Monday, February 22, 2010

Next Year

We are excited to announce some changes to the coaching staff for next year. I have been coaching at SPA for 14 years and have really enjoyed my time coaching. Now that our family has doubled in size in the past year we find that we are unable to give you, as SPA fencers all of the time and attention that we have given you in the past and that you deserve. We can not say who will be coaching next year, since that is still undecided, but Bob Prifrel will still be a coach and Bob and I will be mentoring the new coaches, you just won't see us everyday. We will still run the SPA Invite and we are hosting States next year. We are excited to see the legacy of SPA Fencing move on to new leadership and have many happy memories of SPA fencing.

Thank you - Bob and Jenni

Don't Forget

Equipment turn in is this Wednesday, the 24th at 3:00 at the cage, where you got your equipment. Please make sure everything is clean and dry. Wash it today in cold water and use a low dryer. Do NOT wash the lames.

We will see you at the banquet on March 2nd at 5:30 in the Dining Hall.

Results from States

MF
12 - Peter
13 - Alec
14 - Jonny
15 - Phillip

MS
11 - Harrison
15 - Eddie
20 - Nat
21 - Max

ME
13 - Francesco
?? - Henry - Sorry I somehow forgot to write down your place - and it's not posted on fred yet, but you are in between 13 and 31st
31 - Charlie
21 - Phillip
33 - Jordan

WF
2 - Emma Johnson Rivard - All State
8 - Michaela - All State Honorable Mention
9 - Emma White
12 - Laura

WS
9 - Grace
11 - Nathalie
14 - Hannah
15 - Mikayla

WE
2 - Marie - All State
3 - Claire - All State
13 - Cynthia
18 - Mary

Team Results
MF - 3rd
WF - 2nd
MS - 2nd T
WS 4th
ME - 5th
WE - State Champions

Men's Team - 3rd
Women's Team - 3rd
Overall - 3rd

Thursday, February 18, 2010

SSM and Sword Play

Shattuck Results
MF V 8-1
MS V 7-2
They forfeited the rest of the squads so we won overall 6-0

Sword Play Results
ME V 6-3
MF V 7-2
WF D 4-5
They forfeited the rest of the squads so we won overall 5-1

Today is the last practice. Don't forget to RSVP and pay for the Banquet by Sunday.

See you on Sunday for States.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Last Week of Practice

Wed., 2-17-10, Shattuck/Sword Play Meet at 4:30 in the Dining Hall.
Drinks and Snacks provided by Wilhelm- Wolfs and SIlicianos.

Thank you to everyone who registered for States by the deadline. I will have paid for your entry fee. Make sure you are at Roseville Area High School at least 30 minutes before your start time. You are expected to stay the entire day and attend the awards ceremonies. We don't have practice on Friday so you can get ahead on your school work and be prepared to stay the entire day.

Drinks for states are provided by Wilhelm-Wolfs and Lutzs. We have no one signed up for treats. I suggest you plan on bringing some food to carry you through the day.

Don't forget to rsvp for the team banquet. Thank you to those who have already let me know and paid! All money is due by the end of States on the 22nd. The banquet is at 5:30 on March 2nd in the Dining Hall, it is $15 per person, checks payable to Jenni Blat.

Please email me your votes for MIP in your squad by the 18th. I also need to know if you are in 9-11 grade and do NOT wish to be captain by the 18th as well so I can make up the ballots for states.
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.


All equipment MUST be returned clean and dry at 3:00 on Wednesday, the 24th. We will meet by the cage. It is incredibly hard for us to make it back to SPA to get your gear if you choose not to return it on time. You will be billed $50 if we need to make an extra trip to get your gear. It's not hard to wash it and get it to us. You will also be billed for any missing equipment. Thank you in advance for your help!

Saturday, February 06, 2010

Week of 2-8-10

MN Sword Club Meet at 5:00 on Wednesday, Feb 10th in the Dining Hall. Drinks provided by Lutzs
and Wilhelm Wolfs, snacks provided by Nordins.

Next Week - Shattuck/Sword Play Meet at 4:30 in the Dining Hall.
Drinks and Snacks provided by Wilhelm- Wolfs and SIlicianos.

