I hadn't noticed before but I think all of those kids are/were LCCS kids. Hmmmmmm.....

My son the Cobra fencer pointed out that all but one of those kids is, or was, an LCCS student!

It should also be pointed out that Cobra has adult classes also. It's an awesome place Steve has built and we're lucky to have it here. People in the burbs drive quite far for comparable programs.

Jersey City's Cobra Fencing Club is sending eight kids to compete in national championships in Atlanta next week
Saturday, June 26, 2010
By MICHAEL COHEN
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
En garde!

Fencing is living strong in the youths of Jersey City, as eight members of the Cobra Fencing Club of Jersey City will head to Atlanta, Ga., to compete in the U.S. Summer National Fencing Championships, July 3-7.

The club was founded by Jersey City resident Steve Kaplan in 2003, with the first practices held Saturdays at the Our Lady of Czestochowa School's Victory Hall.

Once enrollment became too big for the small hall, Kaplan moved the school to the fourth floor of a warehouse at 629 Grove St., in Jersey City. Practices have always been open to the public for kids ages 6 and up.

"The kids need to have a level of success in local and state tournaments in order to qualify for a national tournament," Kaplan explained.

"We bring in kids of any age. We've had kids start here as old as 11 or 12, but we prefer to get them younger to get them started on the basics and hook them into the sport."

Cobra Fencing has 75 kids in the school, which runs daily after school during the year.

The fencing season runs from September to June, culminating in the National Championships. This group of eight will represent Jersey City.

Jesse Laffey, a 14-year-old girl who attends St. Dominic Academy, picked up fencing a few years ago and has become one of the nation's top fencers, ranked 11th in the foil.

"It's a good feeling to know hard work has paid off," said Laffey. "This sport has shown me a lot about discipline. It keeps me relaxed."

Laffey is hoping to get a top eight finish in Atlanta next month.

"It feels awesome to be here. My coaches have told me about all the great fencers, and I have watched a few on YouTube and want to be one of them."

Devin Malmad, 11, and his twin sister Mia, 11, will compete in Y12 Foil at the National Championships.

"You got to work really hard here to get better," said Devin. "I have been working on my lunges."

Mia countered, "I'm getting better. My lunges are getting longer."

Brothers Matisse and Hunter Williams-Burrows are also taking part. Matisse is older, 16, and will compete in the U16 foil. Hunter, 12, will be in the Y12 foil.

"It's going to be an exciting experience for me, because I will get to see other good fencers," said Matisse, who is a junior at Marist High School.

His best finish came in second place at a meet in Brooklyn earlier this year. "I want people to get to know me as a fencer, so that one day they know that they have to face me."

Dalton Walker will compete in 10-year-old foil, Felipe Rosario will compete in 12-year-old foil, and KC Bonners will compete in 14-year-old foil.

The trip will be paid for mostly by the parents of the eight fencers, although Cobra Fencing will contribute a small amount.

"We had a good season," said Kaplan. "We are proud to see good results from our kids."