Maplewood fencer Jack Woods wins Silver at Summer Nationals in Dallas

MAPLEWOOD – International foil fencing champion Jack Woods, of Maplewood, won the Silver medal in the Youth 14 years and-under Men’s Foil Event at the 2016 Summer National Fencing Championships in Dallas, Tex. earlier this month.

Two hundred forty-nine  qualified fencers from around the country competed in this A2/B3 event with Woods winning all his pool bouts convincingly.

Woods, 15, once again fenced Californian powerhouse Kenji Bravo in the finals. Bravo, who is a good friend, was defeated in the finals of the National Championships by Woods a few years ago. However, Woods, still recovering from the previous intense semifinal bout, had a slow start on the finals strip this time around. Bravo was winning 11-0 before Woods was able to take control of the strip with the extraordinary comeback high pressure fencing he is known for. Sadly his time ran out with Bravo, who won, 15 -11.

Woods also demonstrated outstanding fencing winning a medal in the Cadet 17 years-and-under Men’s Foil Event with an A4 classification and 182 qualified elite fencers, for placing seventh.

Ukrainian international fencer and longtime coach to Woods, Serge Vashkevich, said, “Jack never ceases to amaze, as he is the only fencer in his age group who has consistently won medals on the national stage. His fast judgement calls under pressure, and lightning speed movements are a hard match for his much bigger opponents.”