Equipment

Thank you to everyone who followed directions and turned in their equipment today. 2 people didn't write their names on their sheets so we don't know whose equipment it is.

The following fencers need to turn in their equipment to the athletic office by Friday or you will be billed for the equipment.

Erin

Alec

Dev

Peter

Alex

Charlie R

Chole

Claire F

Ben

Asher

Captains

If you have not voted for team captains for next year send me an email tonight and I may still count your vote.

Captains

If you have not voted for team captains for next year send me an email tonight and I may still count your vote.

Team Banquet

I still haven't heard a yes or a no for the banquet from the following fencers. If I don't hear by Monday, I'll assume you are not coming and not make an award for you.

Erin

Andrei

Phillip

Eddie

Tommy

Cynthia

Samil

Roy

Ben

Thanks!

State Results

Congratulations to our Individual State Champions - Grace Hartman: 6 time State Champion in Women's Foil and Marie Siliciano in Women's Epee! As well as our Team State Champions - The Women's Foil Team, The Women's Sabre Team and Overall Women's Team

We are very proud of all of you - especially the women's teams who fenced very well today. It's nice as a coach to leave States feeling satisfied and content!

WE

1st - Marie Siliciano

5th - Claire Wilhelm

12th - Emma White

14th - Chole White

16th - Paige Owens-Kurtz

17th - Claire Foussard

Team - 3rd

ME

12th - Francesco DeCaprio

18th - Nat Bear

Team - 4th

WS

2nd - Arshia Sandozi

6th - Hannah Lutz

8th - Gavi Levy Haskell

9th - Grace Owens-Kurtz

Team - 1st

MS

9th - Harrison Hite

12th - Abe Cass

19th - Andrei Nesmelov

21st - Mudassar Sandozi

26th - Eddie Xie

27th - Nick Cohen

Team - 3rd

MF

6th - Charlie Feng

8th - Phillip Dougherty

15th - Jonny Socha

20th - Peter Driscoll

22nd - Saif Ahmed

23rd - Henry Swanson

26th - Dev McFall

27th - Alec Nordin

Team - 2nd tie

WF

1st - Grace Hartman

5th - Emma Johnson Rivard

7th - Michaela Kim

Team - 1st

Equipment

We will be collecting equipment at the cage this Wednesday at 3:15. Please wash your jacket and knickers in cold water and air dry or dry with low heat. If you would like your mask, knickers, lame, and jacket for next year please put them in a plastic bag (once they are dry) and write your name on the bag. This is the only time we will be collecting equipment. No one has permission to keep any equipment over the summer so please return it on Wednesday or you will be billed. If you don't turn in your equipment that day and we have to return to SPA to check in your equipment there will be consequences to be named later. After returning the equipment we will do the team voting, so even if you have your own equipment please stop by to vote.

See you on Wednesday!

Team Banquet

I won't see you after this week to chase you down to get your answer so please let me know. You can pay for the banquet this week or at States.

The team banquet is held on Wednesday, March 4th at 5:30 in the Dining Hall. The team baquet is for all fencers and their families. We give out letters and awards at the banquet and announce the captains for next year. The baquet is catered by Boca Chica's and is $15.00. There are vegetarian options available. Please let me know by Friday, February 20th if you are planning on attending the banquet. Please make checks out to Jenni Blat.

Thank you

Jenni

I have heard from:

Arhsia - 1

Charlie F. - 1 paid

Jonathan - 3 - paid

Abe - 2, 1

Alec - 3 paid

Claire W. - 3

Harrison - 3

Laura - 0

Michaela - 3

Paige - 2

Emma JR - 3 paid

Gavi - 3 paid

Hannah - 3 paid

Jonny 2 - paid

Nat - 2

Dev - 3 paid

Henry - 2 paid

Marie - 2 paid

Peter - 2 paid

Saif - 2 paid

Charlie - 3

Chole - 0

Claire F. - 2

Grace OK - 2

Brian - 0

Jesus - 0

Jordan - 0

Kevin - 0

Sam - 0

I haven't heard from:

Erin

Grace H.

Emma W.

Andrei

Mudassar

Phillip

Eddie

Francesco

Tommy

Alex

Cynthia

Nick

Samil

Aiden

Maddie

Roy

Ben

This Week

Regular Practice on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. There is no practice on Friday so you have time to work on homework. There is a team dinner on Friday at 5:00 in the dining hall.

I still haven't heard a yes or a no from Arshia, Grace H. Erin, Emma W., Laura, Michaela, Jonny, Mudassar, Francesco, Alex, Roy and Ben. I need to know by tomorrow if you are planning on attending so I can order the food.

If you are in 6th grade or in another grade and not fencing States on Saturday you need to turn in your clean equipment on Thursday. You will also need to vote for captians and mvp/mip's that day. You will need to wash your uniform in cold water (DO NOT USE BLEACH) and dry it on low heat or no heat. You may have to take Wednesday off in order for your uniform to be clean for Thursday. We'll collect your equipment at the start of practice on Thursday, then you can vote and then you can go. Thanks!

