Fencing SYFA-South Youth Fencing Alliance

09/08/2026

SYFA had a strong weekend at the Fencing Center of Chicago RYC & RJCC, with our athletes competing across multiple age groups and gaining valuable experience against deep fields. Aviella Wilkins led the way with a T-3 finish in Y10 Women’s Foil, while Ardella Walsh added a 10th-place finish in Y12 Women’s Foil.

Across the team, we saw composure, resilience, and plenty of lessons we can carry back into training. We’re proud of every fencer who stepped on strip and represented SYFA.

Want to see what fencing can do for your child? Come join us at SYFA and try a class.
👉 Join SYFA⁠
https://playpass.com/south-youth-fencing-alliance

A huge thank you to the Fencing Center of Chicago for hosting a great event and creating a terrific competitive environment. Every tournament gives us another chance to grow. “Built For More.”

09/06/2026

08/18/2026

🤺 Adult Class: Learn to Referee, ON US!

SYFA will cover the $75 registration for any adult class member who commits to working as a sanctioned referee for us. The only ask: after the clinic, you'll need to get observed by a certified referee to earn your rating. The bonus is you can knock that out at a regional tournament you're already fencing in, no extra travel required.

Referee Development Clinic with CRI Abbas Fadel
📅 Thursday, September 3, 2026, 4:00pm
📍 Ataba Fencing Club, 1010 Richards Rd, Hartland, WI, or attend live via Zoom, no travel required
💵 Free for SYFA adult class members who commit to reffing for us (normally $75)
🔗 https://www.askfred.net/tournaments/afce51e1-205c-48b1-a7c2-91b9fa4123fb

Why it's worth it:
• Learn the rules inside and out. It'll make you sharper on the strip, not just as a future ref
• Certified refs typically get registration comped, hotel covered, and a food stipend at future tournaments, so it often pays for itself many times over
• Get observed at a tournament you're already attending to fence, no separate trip needed
• The bar to start is lower than people think. A local L1 or L2 rating is enough to help us run our own sanctioned events right here in Rochester

SYFA needs sanctioned refs to host our own events. We cover the class, you commit to finishing certification.

Interested? Let me know and I'll get you registered.

Building Champions On and Off the Strip.

07/29/2026

Please join us in welcoming the newest member of the SYFA family:

“Windigo Montoya.”

He showed up quietly one afternoon, parked himself by the door, and hasn’t said a word since, but everyone who trains under him knows exactly who’s keeping this room bearable. Word is he’s kin to a certain sword master from a very famous story, the kind who trained his whole life for one big moment. Windigo’s moment comes every time he’s plugged in and someone steps in front of him dripping sweat.

Weapon: Ice blast

Signature move: The Sub-Zero Sweep

Quote: “Hello. My name is Windigo Montoya. You are sweating. Prepare to dry.”

Give the big red guy a nod next time you walk by. He’s part of the team now, building champions on and off the strip, one breeze at a time.

07/18/2026

Huge congratulations to Therese-Margaret Woerter and Jamie Zinser on being named to the 2025-26 USA Fencing All-Academic Second Team!

This national honor recognizes fencers who excel in the classroom while competing at a high level on the strip. Therese and Jamie represent exactly what SYFA is about: discipline, focus, and excellence in everything they do.

We could not be prouder of these two. The work they put in at school and in the club shows every single day.

Want to start your fencing journey? Join us at https://playpass.com/south-youth-fencing-alliance

Building Champions On and Off the Strip

South Youth Fencing Alliance (SYFA) is a foil-focused fencing club based in Rochester, Minnesota. SYFA develops young athletes through structured training, disciplined practice, and consistent competition. The club emphasizes process over outcome.

07/18/2026

Adult fencing was an absolute blast today! ⚔️

Looking for a workout that doesn’t feel like a workout? Want to sharpen your mind, improve your fitness, and have a great group of people to laugh and compete with?

