Bay State Fencers in the News
Argenzio `13 Eyes Junior Olympic Glory in Fencing
2/19/2010
High school campuses are rife with students carrying basketballs, shoulder pads, and other sports gear. It is a common enough occurrence that it typically goes unnoticed. But if Vincent Argenzio '13 brought the tools of his trade to campus, he’d undoubtedly turn heads.
Argenzio is BC High’s resident fencer – and not just any fencer – he’s ranked 10th in the country in his weapon and age class. How did this mild-mannered freshman from Revere, MA get involved in such a challenging and aggressive sport? Like any good swashbuckler, the movies drew him in. “I started fencing when I was five years old,” he says. “When I was young I had a fascination with Star Wars, so I liked to play with swords and pretend I was those characters.”
Argenzio’s grandmother saw a way to channel his interest, and suggested that his mother look into local fencing clubs. Soon after, he joined with the Bay State Fencers Club in Somerville, MA where he works with Coach Vitaliy Nazarenko, a former European Cup gold medalist. Under Nazarenko’s tutelage, Argenzio has worked his way up the rankings, medaling at a number of regional and national competitions, including a gold at the at the 2009 New England Division Championship and a berth in the 2010 Junior Olympics over President's Day weekend.
Contrary to his even-keeled personality off the strip, Argenzio takes part in the most energetic and frenetic event in fencing – the sabre. Where fencers with other weapons, such as the foil and épée, score points only when touching the tip of the weapon to their opponents, sabre fencers can also score using the edges and surface of the blade. The greater area of contact makes sabre matches blindingly fast and ferociously aggressive. Though it belies his demeanor, the belligerent style of the sabre suits Argenzio’s passionate approach to the sport. “I chose to fence sabre because I think that it is the most demanding of the three fencing styles, both physically and mentally,” he says. “I enjoy the fast pace and intensity of it.”
Argenzio hopes to continue his fencing career through his time at BC High, and well into the future. He currently trains three to four days a week, and takes part in nearly 40 competitions across the county each year. Soon, he hopes to take his national ranking international to compete against the best fencers the world has to offer. “My next goal is to compete internationally at World Cup events continuing into college and then hopefully in the Olympics.”
Have sabre, will travel.
Somerville News: Fencing Club Brings Sport to City
June 17, 2008
By Lisa Vise
In a residential neighborhood, just past a junkyard for dead cars, a passer-by may be surprised to find the commercial loft space that houses Bay State Fencers. Located at 561 Windsor Road, Bay State Fencers was started in 2004 by Coach Stacy Eddy, who opened the salle (short for the French “salle d'armes”, meaning fencing room/club), with the “desire to bring fencing back into the city.”
When it opened Bay State Fencers became the first non-university fencing club established in the area since the 1960s.
Eddy greets all who walk in to his salle by name. The walls, decorated with medals, drawings, articles, photos and schedules, enclose a small front area leading to a large, grey floored, gym. A dozen or so students populate the club, the bulk of whom are women. Two students are taking private lessons, while five young women and two middle aged men wait for their respective group lessons to begin.
After working as the director of another fencing club, Eddy opened Bay State Fencers by himself. He chose Somerville as the location because he realized he had no clients from the area and wanted to spread the sport. “Being able to do it, being able to offer people the opportunity to fence is my favorite part of the job. All of us [coaches] have a fairly deep commitment to fencing.”
Eddy began fencing in 1978. An actor at the time, he started fencing because he thought it would be a useful thing to learn. He used his newfound skills to do fight work in collaboration with the Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD). Eddy has kept up this unique skill, doing fight choreography since 1978. He recently acted as a double in an episode of “This Old House.”
Bay State Fencers provides instruction in both conventional fencing and stage combat. Currently, the club is the only SAFD affiliated center north of New York City. “Our [stage combat] emphasis is to train performers, actors, and directors to learn combat safely. This is mainly for people in the arts,” Eddy said.
Bay State Fencers also offers a class for beginners called “Smorgasbord of Stage Combat” in which three basic techniques are taught in nine weeks.
Students
of Bay State Fencers span ages seven to 65. At the age of seven, 
Eddy
explains, children are ready to listen and accept instruction. Classes
for these youngsters are “50 percent fun and 50 percent fencing. As
students get older, the percentage changes. But there is always an
element of fun.”
Liana Bernt, 16, of Belmont, agrees with Coach Eddy. “To be able to fight the other people-it is a lot of fun as a sport. It is elegant.”
Twelve-year-old Alejandra Trumble of Cambridge got hooked on fencing after reading about it. She explains the appeal: “I like the sword stuff. It is uncommon. I like how the swords are made.”
In the upcoming years, Eddy said he hopes to expand his club. He also plans to begin sending students to the Fencing World Cup. Additionally, Eddy wants to connect his club to children on a charitable level. “Eventually, one of my desires, hopes, and dreams is to get a foundation hooked up to us so we can provide more opportunities to more kids; to provide scholarships.”
Cambridge Chronical: Cambridge Kids Earn Medals for Fencing
June 20, 2008
Cambridge-
Three Cambridge students earned medals in the top three places in their fencing competitions at the New England Division Fencing Championships at Rhode Island Fencing Academy and Club (RIFAC) in Warren, R.I. The contests were held on May 31 and June 1. Gabe Bamforth, a fifth grader at the King Open School, won first place in the Men’s Youth 10 and Under Foil Competition. He is the son of Amy Bamforth and David Borrus. Violet Michel, a fourth grade student at the Graham & Parks School, earned first place in the Women’s Youth 10 and Under Saber Competition. She is the daughter of Ann Marie and Roger Michel. Max Lasser, the son of Elizabeth Adams and Cliff Lasser of Cambridge, earned third place in the Men’s Youth 12 and Under Foil competition. He recently completed the seventh grade at The Dexter School in Brookline.
Foil and Saber students are coached by Vitaliy Nazarenko of the Bay State Fencers club which is located at 561 Windsor Street, near the Cambridge/Somerville border. During his fencing career Mr. Nazarenko, a former member of the Ukraine National Team, won gold medals at the Ukrainian Championships, European Cup and the USSR National Championships. Two of the Cambridge fencers are also coached by Gregory Berger, the assistant foil coach at Bay State Fencers.
Four other Bay State fencers entered the divisional competition at RIFAC and earned medals. Silver medals were won by Anli Ziang in Y12 Women’s Epee, and by Joshua Wolkoff, in Y10 Men’s epee. Both fencers are from Boston. Bronze medals were earned by Vincent Argenzio, of Revere, in the Y12 Men’s Saber competition, and by Stefan Mesarovich, of Brookline, in the Y12 Men’s Epee group. Epee students are coached by Amy Orlando, L. Stacy Eddy and Daniel Hondor.