To some people, fencing appears to be an esoteric and exclusive sport, offered in certain colleges and few social circles, wherein opponents duel with swords attempting to strike each other.
The Messenger has learned that that could not be further from the truth.
Described as a form of “physical chess,” the art of fencing goes back centuries, requiring of its players mental acuity, uninterrupted concentration, lightning-fast reflexes, and the ability to outsmart your opponent on a dime.
And the members of the Long Island Fencers’ Club are proud to offer it to anyone who wishes to learn. The club allowed The Messenger to join them for a session at the YMCA facility at 62 Main Street in Huntington to learn more about the program, the coaches, and how anyone can get involved.
Philip Daly, the Executive Director and Head Sabre Coach of the club, has been a fencer for over 50 years, having started at the age of 12 in a family of fencers. He graduated from Centereach High School in 1977, where he fenced in the club founded by the “godfather” of the Suffolk County fencing community, Tom Cakouros.
Since then, Centereach and Newfield High Schools have built storied fencing programs, producing national and international competitors throughout the decades.
Cakouros and his wife Ellen relocated to Keene, New Hampshire, in 2002, where they revived the fencing program at their local YMCA. After trying several other programs, the Cakouros’ legacy is what inspired Daly to start a fencing club at the YMCA in Huntington, as well as the Patchogue location at 255 W Main Street.
The Long Island Fencers Club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that encourages entrants of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences to pick up a sabre and learn the sport at whichever pace, and for whichever purpose they choose. The club coaches and accepts anyone looking to fence on the local, national, international, and collegiate levels in an educational, no-bullying, and judgement-free zone.
Daly says his club takes on participants ages 6 to 96. There is usually a large distribution of middle school to high school-aged kids, but anyone younger or older is welcome and encouraged to sign up. Per Daly, the club has a wide range of clientele, including – but not limited to – retired couples looking to learn the sport purely for leisure, former fencers who would like to regain their skills, and people just looking to take up a new hobby and try something new.
Daly and his team’s commitment to the club provide an unusual opportunity for anyone to participate in what is usually found in more affluent and niche communities. He says some clubs cost tens of thousands of dollars in equipment and lessons, while his club offers more variety in their skill levels and longer lessons— all at a fraction of the cost.
Special Programs
In a remarkable effort to make the sport truly accessible, the Long Island Fencers’ Club is running a “Shine the Light” program for hearing-impaired students. A fencing program taught via American Sign Language (ASL) is extremely uncommon and could prove to be the club’s most unique and impactful feature.
In addition to their bold undertakings, the team’s credentials and experiences precede themselves.
Rebecca Kranz, a student fencing coach at LIFC, has been fencing since high school and her time at Stony Brook University. She has fenced competitively in her career, most notably a Temple University tournament, as well as other contests.
Rebecca is also continuing her education in American Sign Language (ASL) to further accommodate the club’s Shine the Light program.
Coach Burke Tomaselli, 28, a US history teacher, fenced in high school and returned to the spot with the club.
“When someone mentions fencing, most people think of the Olympics or The Parent Trap; it’s a sport for other people,” Tomaselli told The Messenger. “But in reality, you can start very, very easily.”
Nicholas Ramirez, 16, is a high school student at Oyster Bay High School. He boasts a 76% Win/Loss ratio and is one of the top-performing fencers on Long Island.
“Long Island Fencers’ Club is a great program, and it’s the best compared to others I’ve seen and worked with.”
Nicholas is an aspiring engineering major, certain to continue fencing at either MIT or Penn State.
The club operates the Huntington YMCA as the West Club, while the Patchogue YMCA operates the East Club. Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine (R) and Brookhaven Councilman Kevin LaValle (R) recognized the “Shine the Light” initiative last month.
The club is seeking donations towards the following: Needs-Based Fencing Club Scholarships, American Sign Language Fencing Classes, and the High School Fencing Coach Training Program.
The club encourages anyone of all ages and backgrounds to join the club if they wish to learn all three disciplines of the art, either strictly for leisure, or to compete on local, national, and international levels.
