Zander Rhodes wins fencing gold medal at American Challenge Regional Circuit Region 3

MAPLEWOOD/SOUTH ORANGE, NJ – South Orange Middle School foil fencer Zander Rhodes won the gold medal at the American Challenge Regional Circuit (ROC) Region 3, held in Metuchen. Thirty-six regional fencers competed in this C2 Senior Women’s Foil event.

Rhodes, 13, also placed 24th in the Division 1A Senior Women’s Foil event with an A2 classification and 59 competitors.

Rhodes has been fencing since the age of 7, under the tutelage of former Ukrainian international fencer Serge Vashkevich. She trains with Maplewood’s international foil fencing champion Jack Woods, at the new V Fencing Club in Livingston.

Coach Vashkevich said, “Zander trains hard, and is now fencing at a much higher level. We saw this at the summer national fencing championships when she convincingly defeated seniors  who are successful fencers on the national stage.”

Given the recent success of saber fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad at the Rio Olympics, the Maplewood/South Orange area will continue to be in the national spotlight for fencers of all different ages.