Bowie Teen Helps Team USA Win Gold at Pan American Fencing Championships

From a news release:

Amanda Sirico, 18, of Bowie was ready for the challenge when she was tapped as a late-breaking alternate fencer to help the US Women’s Epee Team win gold at the Pan American Zonal Championships in San Jose, Costa Rica on June 4.

Sirico is the No. 1 ranked Junior (under 20) female epee fencer in the United States, and the No 5 ranked Senior (over 20) women’s epee fencer in the United States.

In Wednesday’s event, Sirico fenced alongside London Olympic team bronze medalists Courtney and Kelly Hurley, and fellow Capitol Division fencer Kat Holmes, currently a student at Princeton University.

The US Women’s Team earned a bye into the quarterfinals, and advanced with solid wins against Colombia (27-18), Argentina (45-18) in the semifinals, taking gold in the finals against Team Venezuela (38-23). Team fencing events use a relay format in which teams of three fencers compete against another team in three-minute periods for up to 45 points.

A world-class season

Sirico is making her mark as a world-class athlete on the junior and senior international fencing circuit. In April she anchored the Junior Women’s Epee Team to win silver at the Junior World Fencing Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. This season she also participated in world cups in France, Germany, Spain, Qatar, Brazil, Cuba, and Costa Rica.

Sirico’s top results in the 2013-2014 season:

• Gold, Junior Women’s Epee, North American Cup (Cleveland, Ohio, November 2013)
• Gold, Senior Team Women’s Epee, North American Cup (Cleveland, Ohio, November 2013)
• Bronze, Dijon (FRA) Junior World Cup (January, 2014)
• Bronze, Division 1 U.S. National Championship, Minneapolis, Minnesota (April 2014)
• Silver, Team Epee, Junior World Championships, Plovdiv, Bulgaria (April 2014)

“Looking back at my season this year, I've found a lot that I need to work on, but I've made a lot of big jumps forward,” said Sirico. “There’s always room to improve, and being an alternate at Zonals for the senior team is just a stepping stone. I'm really looking forward to seeing what I can bring in the fast approaching, new season.”

Starting this fall, Sirico will attend the University of Notre Dame, where she will join the NCAA women’s epee squad at one of the strongest Division 1 NCAA fencing teams in the United States. She continues to train at DC Fencers Club under the guidance of Head Coach Janusz Smolenski.

Summer Fencing Camps Each generation of fencing champions gets its start in a beginner class. This July and August, DCFC offers five weeklong summer fencing camps to introduce young people to the benefits of this Olympic sport. The DCFC fencing camps are for children ages 7 and up, and beginner through intermediate fencers are welcome. Equipment and uniforms are provided. For more information on getting involved in this Olympic sport, call 301-562-1990, emaildcfencers@gmail.com, or visit www.dcfencing.com.

About DC Fencers Club DC Fencers Club has a national and international reputation as one of the best fencing clubs in the United States. The club offers instruction through classes, camps, workshops, and individual lessons. Fencers of all ages are welcome, and members range from recreational fencers to fencers who compete in local, regional, national, and international tournaments.