3rd Place Medal at Summer National Championships in Austin, Tx

by Denise Miller

Homeschooled student Stuart Miller represented Georgia in the United States Fencing Association's Summer National Championships held in the capital city of Texas June 30th through July 10th. Stuart has been learning Epee Fencing under Stone Mountain area Maestro Sandor Kiss, for the past 2 1/2 years. Stuart finished his last year in the Under 10 Youth Epee category by claiming a 3rd place spot in a field of under 30 competitors from all over the United States. He was also given a special recognition for a tie finish with another fencer for 1st place in points for the year, receiving a special patch to wear on his fencing jacket.

Stuart also competed in the Under 12 Youth Men's Epee and finished a high 19th place in a field of over 50 competitors. Earlier in the year Stuart won 3rd Place in a USFA Youth tournament held at Disney's Wide World of Sports in Lake Buena Vista, Fl and in the fall a 1st Place Gold for the Youth tournament in St. Paul, MN. Stuart enjoys fencing and really likes his coach. He enjoys meeting other youth and homeschoolers at tournaments held in various places around Georgia and around the USA.

Stuart's older brother, Daniel, has been fencing for as long and attended the Summer National Tournament also. Daniel competed in the Under 12 Epee and finished 12th place. But due to his previous two 3rd Place finishes he was also awarded a special recognition patch for highest point totals for the year's competitions in Under 12 Men's Epee. Daniel also competed in the Under 14 Men's Epee and finished 16th place against a field of much older and bigger competitors. Daniel will be competing in the Under 14 category in the coming season though he is still a 12 year old.

Though many fencers don't begin the sport until age 13 or 14, Daniel and Stuart have enjoyed learning this sport for almost 3 years. The USFA's promotion of youth fencing is expected to produce a generation of top fencers able to bring home medals from future world events such as the Olympics and World Championships.

There are several fencing clubs in the metro Atlanta area, but Daniel and Stuart recommend the various locations of their club, The American Fencing Academy. Please contact Sandor Kiss to arrange a demonstration at your group or find out where your kids can learn fencing. Instruction is taking place in Conyers, Rome, Stone Mountain, Alpharetta and soon in Athens. Do you know someone who is looking for a sport for the wheelchair bound? Wheelchair fencing is also taught at American Fencing Academy for recreation and Olympic training for the ParaOlympics. Contact Sandor at SandorKiss@aol.com for more information. Tell him that Denise Miller referred you to fencing for Homeschoolers.

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