New Jersey Fencing Alliance to host prestigious Steve Sobel SYC & Cadet International tournament at NJ EXPO Center, Feb. 26-28

MAPLEWOOD – For the sixth year in a row, the New Jersey Fencing Alliance is proud to announce it will host the Steve Sobel Super Youth Circuit (SYC) & Cadet International tournament from February 26 to 28 at the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center.

This is the largest fencing event ever to be held in New Jersey. More than 1,500 registered participants from around the world ages 9 to 16 will compete for awards in three categories: Epee, Foil and Sabre.

Due to its large size, the tournament has been moved from Jersey City to the NJ EXPO Center to accommodate the vast number of athletes. This will be the first year the NJFA will host the event at the NJ EXPO.

This Elite Super Youth Cup competition provides an opportunity to earn United States national youth rolling points. Additionally, it is a qualifying path for the 2015 United States Summer Nationals for Y14 (14 and under), Y12, and Y10 age categories.

The Steve Sobel SYC is sanctioned by USA Fencing and organized by New Jersey Fencing Alliance (NJFA) in Maplewood, and is part of a group of events held throughout the country for youth fencers in the same age categories in all three weapons. This will be the first event in the prestigious NJFA Youth Cup Series. Sobel will attend the competition to present the awards to the winners.
Sobel is a former President of the USFA (1972-1976 and 1992-1996), League Counsel, and past Vice President of the US Olympic Committee. He began his fencing achievements as the 1954 NCAA Saber champion for Columbia University. He served as Chief of Mission for the U.S. Pan American Games team and USOC Delegate to the Pan American Sports Organization. He continues to be an active member of numerous U.S. Fencing committees.

The NJFA, a non-profit organization located in Maplewood, is dedicated to introducing the sport of fencing to people of all ages and athletic abilities and offers professional instruction from nationally and internationally recognized coaches and fencers, as well as recreational and competition in all weapons.

The vision of NJFA, a non-profit 501 C-3 organization, is to offer participation in the Olympic sport of Fencing, its skill, strategies and techniques, to students of all ages, racial and socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. Its highly trained and experienced teachers work closely with students in all weapons (Foil, Sabre and Epee) to develop the physical, intellectual and emotional skills required to succeed in this challenging sport, while maintaining a fun atmosphere. Teachers provide the high quality care and understanding needed by students, to overcome the challenges both on and off the strip. NJFA offers private lessons, classes, and camps in all weapons.

The goals are to produce National, World, and Olympic Champions in the sport of fencing as well as introduce the sport of fencing to children, teens and adults, promoting a strong work ethic and a sense of fair play. The core values include:

• To strive for excellence in the sport of fencing.
• To value sportsmanship, a strong work ethic, and fair play.
• To teach fencers to win with grace and lose with dignity.
• To ensure that all fencers at NJFA conform to the rules, spirit, and etiquette of the sport of fencing.
• To respect all fencers and members within NJFA.
• To represent NJFA in the best possible light in local, national, and international competitions.

For more information, visit www.njfencingalliance.com or call 973-763-5728.

The USFA was founded in 1891 as the Amateur Fencers League of America (AFLA) by a group of New York fencers seeking independence from the Amateur Athletic Union. The AFLA changed its name to the United States Fencing Association in 1981. The USFA is affiliated with the Féderation Internationale d’Escrime(FIE), the international federation for fencing founded in Paris in 1913. The USFA was incorporated as a non-profit corporation in Pennsylvania in 1964 and in Colorado in 1993 in compliance with the Amateur Sports Act and opened its national office at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. in August of 1982.

The mission of USA Fencing is to serve and foster the growth, participation and development of domestic fencing at all levels and to achieve sustained international success.

For more information, visit www.usfencing.org.