Blake is hosting States this year on the Hopkins Middle School campus: 110 Blake Rd S, Hopkins, MN 55343. Please preregister on askfred for your event. There are individual awards as well as team awards. The top three fencers in each event help earn points to help rank the teams. All fencers in grades 7-12 are eligible to fence.

Close of registration times are below. Please be at the meet at least 30 minutes before your close of registration so you have time to warm up.

Men's HS Epee Sat 2/21 8:00 AM

Women's HS Saber Sat 2/21 8:00 AM

Men's HS Foil Sat 2/21 8:30 AM

Women's HS Epee Sat 2/21 9:30 AM

Men's HS Saber Sat 2/21 10:00 AM

Women's HS Foil Sat 2/21 11:00 AM

Awards are given at the end of the day. It is nice for the teams to be there to accepts their awards. I know that there is a dance that day, you can leave and come back, but I'd like as many people as possible there for the awards, especially the captains.

Treats are provided by Patricia Teefy, Hite, Hartman, Lutz and McFall

Drinks are provided by Patricia Teefy, Hite, Levy Haskell, Kim and Nancy Kosciolen

MSC Meet

We lost 1-5.

WS 2-6 L

MF 1-8 L

MS 3-6 L

ME 1-8 L

WF 6-3 W

WE 3-6 L

I am at a loss of words over these results, there are 6 practices before States and there is a lot of work to be done if you'd like to win any events at States.

Great job Women's Foil for winning your event with only 2 foil fencers. Thank you to Chloe for stepping in and fencing foil. Great fencing Harrison for winning all of your bouts!

It's That Time of Year Again!

Walk for Animals






Dear Family and Friends,

The 5 of us are walking to support animals this year. This is Owen's first animal walk. Last we raised over $1000 and hope to do the same this year. Donations are due by May 1st, we'll send out a reminder closer to the date. We'll have a pool party this July for everyone who donates. It was a lot of fun last year and we hope to see you all again!

I recently accepted the challenge to raise funds to support Animal Humane Society's 2009 Walk for Animals. This annual event in Golden Valley, MN aids Animal Humane Society's five Twin Cities area facilities and helps support programs serving nearly 40,000 animals per year. This year, the need is as great as it has ever been. Animals also suffer the effects of tough times and this is exactly the time when our commitment must be at its strongest. Please help support me and the animals by contributing generously. For information about the Walk for Animals or the Animal Humane Society and its programs, click here.

It is faster and easier than ever to support this great cause by making your tax-deductible donation online. If you would prefer, you can mail your contribution to me at the address listed below.

Whatever you can give will help - it all adds up! I greatly appreciate your support and will keep you posted on my progress.

Sincerely,

Jenni, Bob, Owen, Murphy and Boomer Blat

To make a donation online, visit my personal page.

Make checks out to Animal Humane Society and send your donation to:

Jenni Blat

Last Call for States

Thanks to everyone who has signed up for states. You have until midnight today to sign up or else you will have to pay your own entry fee.

The following fencers need to sign up today:

Alec

Harrison

Laura

Peter

Tommy

Alex

Charlie R.

Cynthia

Nick

Samil

Ben

Team Dinner

The team dinner is for fencers in grades 6-12. It is held in the dining hall at 5:00 on Friday, February 20th. It is meant to get the team together and have a nice meal before states. The meal is catered by Yarruso's and consists of pasta, marinara sauce, meatballs (they are seperate), bread, salad, cookies and drinks. Please let me know by Friday, February 13th is you are planning on going. The cost is $10, checks can be made out to Jenni Blat. We hope to see you there!

I have heard from the following fencers concerning the dinner. I need to know if you are planning on attending by Friday so that I can order the food.

Charlie F.

Alec

Emma JR - paid

Hannah - paid

Nat

Dev - paid

Henry - paid

Peter - paid

Claire F.

Jesus

I have not heard from anyone else. Please let me know.

Tuesday

All fencers please come to practice for a team picture for the yearbook on Tuesday. If it's not your practice day you can leave right after the picture, but you can stay as well.

Next Week

Regular practice next week on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. We have a meet on Wednesday against MN Sword Club. The bus will leave SPA at 3:50, we'll start fencing at 4:30. The bus will leave MSC at 6:30.

Treats are provided by Wolf-Wilhelm and Drinks are provided by Ahmed and Levy Haskell. We could use 2 more people signed up for treats and one more for drinks.

See you there!

States

YOU MUST REGISTER BY MONDAY FOR STATES. This is so I can get a check from SPA to pay for your entry fee. Go to www.askfred.net and do it now please.

Thank you to the following fencers who are registered:

Arshia, Jonathan, Abe, Claire W., Emma W., Michaela, Paige, Andrei, Emma JR., Gavi, Hannah, Jonny, Mudassar, Nat, Dev, Francesco, Marie, Chole, Claire and Grace OK.

