Banquet!!!

Our team banquet is on March 14th at 6:30 in the Dining Hall. It will be catered by Boca Chica's again. We'll have fun team awards, awards for MVP's, MIP's, award varsity letters and announce the team captains for next year. We hope to see everyone and their families there. Please RSVP and pay us (cash or check - you can make checks out to Jenni Blat) by March 3rd $15.00 per person.

Thanks,

Jenni

Team Dinner - not the Banquet

We'll have a team dinner the night before states (March 2nd). It will be a whole team practice on the 2nd and then we'll go to the dining hall for a dinner of rigatoni, meatballs, salad, bread and desserts. If you choose to have dinner please pay me $10.00 by February 28th. Yes, you have a lot of time to forget to do this, I just wanted you to get it on your calendars.

Jenni

Shattuck Dual Meet

Yes, us again (there might be a couple more-we think subject specific emails work better).

We fence Shattuck Tuesday about 5pm. Please be in the dining hall at 4:30 to set up. They have a long drive so we will be ready when they get there! They have Men's and Women's Foil and Men's Sabre (or at least they did at the other meets). The rest of you still need to be there. Plan on it being 1.5-2 hours. Snacks are provided by

1-23 Shattuck @ SPA 5:00 Dining Hall
Drinks: Mona Dougherty
Drinks: Deb Weiss
Snack: Kim's
Snack: Nordin's

1-31 Blake @ SPA 6:15 small Gym (meet in the entry way)
Drinks: Sirc's
Drinks: Jennifer Fischer
Snack: Jeanne Herzog
Snack: McFall's

Jenni

Blake Dual Meet

This is the one team on one team dual (not duel) meet. It will be good! It will be at SPA. We even get the gym (small one, but a gym) for it! We will get 3 strips going at once. Unfortunately to get the gym we needed to make a slight schedule change. Instead of 1/30 at 4:30, it will need to be 1/31 at 6:15 to set up, start as soon as we can after (I'm thinking 6:30-6:45). They will have full squads for all weapons. We plan to be done 1.5-2 hours (by 8-8:30) if everything goes smoothly. I hope that works as well as possible for everyone. We will not have practice on 1/31. That means do your homework BEFORE the meet! :)

Jenni

Blake Team Meet

Dear Team,

Excellent job on the fencing at the Blake meet. We left the meet around 6 pm and they were still fencing the last round! Since we left early we did not get the results sheets yet. We watched so many of our fencers do incredibly well Saturday! We are very torn about who to award Meet MVP to! The bar has been raised for a lot of you!

To those who stuck it out and got a lot of fencing in, I hope you had fun. To those who stuck it out and did not get a lot of fencing in, we are truly sorry for the long periods of nothing, the delays, and the long day. Had I known it would be similar to last year I would not have told everyone they needed to be there. As after last year's meet they are again asking for help and suggestions. I was very honest about it being difficult to get our fencers and parents behind it again. As it stands we will not be requiring everyone (or anyone) to attend the Blake Meet next year. I am making several suggestions (which I won't bore you with the details about) that wil hopefully make it run smoother. But we will not require anyone to go until they prove they can make run smoothly. Thank you to all of you who passed on your kind words about how well Jenni and her sister, Laura, run the SPA Invitational. We think the team event could be a great time for the kids. For some Saturday was a blast. For many it was just long. Enough of that now! We have Shattuck to look forward to!

Jenni and Bob and Bob

SPA Invitational Pictures

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Blake Team Meet

This Saturday we have the team meet at Blake. It is held at the Upper School by downtown Minneapolis.

The men's teams need to be there by 7:30 am and the women's teams by 11:30.

This will be run like the meet with MSC, you will fence as a team going to 9 bouts. We will start our starters and once we have won substitute in the less experienced fencers. This means that the more experienced fencers will fence more, and the less experienced fencers will have the opportunity to sit with your team and learn by observing what they are doing, as you will be a starter one day.

See you on Saturday!

SPA Invitational Results

You all fenced really well and should be proud.