Please register for states by Friday the 12th so I can pay for your entry fee. If you register after that date you are in charge of paying your own entry fee.

Don't forget to rsvp for the team banquet. Thank you to those who have
already let me know and paid! The banquet is at 5:30 on March 2nd in the Dining Hall, it is $15 per person, checks payable to Jenni Blat.

It's That Time of Year Again!

Bob, Owen, Sydni, Murphy, Boomer and I are participating and raising funds for the Animal Humane Society's 36th Annual Walk for Animals on Saturday, May1st . This event is the largest animal walk in the country and helps support the programs at AHS' five Twin Cities area facilities.

I am asking for your help to support my fundraising efforts and a cause that is close to my heart. This is where we adopted Murphy from. Your tax-deductible gift will make a difference in helping to ensure the health and welfare of nearly 35,000 companion animals annually. The pets in our lives give us a lot. Help me help to give back.

Everyone who donates will be invited to a pool party at our house in June.

You can make your donation online by simply clicking the link at the bottom of this message, or you can mail it to me at 2082 Albemarle Street, Roseville, MN 55113. Please make checks out to the Animal Humane Society.

I know many of you donate to many other causes, so please don't feel obligated to donate.


I'll send a reminder email out in April.

Thank you!

Jenni, Bob, Owen, Sydni, Murphy and Boomer

Click here to visit my personal page.
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://events.animalhumanesociety.org/site/TR/Walk/General?px=1008361&pg=personal&fr_id=1110&et=ddLB7-bKiRXmQMJE5tNlRQ..&s_tafId=15970

Thursday, February 04, 2010

Blake

Thank you all for being ready to go and fencing well tonight. This is the hardest meet of the season. We've never lost to Blake, so it is always the most important meet of the year.

MVP's for the meet are the MF, WE and WF squads. WE pulled together and worked hard to win. The foil squads crushed Blake which was important due to the losses of the other squads. Their victories helped us to win overall on bouts. (Let me know if you want a certificate - I am happy to make them if you value them, if you're just going to trash them, then I don't have time. Let me know if you want mask stickers too).

WE - V 5-4
MF - V 8-1
WF - V 8-1
MS - L 4-5
WS - L 1-8
ME - L 5-4

Over all bouts 30-24

Part of team fencing is doing your job, you are expected to win a certain number of bouts based on your ability, a true thrill comes for us coaches when you win more than your expected bouts. We saw some of that tonight and it was very fulfilling for us as coaches.

Next week is MSC on Wed - another tough team!

Wednesday, February 03, 2010

States

Here is the link to register for State at www.askfred.net. Everyone in grades 7-12 is expected to fence at States. They are held at Roseville Area High School on Sunday, February 21st. Close of registration times are as follows. ME 8am, MF 8:30 am, MS 10 am, WS 8 am, WE 9:30 am, WF 11 am. You should be at Roseville at least 30 minutes before your close of registration time. The awards are announced at the end of the meet. There are trophies/medals for top 8, top teams in each weapon, top male and female team and overall team. It would be nice to have representatives from each squad there at the end. You will also need to vote for captains and most improved fencers.

Roseville is not setting a deadline for registration, but I am. You will need to register by Feb. 12th in order for me to pay for your meet. If you register after that date it will cost you $20.


http://askfred.net/Events/Prereg/prereg.php?tournament_id=10940

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Week of 2-1-10

Regular practice M, T, W and F.

Meet against Blake in the small gym at 6:00 on Thursday the 4th. We will set up at 6:00 and start fencing around 6:30. We will have 3 strips so it should take about 90 minutes- 2 hours to complete. They will have full squads in all weapons. There is no practice before the meet so make sure you do your homework and eat something before hand.

Drinks for the Blake meet are provided by Johnson-Rivards and Wilhelm Wolfs. No one has signed up for snacks, but we probably don't need any for this meet. Though I eat some dessert = ).

Next Week
MN Sword Club Meet at 5:00 in the Dining Hall. Drinks provided by Lutzs and Wilhelm Wolfs, snacks provided by Nordins.

Don't forget to rsvp for the team banquet. Thank you to those who have already let me know and paid!