Join us every Friday for Adult Fencing!

No experience? Perfect. Experienced fencer? Even better. We welcome everyone who wants to learn, improve, or simply have fun with a sword in hand.

For our club members, don’t forget about Game Night every Saturday from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM. This is a members-only event for adults and kids alike, with games like Dungeons & Dragons, Magic, chess, and anything else members decide to bring.

Your next favorite hobby might just be waiting behind a mask.

Come see why everyone leaves with a smile.

📍 South YEL Fencing Alliance
🗓️ Adult Fencing: Fridays
⚔️ Member Game Night: Saturdays, 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM

Message us to learn more or stop by and give fencing a try!

07/07/2026

That’s a wrap on the 2026 USA Fencing Summer Nationals! 🤺

One year. Same stage. Look at the growth.

📈 Jamie Zinser: 177th of 275 in Div II last year. 74th of 233 this year. From the top 64% to the top 32%, plus his first Div I-A national event and a brand new C rating earned this season.

📈 Therese-Margaret Woerter: Moved up from Div III to Div II and delivered her best Nationals ever, 84th of 154 with wins over multiple rated fencers. That’s what a year of work looks like.

📈 Aviella Wilkins: 144th in Y-10 last year. 96th this year. A 48-place jump in twelve months, on top of two Y-8 gold medals this season.

📈 Graham Randall: Aged up to Y-12, faced kids up to two years older in a 254-fencer field, and fought into the elimination rounds at his first Nationals in the division.

📈 Mateo Wilkins: Backed up last year’s Div II run with another top-third finish, 68th of 233, while balancing a full college fencing season at Lawrence University.

Some personal bests. Some tough days. All of it earned. Every one of these fencers showed the grit, bravery, and determination we build at SYFA, and every one comes home knowing exactly what to sharpen next.

This week gave your coach plenty too. I studied programs from across the country, connected with college coaches who are now watching our athletes, and came home with new training ideas and a notebook full of plans. The work continues this summer, and the season is coming.

To our parents: the travel, the early mornings, the endless encouragement through hard bouts. None of this happens without you. You are the backbone of this team.

And to anyone who watched us in Portland: the camaraderie you saw is real. Our fencers cheer for each other win or lose. No cliques, no egos. Just a family that competes hard and lifts each other up.

Building Champions On and Off the Strip.

Join us:

South Youth Fencing Alliance (SYFA) is a foil-focused fencing club based in Rochester, Minnesota. SYFA develops young athletes through structured training, disciplined practice, and consistent competition. The club emphasizes process over outcome.

07/05/2026

Four days of national competition in the books for SYFA at USA Fencing Summer Nationals in Portland, and we’re not done yet. Aviella Wilkins takes the strip in Y-10 Women’s Foil tomorrow, and the whole SYFA family is behind her.

Here’s how our crew has answered the challenge so far on the biggest stage in American fencing:

Therese-Margaret Woerter fenced two national events, going 84 of 155 in Div II Women’s Foil and battling through Div III as well. Two events, hundreds of the best fencers in the country, and she stepped up to every bout.

Mateo Wilkins finished 68 of 234 in Div II Men’s Foil, a top-third finish in one of the deepest fields of the tournament, and tested himself against elite competition in Div I-A.

Jamie Zinser put together two strong days, finishing 74 of 234 in Div II and 74 of 129 in Div I-A, holding his own against some of the strongest foilists in the nation.

Graham Randall competed in Y-12 Men’s Foil against a 254-fencer national field, won his way into the DE round, and gained the kind of experience you can only earn by being here.

Every one of these athletes will tell you what they learned this week, and every one of them will be back next year hungrier and sharper. That’s what this trip was about.

To our SYFA families: your coach sees you. The early mornings, the travel, the support in the stands. Our kids step up to the challenge because you show up for them. I could not be prouder of this team.

One more day. Let’s go Avi!

Building Champions On and Off the Strip.