Basking Ridge Athlete Wins National Medal At Fencing Summer Nationals

By On The Mark Communications

Advance Fencing and Fitness Academy (AFFA), opened its doors in Garwood in January 2014, and is already making its mark as one of the country’s premier fencing clubs. Eighteen AFFA athletes recently competed at the 2015 Summer National Championships in San Jose, California, winning five medals in various age categories. The team’s strong performance at this 10-day event, which hosted over 4,200 athletes from more than 30 nations, follows the team’s success at the Junior Olympics tournament, where they secured four medals.

AFFA women athletes and fifteen-year-olds Martha Merriam of Tenafly, NJ and Zara Moss of Pittsburgh, PA each had strong performances. Moss brought home the gold medal in Cadets and a bronze in Seniors, while Merriam took bronze in Cadets and 6th place in Juniors.

A newcomer to the national stage was 12-year-old Casper Mika of Basking Ridge, NJ. Casper won the bronze medal in Under 12 and upset the number-one seed Will Attig of Oregon in the quarterfinals.

“Just getting top eight was very exciting and I felt like I really accomplished something this year,” Mika said about his performance. “It felt like I was part of something big and I wasn’t just looking at the podium wishing I was up there. I was a part of it,” he said about receiving his first national medal.

“We’re very proud of all our athletes. These young men and women are truly dedicated and work hard each day to ensure they’re ready for these key competitions. They know that competitive fencing and academics is a winning combination for admissions into today’s top colleges,” explains Coach Aleksander Ochocki.

AFFA is dedicated to the pursuit of fitness and promotes a spirit of excellence in modern Olympic Fencing. With a state-of-the-art facility and notable champion coaches, AFFA delivers world-class, personalized training to empower and create opportunities for all ages and skill levels. AFFA will be hosting weekly summer camps for beginners during the weeks of July 20th, July 27th and August 3rd for ages 8 through 15. No prior experience is needed. To register, or for additional information, please visit www.affafencing.com or call (732) 925-6545.