MF
2 - Michael Logan
6 - Charlie Feng
13 - Alec Nordin
17 - Phillip Dougherty
21 - Robin Sirc

WF
6 - Jee Hyun Choi
9 - Etonde Awaah
14 - Alanna McFall
18 - Katie White
21 - Michaela Kim

WE
3 - Kenzie Brown
4 - Claire Wilhelm
6 - Betsy Bayliss
7 - Linnea Herzog
9 - Jennifer Fischer
13 - Emma White

WS
5 - Hannah Lutz
12 - Arshia Sandozi
13 - Erin Lowenthal
19 - Gavi Levy Haskell
20 - Zuhra Khoyratty

MS
2 - Parker Cook
3 - Harrison Hite
7 - Daniel Zheng
9 - Mudassar Sandozi
14 - Andrei Nesmelov
15 - Abe Cass
18 - Ethan Chun

ME
3 - Jonathan Wald
5 - Alex Kramarczuk
16 - Stephen Weiss
22 - Zach Sethna

Meet MVP's

After each meet I choose either an individual or squad that has perfomed above and beyond our expectations. They earn a cool certificate, adidas socks and a sticker for their mask.

For the meet against MSC the Women's Foil squad earned MVP honors. They all did their job and won the bouts that they needed to win. Great job!

For the SPA Invitational...

Hannah Lutz and Harrison Hite are the MVP's. They both fenced extremely well. We knew you could do it, it was nice to see you win. Congratulations!

Jenni

What happened today?

Dear Fencers and Parents,
As sit here exhausted from a very long day in the gym, cool new socks off, cold pizza by side, and a tall glass of milk, I am trying to wrap my mind around what you all did today??!!
We are stunned. We watched fencers out there today. Even those of you who are telling yourself (YES YOU!) that you did not do well by the score, fenced. None of you sat there and let the opponent do whatever they wanted. You fenced and you fought. Excellent job!
Usually there are a predictable few who we expect to do well. But today there were many, many first year fencers, fencers who have struggled for a couple years, fencers we have watched for many years suddenly fence beyond what they (or we) imagined possible!
I do not tell you this just to make you blush! We know why it happened. It was not the socks (no matter how cool they are!). Practice this week was different than before break. This past week there was a definite change. Many of you stopped playing around and stopped going through the motions. The intensity increased, the speed, the focus, the energy were all there. Even before the meet, we (your coaches) had noticed the change this week.
I hope you have seen that how you practice is how you fence. You need to always practice with intensity, focus, and purpose. Look what you did with 2 days. What could you do with another week (the Blake meet)? or 2 weeks (to Midwest)? How about 6 weeks (to States)? If today were states at least Men's Sabre wins the team event (they are the only one I checked).
Parents!- Thank you so much for all the work you do to support your fencers and our team. While your children make each other feel welcome on the fencing team, you are making each other welcome on the Parent Team! The food you provide, the time you spend, the conversations we have make this truly a team activity. Without you this team would be much less than it is.
So we sit here exhausted. Totally, mentally, and emotionally drained. And we are thrilled! See you Tuesday!

Bob, Jenni, Bob

Remember

I have to say that I was very disappointed at how many members of our team chose to leave before the meet was over. You are not allowed to leave before all the fencing is done and everything is cleaned up. How would it look for a member of the basketball team or soccer team to decide that they were done and left. We are a team, even if you didn't fence it is your responsibility to stay and cheer on your team, not just your squad. I am sorry that we don't have enough space for everyone to fence at once, but you can not leave early. There are only 3 spots on the starting team, these spots are determined by your results in the team meets and in the individual meets. After this Saturday we will have a very clear picture of who is starting. Positions can change after every meet. If you are a first year fencer, you might not start, but that does not give you the right to leave, you still need to suit up and be ready in case the situation changes and you get to fence. It is also important to watch and learn. If you choose to leave early, it is the same as missing a meet and you will not letter or possibly start or fence at the next meet.

On Friday at 6 we have dinner and set-up for our meet on Saturday. You are expected to be there, if you are not, you have chosen not to letter.

We have a meet all day on Saturday, you are expected to be there 30 minutes before your start time, bring $10 to pay for your entry fee and stay until everything is cleaned up or you have chosen not to letter.