The following fencers must register by Monday or you will have to pay your own entry fee:

Charlie F.

Erin

Grace H.

Alec

Harrison

Laura

Phillip

Eddie

Henry

Peter

Saif

Tommy

Alex

Charlie R.

Cynthia

Nick

Ben

Samil

Adler

Blake is hosting States this year on the Hopkins Middle School campus: 110 Blake Rd S, Hopkins, MN 55343. Please preregister on askfred for your event. There are individual awards as well as team awards. The top three fencers in each event help earn points to help rank the teams. All fencers in grades 7-12 are eligible to fence.

Close of registration times are below. Please register by February 6th so I can get a check to cover the cost of your registration. Please be at the meet at least 30 minutes before your close of registration so you have time to warm up.

Men's HS Epee Sat 2/21 8:00 AM

Women's HS Saber Sat 2/21 8:00 AM

Men's HS Foil Sat 2/21 8:30 AM

Women's HS Epee Sat 2/21 9:30 AM

Men's HS Saber Sat 2/21 10:00 AM

Women's HS Foil Sat 2/21 11:00 AM

Awards are given at the end of the day. It is nice for the teams to be there to accepts their awards. I know that there is a dance that day, you can leave and come back, but I'd like as many people as possible there for the awards, especially the captains.

Treats are provided by Patricia Teefy, Hite, Hartman, Lutz and McFall

Drinks are provided by Patricia Teefy, Hite, Levy Haskell, Kim and Nancy Kosciolen

No Practice Tomorrow!

We all need a day off. See you on Tuesday!

Athena Results

Jr MF

1st - Charlie Feng - Earned E09

6th - Alec Nordin

7th - Phillip Dougherty

8th - Jonny Socha

C WE

2nd - Claire Siliciano

C MS

8th - Eddie Xie

10th - Tommy Evans

Awards

As many of you know Bob and I try to think of a funny award for each fencer. With so many fencers this year we are struggling to think of ideas for some of you. It is also hard to think of ideas when you don't show up to practice very often - we have to know you in order to be able to come up with an award. If you have any appropriate ideas for anyone on the team please email me. If you remember what you got in years past email that to me too, so I don't give you the same award and maybe I can recycle it for someone else.

Thanks!

Your Input Please

We have tried having more individual meets this season, we'd like your feedback as we start planning for next year. Please email me your vote.

A - I prefer to only do team meets and the SPA Invite like last year.

B- I liked the more individual meets and fencing that I had this year, I'd like to do it again.

C - I like having the more individual meets, but I'd like more fencers from other teams to show up.

D- I liked the more fencing this year, but it got kind of expensive and I'd like to find a cheaper way to do it.

E - C & D

Incomplete Athena Results

Sorry we had to leave - it was a long day for Owen - we'd paid for it last night and this morning keeping him there so long yesterday. I'll email out the results for Jr MF, CWE and CMS as soon as they are posted.

JR WF

1st - Emma Johnson Rivard

2nd - Michaela Kim

5th - Emma White

JR WE

1st - Claire Wilhelm - Earning her E09

2nd - Marie Silicaino

5th - Emma White

JR WS

2nd - Arshia Sandozi

3rd - Hannah Lutz

5th - Grace Owens-Kurtz

JR ME

1st - Jonathan Wald

JR MS

5th - Harrison Hite

9th - Abe Cass

10th - Mudassar Sandozi

C WF

1st - Emma Johnson Rivard

3rd - Michaela Kim

CWS

2nd Hannah Lutz

3T - Gavi Levy Haskell

3T - Grace Owens-Kurtz

CMF

10th - Peter Driscoll

11th - Phillip Dougherty

13th - Dev McFall

14th - Jonny Socha

15th - Saif Ahmed

C ME

5th - Francesco Di Caprio

Captains for Next Year

We will vote for MVPs, MIPs and Captains at States this year, don't leave until you have filled out your ballot.

If you are in 9-11 grade this year you are eligible to be a captain next year, depending on how the votes round out will determine the number of captains, we've had from 2-6 captains depending on the year.

Captains are leaders and role models for the rest of the team.

Captains are required to attend at least 4 practices a week, no exceptions, even if you are fencing at a club.

Captains must attend all meets and parent's day (they only exception is if the SPA Invite conflicts with a NAC and you are attending the NAC).

Captains must stay the entire team meet to support the team, no excuses.

Captains are responsible for ordering team gear.

Captains are responsible for maintaning the bulletin board downstairs.

Captains are responsible for checking over the practice site at the end of practice and making sure that the electric equipment is away and gathering any gear that has been left.

As always an illness is a valid excuse. Homework, and other school events are not valid excuses.

Being a captain is a lot of extra work, time and responsibilty, if you choose not to be a captain because you know that you can't commit to the job please email me so I can take your name off of the ballot.

It is better for the team for you email me bow out now that to say that you are willing and then let the team down next year.