanson

7 Dev McFall

U17 ME

6 Nat Bear

U20 WF

1 Emma Johnson-Rivard Q

2 Erin Lowenthal Q

3 Laura Barksdale Q

5 Michaela Kim

U20 WE

1 Marie Siliciano Q - Earned E08

4 Claire Wilhelm

5 Emma White

6 Paige Owens-Kurtz

U20 WS

2 Arshia Sandozi Q

3 Hannah Lutz Q

4 Gavi Levy Haskell

6 Grace Owens-Kurtz

U20 MF

4 Charlie Feng

5 Phillip Dougherty

7 Jonny Socha

9 Alec Nordin

U20 ME

1 Jonathan Wald - Q

U20 MS

4 Abe Cass

5 Muddassar Sandozi

6 Harrison Hite

Thank you to everyone who brought treats, they were greatly appreciated. A special thank you to the White's who brought the coaches a nummy lunch! After spending 10+ hours in the gym, the lunch helped us make it through the day.

Look for another email tonight with detailed information about equipment and practice this week.

Treats

Some ideas for snacks for the after school meets: bagels, granola bars, cookies, brownies, crackers, water, gatorade
Some ideas for all day meets: same as above plus sandwiches, fruit...

Honestly, I'm not that picky about what they eat, just as long as they're eating something and have enough energy to fence and have fun.

Updated Schedule and Parent's Night

SPA Fencing Parent’s Night

Come to Bigelow on Friday December 12th at 4:00.

You’ll get to:
• Meet the coaches
• Meet the team
• Learn about foil, epee and sabre
• Learn about the equipment used for fencing
• Learn how to keep score
• Sign up to bring treats to a meet
• Have treats and a chance to meet other fencing families.

We’re looking forward to seeing you there!
Jenni, Bob and Bob

Important Information

• If you are not getting the team emails please check the blog at www.spafencing.blogspot.com. Some of your email filters are blocking the team emails because the list is so large.
• You can reach us at spartanfencing@comcast.net
• Go to www.askfred.net to sign up for the individual meets.
• Our home phone is 651-489-4528, please call before 8:00 pm, we go to bed early.
• Jenni’s cell is 651-343-7171, Bob’s cell is 651-343-7172, as we are both teachers we probably won’t answer the phone during the school day, but you can leave a message.
Squad Practice Days:
WF – M, T, R, F WE – T, W, R, F WS – M, T, R, F
MF – M, T, R, F ME – M, W, R, F MS – M, T, W, F








Team Schedule -
Please arrive at least 30 minutes before your event start time.
January 2009
1.4.09 – High School Meet (Ares Meet) at SPA
8:00 am – U17 WS, U17 MF, U20 WF, U20 ME
10:30 am – U20 WS
11:30 am – U20 WF, U17 ME, U20 WE
1:00 pm – U20 MS
3:30 pm – U17 WE, U17 MS, U20 MF
1.6.09 – Practice Resumes – Whole team practice
1.12.09 – Team meet at Roseville Area High School – You’ll need a ride home from Roseville
1.16.09 – No practice – Meet at SPA to set up for the SPA Invitational in the evening
1.17.09 – SPA Invitational – You’ll need to be there the entire day
8:00 am – WS and ME
8:30 am – MF
9:30 am – WE
10:00 am – MS
11:00 am - WF
1.23.09 – No Practice – High School fencers leave for Midwest High School Champs
1.24.09 – Fence at High School Champs at Woodland Jr. High School, Gurnee, Illinois
1.29.09 – Team meet at The Blake School – bus leaves at 4:00, we’ll return at 7:00.


February 2009
2.1.09 – Athena Midwest Contest @ SPA
8:00 am – U20 ME, U20 WF, U17 MF, U17 MS
10:30 am – U20 WS
11:30 am – U17 WF, U20 WE, U20 ME
1:00 pm – U17 ME, U20 MS, U20 MF
3:30 pm – U17 MS, U17 WE
2.11.09 – Team meet at MN Sword Club – Bus leaves SPA at 3:50, returns at 6:30.

2.20.09 – 5:00 Team Dinner at SPA – No Practice
2.21.09 – Minnesota High School Championships at Blake
Start times TBA
2.24.09 – Return clean equipment


March 2009
3.4.09 – Team Banquet – Dining Hall – 5:30

JO Qualifiers on Sunday

We are excited to see the experience fencers on Sunday at the MN Sword Club
for JO qualifiers. Please try to arrive at least 30 minutes before your
close of registration, this will give you enough time to register and warm
up. We'll try to get there by 7:30-7:45. Remember all of your equipment,
your USFA application form, money for the USFA and your entry fee for the
meet. You will need a parent to sign a wavier for the MN division so please
make sure they come inside with you. Please let me know if you have any
questions.
>
>
>> Dear Minnesota Coaches,
>>
>> Due to a larger than expected likely turnout for the cadet events at
>> JO Qualifiers on December 7, we have pushed back the junior men's and
>> women's epee and foil events to 12:00 so as to ensure a smooth running
>> of the tournament. All other events stay at the same time. The updated
>> schedule of events is listed below. I'm sorry if this causes any
>> inconvenience, but I think it's better than having the fencers sit
>> around doing nothing while other events are finishing up. Please let
>> me know if you have any questions or concerns.
>>
>> Margaret
>>
>> 8:00 Cadet Men's Foil
>> 8:00 Cadet Women's Foil
>> 8:00 Cadet Men's Epee
>> 8:00 Cadet Women's Epee
>> 8:00 Cadet Women's Saber
>> 10:15 Junior Women's Saber
>> 12:00 Junior Men's Foil
>> 12:00 Junior Women's Foil
>> 12:00 Junior Men's Epee
>> 12:00 Junior Women's Epee
>> 1:15 Cadet Men's Saber
>> 3:30 Junior Men's Saber

Thank you in advance to the following families that have offered to bring snacks and drinks for Sunday.

Sunday, December 7th - JO Qualifiers - MN Sword Club, Minneapolis
Drinks
1 - Jeannie Foussard
2 - Vivan Johnson
3 - Carlson's
4 - Casey White

Food
1 - Jeannie Foussard
2 - Marsha Schoenkin
3- Owens-Kurtz
4 - Casey White