By Zach Dodson

Photograph by David Loew copyright © 2007

Well, spring has finally arrived in Chicago, and the sounds of chirping birds fill the air . . . wait, that’s not the sound of birds—it’s more like the clashing of steel! That’s right, fencing season is in high gear in Chicago, and local fencers are more active than ever. Here we’ll cover all the angles of the blossoming Chicago fencing scene, as well as giving tips and commentary on this prestigious and rapidly growing sport. But first, let’s meet the people in your fencing neighborhood.

The largest club in the area is the Chicago Athletic Association Fencing Club, located downtown across from Millennium Park. They boast an impressive facility with a brand new custom fencing floor, and eight electric strips that are available to members 24/7. The fencing is top-notch, with many highly rated fencers in each weapon. Aida Abdikulova cracked the top 32 in Division I Women’s Foil in Chattanooga, a stunning result considering she is only 13 years old. Another young star who has had similar success in age brackets well above her own, is Alison Miller. At the Junior Olympic Fencing Championships in February, she took 5th place in Cadet Women’s Sabre, and 16th in Junior Women’s Sabre. But, fencing is a sport for all ages, as evidenced by the CAAFC’s Robert Chidel, who made the Veteran Men’s National Épée team last year.

These kind of results speak to the world class coaching staff at the CAAFC that includes Bakhyt Abdikulov, a two-time foil World Cup gold medalist, and current national coach of the U.S. junior women’s foil team, Hristo Etropolski, a sabre World Championship silver medalist, and Olympic finalist, and Boris Lukomski, three-time épée World Champion, World Champion silver medalist, and 1980 Summer Olympic Bronze medallist. In addition to the three traditional weapons, a new weapon, lancet, has been intoduced by club member Phillip Karnezis, with a focus on realistic combat situations. The Chicago Athletic Association Fencing Club offers beginner’s lessons, Junior and Senior training days in all weapons, and private lessons, with all equipment provided. [Full disclosure: The author admits a bias towards this club, as he is a member.]

The Chicago Fencing Club is coached by USFA-certified Coach Diana Unger. Member Jesse Green’s excellent finish at this year’s North American Cup boosted him to 4th in the country in Veteran Men’s Épée, 50–59. CFC offers beginner’s classes and fencing three days a week. The Windy City Fencing Academy, on Dayton Street, also offers beginner’s classes and focuses on épée.

You’ll have to leave downtown and travel to the peaceful suburb of Mount Prospect to find the champions of the Illinois Fencers Club. They provide full-service fencing facilities, with showers, lockers, and seven electric strips. IFC’s Christine Dominic just won the Midwest Sectional Championship Women’s Épée for the third time in a row. Her teammate, and New Trier high school fencing coach, Colby Vargas took third in the men’s event. Their coach, Ina Harizanova, is a World Cup gold and bronze medalist in Modern Pentathlon, as well as being a seven-time Modern Pentathlon National Champion in her native Bulgaria. IFC offers a full practice schedule, with beginner’s classes for all age groups and weapons.

If that’s not your ‘burb, there are other options. The Naperville Fencing Club trains many strong fencers, and has beginner’s lessons. There are also satellite programs in the park districts of Downers Grove, Glen Ellyn, and Naperville. No matter where you are, a fencing bout is not far.

If you want to give it the old college try, Chicago is the place. Northwestern University is the name that strikes fear into other collegiate clubs’ hearts. Head coach Laurie Schiller and Assistant Coach Ed Kaihatsu have led the Wildcats through many successful seasons. The University of Chicago has a club, so if you’re at school, put those book smarts to use on the strip. The College of Lake County in Grayslake, Illinois has a fencing club, as well.

You don’t have to wait till your college days, either, because Chicago has among the most high school fencing clubs in the country. Young champions can be found at schools like New Trier, Stevenson High, Marian Central Catholic High, and Lake Forest High.

Although they’re not in Chicagoland proper, we’d be remiss if we didn’t point out The Point fencing club, in Champaign, Illinois. Our neighbors to the south, The Point has been growing in astounding leaps and bounds, and recently added a lancet program, as well.

Just like the first blossoms of spring, the fencing opportunity is growing up all around you. Why not take advantage of the world-class training facilities here in Chicago, and hone your swordsmanship? In future issues, we’ll explore some basic questions about what you need to begin exploring fencing, one of the world’s oldest and most demanding sports.

• Chicago Athletic Association Fencing Club
Contact Matt Morich, HYPERLINK "mailto:matt@caafc.com" matt@caafc.com, 312.236-7580 ext. 2503, 12 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60603-3213

• Chicago Fencing Club
Contact Diana Unger, 773.685-2677, UngerCFC@email.msn.com,

• Windy City Fencing Academy
Contact Barry Matchett, windycityfencing@hotmail.com, 312.924-9412, 1535 North Dayton Street, Chicago, IL 60622-2523

• Illinois Fencers Club
Contact David St. George, 847.356-5395, Davesaint@comcast.net, 569 Red Spruce Trail, Lake Villa, IL 60046-6523

• Naperville Fencing Club
Contact Will Mego, HYPERLINK "mailto:wjm@ntsource.com" wjm@ntsource.com, 630.247-8664, 12 Golden Larch Drive, Naperville, IL 60540-7407

• The Point
Contact Rebecca Schneider, HYPERLINK "mailto:Rebajane8@hotmail.com" Rebajane8@hotmail.com, 217.351-5838, 500 North Walnut Street, Champaign, IL 61820-3609

• Northwestern University
Contact Laurie Schiller, lds307@northwestern.edu, 847.491-8880, 2311 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208-4230

• University of Chicago
Contact James Holland (men), jholland@uchicago.edu, or Lindsay Atnip (women), lmatnip@uchicago.edu, 773.702-3871, 5530 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637-1402

• College of Lake County
Contact Fernando Delgado, fdalga1@aol.com, 847.336-8981, 19351 West Washington Street, Grayslake, IL 60030-1148

• New Trier High School
Contact Colby Vargas, vargasc@newtrier.k12.il.us, 847.784-6797, 385 Winnetka Avenue, Winnetka, IL 60093-4295

• Stevenson High School
Contact Fernando Delgado, fdalga1@aol.com, 847.634-4000 One Stevenson Drive, Lincolnshire, IL 60069-2824

• Marian Central Catholic High School
Diane Baia, dbtorres@mc.net, 815.356-8007, 733 Saddle Ridge, Crystal Lake, IL 60012-3601

• Lake Forest High School
Contact John Blase, jblase@lfhs.lfc.edu, 847.234-3600 ext. 5396, 1285 North McKinley Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045-1371