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wgodfrey · 11-06-2002, 04:05 AM

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone knows of any groups or clubs in the Youngstown, Ohio area that I could join. I've got some experience from the Univerity of Detroit about 7 years back. I've been away for a while, but it's something that I'd love to get back into now that life has slowed down enough to make it possible.

Thanks,

Bill Godfrey

lochinvar · 11-06-2002, 09:19 AM

Bill, to borrow the words of Everet in Oh Brother, Where Art Thou, you seem to be in a "geographical oddity--two weeks from everywhere"--only in your case you're about an hour and change from everywhere that fencers hang out.

If that's not too far, then you're in luck. There are several clubs in the Cleveland-Akron-Canton corridor, and there are several clubs in and around Pittsburgh.

Go to www.usfencing.org and click in the upper left on "New to Fencing?". Then go to "Where can I fence?". The map contains links to the sections and divisions, where clubs will be listed.
The two divisions you'd be interested in are the Northern Ohio Division of the Great Lakes Section (Cleveland area) and the Western Pennsylvania Division of the Mid-Atlantic Section (Pittsburgh area).

Or you could get some friends together and start your own club. Talk to the local YMCA about offering a class; you don't have to be a registered coach to teach the basics of footwork or bladework, which I'm sure you remember.

Did you do your college fencing at U of D Mercy?

Fencing Mom · 11-06-2002, 10:15 AM

Bill,

Check out the USFA webpage, under W. PA, then go to Fencing Institute of America's webpage. I think they meet once a week in Boardman, Ohio.

My son fences at Three Rivers Fencing Center in Pittsburgh (1 and a half hours away). There is some mighty fine foil fencing there, if that's your weapon.

wgodfrey · 11-06-2002, 10:27 AM

Thanks for the info. I'm going to check out that site. An hour wouldn't be too bad.

Yeah, I fenced Epee at U of D Mercy under Yuri (can't remember his last name) and Dick Perry (in his last year at the school, I think). I just never tag the Mercy on the end because when I applied to the school it wasn't there and then they merged with Mercy college.