Thursday, January 28, 2010

TCFC Meet

My deepest apologies for wasting your time last night. When we met with the coaches at the beginning of the season we stressed that we would only fence full squads (3 MF fencers, etc.), when we set this meet up we were assured that had had full teams in MF and WF. When checking this week we were told they had full MF, ME and then a few singles. Yesterday only one of their fencers chose to show up, had I known that this was going to happen I would have held a regular practice and had him fence with us. I am sorry. This should not happen at the Blake meet which is still on Feb. 4 but will be at SPA, we will set up at 6:00 and fence at approx. 6:30 or the MN Sword Club meet. This might happen again at the Sword Play/Shattuck meet. This is why we switched to mostly individual meets last year.

Overall we won - they forfeited WF, MF, WE, MS, WS
We won ME 6-3.

Team Gear

The captains have chosen not to order team gear this year. If you want to organize it and get it ordered by next week please see me, I get final approval on design etc., you will get your gear free.

Team Banquet

The team banquet will be held on Tuesday, March 2nd in the Dining Hall. The dinner is catered by Boca Chica's and has vegetarian options. We will start serving food at 5:30 and then start the funny awards and letter winner announcements at 6:00. Families are invited. The cost is $15 per person please make checks out to Jenni Blat. All money is due by February 21st (The day of States). Please let me know if you are planning on attending as soon as possible.

Thanks!

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

TCFC Meet

We just found out that TCFC has Men's Foil, Men's Sabre, Men's Epee and Women's Epee, so please be ready to compete tomorrow. We will meet at 3:30 in Bigelow to set up. Fencing will start at 4.

Monday, January 25, 2010

Midwest Resluts

Great fencing was done by all. The event was huge it had over 400 fencers, over 70 in each event.

WE 3rd - Claire Wilhelm
Top 32 WE - Marie Silicaino (They haven't posted the WE results yet)

MS - 15th - Harrison Hite

MF
40th - Jonny Socha
41st - Peter Driscoll

WF
24th - Emma Johnson-Rivard
16th - Michaela Kim
40th - Emma White
44th - Laura Barksdale

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Roseville Results

Remember no practice tomorrow or Monday. We have the TCFC meet on Wed. the 27th. It is foil only, but everyone is expected to stay and support the team until 5. Drinks and Snacks are provided by Wilhlem-Wolf and Merrills.

We won overall 4 squads to 2.

MS - 1-8 (ouch!)
WS - 3-6
MF - 5-4
WF - 8-1
WE - 7-2
ME - 5-4

Great job to all of our lady fencers, I am quite impressed with all of your hard work, dedication and effort, it is showing up in your results.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

SPA Invite Results

Thank you to everyone who brought snacks, they were appreciated. This meet gives us a good idea on what we need to work on before States. We have some room for improvement in most of the weapons. Thank you to everyone who stayed to clean up!


MS
6 - Harrison Hite
8 - Eddie Xie
10 - Nick Cohen

WF
1 - Emma Johnson-Rivard
2 - Emma White
4 - Laura Barksdale
5 - Michaela Kim
7 - Mikayla Nelson

WS
4 - Hannah Lutz
5 - Grace Owens-Kurtz

MF
9 - Peter Driscoll
12 - Phillip Dougherty
13 - Alec Nordin
15 - Jonny Socha

ME
7 - Henry Swanson
8 - Francesco Di Caprio
11 - Asher Szachowicz
15 - Phillip Swanson
16 - Jordan Hughes

WE
1 - Marie Siliciano
2 - Claire Wilhelm
9 - Mary Merrell

Week of 1-18-10

Next week.... 1-18-10
No school on the 18th, so no practice that day.

Thursday the 21st. Meet at Roseville Area High School. The bus will leave at 3:30. We will start fencing at 4:30, all squads will fence. After the meet we will continue the tradition and head over to the Dougherty's house for dinner. There is no bus back to SPA. Please RSVP for the team dinner as soon as possible, I have only heard back from one person.

Snacks provided by Swansons and Rosenblums
Drinks provided by Kims, Swansons and Wilhelm-Wolf

Friday the 22nd - No practice, 10 of us are heading to Indiana for Midwest High School Championships.

