The Miami Lakes Fencing Club celebrated its fourth anniversary on March 22 as it hosted the “Young Superstars” tournament for fencers 14 years old and under.
More than 40 boys and girls competed across Y10, Y12 and Y14 categories in both foil and epee. The event, sanctioned by the USA Fencing Association, was held at Epiphany Episcopal Church, 15650 Miami Lakeway North. It attracted members of many local and regional clubs including the Hollywood Fencing Club, Masters Fencing Academy of North Miami Beach, Epee Miami Fencing Club of South Miami, Southwest Florida Fencing Club from Ft. Myers, Genesis Fencing Club of Melbourne, and a French competitor, Esther Roucaute, who was enjoying her spring break in South Florida.
Fencing is a classic Olympic sport that enhances focus, discipline, self-confidence, flexibility, coordination and strategic thinking, and can be practice by anyone from 6 years old through 80 or more.
“On top of being a sport that adults can take up at any age, it offers the rare opportunity to actively participate alongside your children,” said Gary Cardenas, assistant coach of the Miami Lakes Fencing Club, and father of Alexander Cardenas (12) who won a bronze medal in the Y14 epee event.
“We’re actually looking forward to later this year when Alex turns 13 at which point, he will be eligible to participate in open division events and that means we can find ourselves facing each other in official competition,” Cardenas said.
Fencing as a sport has shown growth in the past five years in South Florida, and it is gaining popularity especially among teenagers. “I know from my brother, who is in college, that fencing is a very well regarded sport in many good schools and I like it because it is really fun,” said Esteban Guio (15), a Miami Lakes resident and member of the club.
Many colleges, as well as the USA Fencing Association, offer scholarship opportunities for fencers. And unlike other collegiate sports such as football and baseball, within fencing there are far greater opportunities for the athletes to actually participate and excel.
“Our goals are not only to develop our students’ athletic abilities and love of the sport, but to provide them scholarship opportunities for college,” said head coach and Maestro Javier Andino. Several of his former students are currently attending major universities and fencing under scholarship awards.
Adults and children are welcome to watch the Miami Lakes Fencing Club practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 to 8:45 p.m. at the Discover Montessori Academy building located next to Epiphany Episcopal Church. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/miamilakesfencingclub, or call Andino at 786-399-5974.