MSC Meet

WF - Won 6-3
MS - Lost 5-4
WE - Won 8-1 (They forfeited 6 bouts)
ME - Lost 5-4
WS - Lost 8-1
MF - Lost 8-1

Overall lost 4-2.

This is our toughest meet of the year, so it was a good start. I'll have more stats and details later tonight or tomorrow night.

Don't Forget

We have a meet tomorrow - meet at 3:30 in the cafeteria, we'll set up and then start fencing at 4:00. We only have 2 strips and 6 events so it will take about 90 minutes. Do not plan on leaving early.

You should have registered for the meet on Saturday, if you haven't go to www.mnhsfencing.com. You will need to bring $10 to pay for your entry.

Practice for the first week of 2007

Monday - All team practice. Bring your sweat pants if you want new ones.
Tuesday- All team meet against the Sword Club in the Dining Hall.
Wednesday - Squad Practices
Thursday - Squad Practices
Friday - No practice - Meet at 6 in the gym to set up equipment.
Saturday - SPA Invite. Come 30 minutes before your start time and stay until everything is cleaned-up!

MIA

I am missing email addresses from the following fencers.

Stephen
Alec
Robin
Ethan
Abe
Harrison
Floyd
Ted
Etonde
Laura
Ryann
Katie
Catherine
Zuhra


Yes, I know that if I don't have the email address, how are they going to get this email. That is your job! Forward it to them, big them, make them check the blog. Get them to send me their email address! For some I do have their parent's address, but not theirs. They are missing important information!

Thanks!

Jenni

Midwest Information

Below is the information about Midwest this year. I'll have permission slips for you on Monday when we get back. So far some of the teams are set, while others will be determined after the SPA Invitational. If you are on the list below and know that you are definitely NOT going please let me know as soon as possible (like now). We need to know sooner what our numbers are so we can cancel rooms if necessary. If you say you are going to attend and give me the permission slip, you will be charged for the trip even if you don't go.

Team's that are complete: (let me know if you can or can't go as soon as possible)

ME - Alex, Stephen, Zach and Jonathan
MF - Michael, Charlie, Alec and Robin
WS - Catherine, Arshia, Erin and Zurha

Team's to be determined after the 13th.They will be determined on your finish in the SPA Invitational, your practice attendance, effort and coaches discretion.
WE - Betsy, Kenzie, Jennifer, Linnea, Claire and Emma
WF - Etonde, Jee Hyun, Alanna, Grace, Laura, Michaela
MS - Daniel, Ethan, Parker, Abe, Harrison

Midwest High School Fencing Championships 2007

Here is everything you need to know about going to Midwest High School Championships.

The bus will leave SPA at 10:15 am on Friday, February 2nd. This means that you need to be at the parking lot, ready to go at 10 am. You must go to your classes before that time to check in!

We will be leaving to come home immediately after the competition on Saturday night, February 3rd . We could potentially be arriving at SPA as late as 2 or 3 am, Sunday morning. We will have everyone call home when we reach Hudson, WI. Please make sure someone is there to pick you up so we don’t need to stand around in the cold. The school will not be open.

Hotel

The hotel cost will be billed to you through SPA. We will know the exact cost when we know exactly how many people are going. We are staying at the Chicago Marriott Schaumberg, 50 North Martingale Road, Schaumberg, Il, 60173, 847.240.0100. http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/CHISB There will be 2 fencers per room so everyone can have their own bed. That is also why the rooms are more expensive. We are not assigning rooms this year. We have a sign up sheet, so you can pick your roommate. The cost of each room includes a $50 gift card to the Woodfield Mall http://www.shopwoodfield.com/ where we are going to for dinner (both nights we hope) and a free breakfast buffet. You will also get a free in-room movie (censored) – but don’t stay up too late! The idea is to share the gift card with your roommate and use it for dinner at the mall. So your room, dinner and breakfast will all be taken care of before you leave. The phones in the rooms will be turned off. You can use the payphone or cell phone. There is a pool at the hotel.