Next Week - 1-25-10

Wed - Jan. 27th - 4:00 in Bigelow
Foil only meet with TCFC. Everyone must come to cheer them on, but you may leave at 5.

Snacks and Drinks provided by Merrills and Wilhelm-Wolf

FYI - Blake had to cancel our meet with them on 2-4-10 due to a lack of gym space. I will let you know the new date as soon as I know it.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Holy Family Meet

Great job on your first meet today!

We won overall since they had to forfeit 3 events, but we still fenced well.

WE - V - 7-2
ME - L - 4-5
MF - V - 6-3
MS - V 9-0
WS - V 9-0
WF V 9-0

Saturday, January 09, 2010

Week of 1-11-10

This week we have the Holy Family Meet on the 13th in the Dining Hall at 4:00. We will meet at the Dining Hall at 3:30 to set up and get ready.. You will need your socks and knickers for this meet if you fence ME, MF and WE. If you are not fencing that day, you are still expected to come to practice and cheer your teammates on.

Drinks provided by Johnson/Rivard and Wilhelm-Wolf.
Snacks provided by Owens-Kurtz and Willa

No practice on Friday the 15th. We will set up for the SPA Invite right after the Basketball game meet at 8:45, set-up usual takes about an hour.

SPA Invite all day on Saturday the 16th. You may leave after your event, but you will need to return to help clean up after the meet, we can give you a better time estimate on Saturday. We hope to be cleaned up and ready to go home by 5.

Start times are as follows. You should check-in and pay for your event at least 30 minutes before you start. You will need the time to warm up and get ready to fence. You will need all of your equipment and socks.

WS and ME - 8:00am
MF - 8:30 am
WE - 9:20 am
MS - 10:00 am
WF - 11:00

Thank you to everyone who has signed up on time, there is a $15 late for those who didn't.

Drinks are provided by Wilhelm-Wolf and DiCaprio
Snacks are provided by Driscoll, Hughes, Browns and Willa
This is a long day so if anyone else wishes to bring drinks or snacks it would be greatly appreciated by all.


Next week.... 1-18-10
No school on the 18th, so no practice that day.

Thursday the 21st. Meet at Roseville Area High School. The bus will leave at 3:30. We will start fencing at 4:30, all squads will fence. After the meet we will continue the tradition and head over to the Dougherty's house for dinner. There is no bus back to SPA.

Snacks provided by Swansons and Rosenblums
Drinks provided by Kims, Swansons and Wilhelm-Wolf

Friday the 22nd - No practice, 10 of us are heading to Indiana for Midwest High School Championships.

Wednesday, January 06, 2010

SPA Invite

This may be a little late to do this, but in the past a few parent's have set up a concession stand at the meet. It doesn't usually make much money, but it is nice to have food to snack on throughout the day, especially for the fencers from other teams. It would be great if a few brave souls would like to organize this.

Thanks - Jenni

Monday, January 04, 2010

January 4th

Practice as usual this week.

Next week we have the Holy Family Meet on the 13th in the Dining Hall at 4:00. We will meet at the Dining Hall at 3:30 to set up and get ready.. You will need your socks and knickers for this meet.

Drinks provided by Johnson/Rivard and Wilhelm-Wolf.
Snacks provided by Owens-Kurtz and Willa

No practice on Friday the 15th. We will set up for the SPA Invite right after the Basketball game.

SPA Invite all day on Saturday the 16th. You may leave after your event, but you will need to return to help clean up after the meet.
Start times are as follows. You should check-in and pay for your event at least 30 minutes before you start. You will need the time to warm up and get ready to fence.

WS and ME - 8:00am
MF - 8:30 am
WE - 9:20 am
MS - 10:00 am
WF - 11:00

Thank you to everyone who has signed up already, there are still 9 people who haven't yet.

Drinks are provided by Wilhelm-Wolf and DiCaprio
Snacks are provided by Driscoll, Hughes and Willa
This is a long day so if anyone else wishes to bring drinks or snacks it would be greatly appreciated by all.

Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow.

Jenni, Bob and Bob