Food

Bring between $50.00 - $70.00 per fencer. You will need money for 2 lunches and 2 dinners, and snacks. Don’t forget you can use the gift card for dinner. We eat at moderately priced restaurants such as TGIF, Perkins, etc. But the Woodfield Mall has a wide variety of restaurants. You may also pack lunches and bring snacks. It is better to bring too much money for food, than not enough.

Tournament

Bring some high energy foods (powerbars, bagels, fruit, etc.) to eat during the day. There will be some food for sale at the meet. Bring a water bottle to stay hydrated during the day. The most common health problems during a fencing competition result from lack of food and water. Wear SPA sweats to keep warm between bouts. Extra t-shirts are also useful. We will be fencing at Stevenson High School, One Stevenson Drive, Lincolnshire, IL, 60069. http://district125.k12.il.us/ There should be showers – so you can clean up before we leave the school!

Equipment

Don’t forget to bring your mask, jacket, glove, shoes, knickers, long white SPA socks, sweats, lame, blades, underarm protector, etc. We will not have any extra equipment – don’t be the fencer who forgets something important this year! There will most likely also be an equipment vendor there if you wish (need) to purchase any equipment. He accepts most major credit cards and probably checks.

Who Else?

We will be traveling with TCFC. So be ready to make new friends! There will be 1 coach from TCFC, as well as the 3 SPA coaches.

Cell Phone numbers in case of an emergency – Jenni – 651.343.7171 and Bob 651.343.7172.

Expectations

You have shown great drive to practice hard and be responsible for yourself and the team. We expect you to behave with the utmost level of courtesy to everyone. Everyone includes your teammates, other fencers, your coaches, other coaches, restaurant staff, hotel staff and the tournament organizers. We are invited guests to this tournament. Violation of this conduct code may result in anything from restriction to your room, removal from the competition or removal from the team. If there is a problem, let us handle it. We have never had a problem in the past and do not expect to have any problems this year.

Toys

We encourage you to bring silent toys for the bus. Make sure you have your name on anything you bring. Don’t bring anything that you don’t want to lose or have broken. You are the only one responsible for your things.

What to Pack

Your fencing equipment – Mask, jacket, knickers, plastron, glove, long socks, etc. We will not bring any extras.
Socks – Long white socks – they must reach your knee. Wear your cool SPA ones!
Athletic shoes
Warm-Ups – SPA ones (any year)– so we look like a team
Water Bottle
Clothes for Friday and Saturday – Pajama’s , toothbrush, shampoo, teddy bear, blankey, etc.
Toys, books, homework, snacks for the bus ride.
Towel – you will need to shower at Stevenson High School before we go home. I will do a sniff test!
Please try to fit all of your gear in one fencing bag and the stuff for the bus in a (one) backpack.


What NOT to Bring

ANYTHING that you are afraid will get lost or stolen. You are responsible for your own belongings!

Tentative Schedule

2-2-07 10:00 am Meet at SPA, Load Bus and Leave
1:00 pm Stop for Lunch/Snack
5:30 pm Check in to the hotel
6:30 pm Dinner at the Woodfield Mall, Golf Road at Route 53. – See Jenni for a list of nummy restaurants at the mall. Same mall as last year.
11:00 pm Lights Out
2-3-07 6:00 am Rise and Shine!
6:30 am Buffet breakfast at the hotel – make sure you have checked out of your room!
7:00 am Leave hotel
7:30 am Arrive at Stevenson High School
7:30 am Mask Check
7:45 am MF, WE & MS – warm-up
8:30 am Introductions and Announcements
9:00 am MF, WF, ME, & WE pools begin
10:30 am MS & WS - warm up
11:00 am MS & WS pools – this may start earlier
5:30 pm Finish fencing and collect many trophies
6:30 pm Dinner
9:00 pm Leave for SPA
2-4-07 early am Call home from Hudson, WI
early am Return to SPA – Make sure you have a ride home!

If you have any questions or concerns, please call Jenni and Bob at 651.489.4528, our email is spartanfencing@comcast.net

We are looking forward to a fun and rewarding trip,

Jenni, Bob and Bob

FOOD!

Here is a summary of how the food has been set-up for the big meets of the year - SPA Invite and States.
What we have found in the past is that the kids like small amounts of food--a small apple, a banana, a granola bar, a small cookie or brownie, a piece of candy--that they can eat and have a few calories to work with, but nothing to weigh them down for their fencing bouts. They nibble these small amounts throughout the day, usually until mid- to late-afternoon when they have been eliminated from competition. Then they are ready to eat more substantial food and a larger amount.So in planning for food, it's good to have a box or basket of granola bars and Kudo bars, a bowl of apples, several bunches of banana, a crate of clementines, a bowl of candy, containers of cookies (homemade or store-bought), brownies. All of these food options are vegetarian. The kids drop by the food table and grab a little something off and on throughout the morning and afternoon. The fencing bouts run throughout the day, so there is no time when all of the fencers eat together. We have also had coolers of sandwiches. Last year we had 66 sandwiches for about forty fencers. We had 20 vegetarian sandwiches (cheese) and 46 sandwiches with both meat and cheese. We have always avoided ham in the sandwiches which makes it easier for the Jewish and Muslim fencers. Last year we had two cheese sandwiches left at the end of the day, but could have used more meat sandwiches. Cream cheese-on-bagel-sandwiches would also be a good option--but have the sandwiches ready-made. We discovered that fencers don't take the time to make sandwiches at a tournament. We have wrapped, ready-made sandwiches in transparent plastic wrap so fencers can see what kind of sandwiches they are getting. We also have put meat and vegetarian sandwiches in separate coolers, clearly labeled, so there would be no confusion.Parents have banded together to provide these foods: one family brings apples and clementines, another family bring bananas and granola bars, a parent would bring her famous chocolate chip cookie bars, another parent would bring brownies without nuts because her fencer was allergic to peanuts, someone else would bring candy, another family would organize the sandwiches in coolers so they can be available all day as fencers need them. You shouldn't feel like you should be responsible for all of the food for the whole team for the whole day. That is WAY too much to expect. This should be a group effort with many families participating.As far as beverages, the kids are expected to each bring a water bottle, but those quickly run out with the level of fencer activity. So parents have provided lots of bottled beverages: bottled water and individual bottles of Powerade/Gatororade have been popular in the past. Last year the Zheng family brought 3 cases of bottled water and 3 cases of Gatorade to the state tournament at Blake. Fencers don't drink carbonated beverages at these tournaments because they are so physically active it doesn't work well for them.There are 45 fencers on the team this year. All of them are expected to be at the all-day tournaments in order to letter. There will be a few exceptions, of course. As the tournament dates approach the coaches will know how many are actually registered to fence for SPA at any given tournament.In the past we have set up a pair of card tables or one 6- or 8-foot table to put all of the food on and around. We also have discovered we need to provide places to put our garbage. Old grocery bags have proven useful in this role. The SPA team food table has a sign and is located in the area where SPA fencers stow their gear. We bring folding chairs--because sometimes they are not available at the tournament facility--and watch our fencers, socialize, and provide a level of security for SPA fencers' gear. (Yes, it has been a problem in the past.) Parents rotate sitting at the SPA food table with watching their fencers, trading off as needed.

URGENT - Sweats recall

Dear Fencers,

I know many of you are probably unhappy about the fencing sweatpants. I know I am! Guys- if you check the label they are all women's (Just for Her) pants! I tried mine on and the crotch was around the knee. Jenni said hers did not fit so well either. I have been in touch with the person we bought them from. If you want them exchanged or refunded (if he won't fix it, we will return them and go somewhere else). We will collect them on Monday after break. Remember Monday after break is a whole team practice! Because Tuesday is our first meet! We will send a reminder toward the end of break to remind you. Please do not wash them, wear them, or spill anything on them. If you are at another SPA function on the Monday, make sure that you have given your sweats to another team member. We are dropping them off after practice.

Happy Holidays!

Those that get (and read) the email or check the blog please - pass the word to the others!

Bob

Change of Date for the TCFC Meet

Please change the TCFC Meet to February 21st. Everything else about the meet will stay the same.

No Practice this Week

Study hard - There is no practice this week as was stated on the schedule handed out and posted on the blog at the beginning of the season. Enjoy!