PRESS RELEASES

fencing, PRESS RELEASES

For Immediate Release: LI Student Isabella Chin Becomes Fencing Junior World Cup Champion

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For Immediate Release: LI Student Isabella Chin Becomes Fencing Junior World Cup Champion

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sergey Danilov, info.nyfa@gmail.com, (614) 302-9009

LI STUDENT ISABELLA CHIN BECOMES FENCING JUNIOR WORLD CUP CHAMPION

Port Washington, NY (January 26, 2023) – On January 21, Isabella Chin (17) from Manhasset, fencer at New York Fencing Academy, competed in the Junior World Cup (under 20 years old) in Maalot, Israel. Only the twelve best fencers in the country earn spots to represent Team USA at the prestigious competition as part of the final selection towards the World Championships.

Chin showed a real desire to represent Team USA proudly and prove that she is the strongest fencer of the day, winning the Gold Medal and becoming a World Cup Champion.

Chin started the direct elimination round (playoffs) by beating an Israeli opponent, and then besting her friend and USA teammate by just one point. The next challenge was waiting for her in the quarterfinals where she faced the current Word Cup Champion, Kravetz from Israel, but nothing could stop her that day. With a close score of 14:13, Chin secured her spot on the podium. Determined to move on, Chin eliminated her next Ukrainian challenger 15:12,  and advanced to the final match where she fenced her current USA teammate and future teammate at Harvard University. Chin delivered a decisive answer to who was the best on that day – winning 15:10. Chin became the Junior World Cup Champion, adding another gold medal to her collection of three National Champion titles.

Chin’s coaches and the owners of New York Fencing Academy, Sergey Danilov and Michael Mokretsov, commented, “Isabella is not just a great fencer, but also a great student at school, an amazing teammate, and simply a hardworking person. She spends numerous hours on her studies to remain an excellent student and countless hours perfecting her actions at the gym, and yet, she manages to remain social with her family and friends. If there is one person who deserves this result, it is Isabella. She always stays for extra practice in the gym to get better but never forgets to help her younger teammates at New York Fencing Academy to succeed as well.”

Chin’s results are excellent not only in fencing but also in the classroom of Manhasset High School, helping her to get recruited to Harvard University, where she starts this fall and where she will continue her athletic and academic career.  “There is no doubt that Harvard earned a great person,” says Coach Danilov. “Our congratulations to Isabella Chin and the entire “village” which helped her get great results on and off the strip.” 



New York Fencing Academy (NYFA) was founded in 2010 in Brooklyn, NY by owner and head coach Michael Mokretsov.  In 2018, NYFA opened their second location in Port Washington, Long Island, NY with head coach and co-owner, Sergey Danilov.  NYFA is a center for excellence in epee, with one of the strongest competitive epee programs in the country. NYFA has produced Olympic, World and National Champions, and has members on the USA, French, and Greek national teams.  NYFA provides private lessons, group classes, after school programs, and camps for students of all ages and all levels, beginners to advanced. Visit www.fencenyfa.com for more info.

 

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Contact: Sergey Danilov, (614) 302-9009

Company: New York Fencing Academy

Brooklyn: 2896 W 12th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11224, club phone: (718) 996-0426

Long Island: 8 Haven Avenue, Port Washington, NY 11050, club phone: (516) 472-7042

info.nyfa@gmail.com

www.fenceNYFA.com  

 

 

fencing, PRESS RELEASES

For Immediate Release: Brooklyn-Trained Fencer Romain Cannone Wins Olympic Gold For France

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For Immediate Release: Brooklyn-Trained Fencer Romain Cannone Wins Olympic Gold For France

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Misha Mokretsov, info.nyfa@gmail.com, (347) 741-1343

BROOKLYN-TRAINED FENCER WINS OLYMPIC GOLD FOR FRANCE

Brooklyn, NY (July 29, 2021) – On July 25th, first-time Olympian, Romain Cannone, won the men’s epee individual competition, earning the first gold medal for France in Tokyo, and becoming the first student from New York Fencing Academy (NYFA) to be crowned Olympic Champion. To the rest of the world, Cannone was relatively unknown, 47th world-ranked, a replacement and youngest member of the French team. To his first coach, Misha Mokretsov and his NYFA clubmates in Coney Island, Cannone was the star to watch, and as he promised to himself, he did not disappoint.

“I went into the competition telling myself, ‘don’t be disappointed in yourself, be yourself, do your game,” 24-year-old Cannone recalled. “I love to play and that’s what I did during the matches and I didn’t feel any stress because I expressed myself. I started fencing in the USA, and France has a long history of champions and a real know-how of fencing.”

Entering the Olympics with this healthy attitude, Cannone was ready to fence the 2012 Venezuelan Olympic champion, Ruben Limardo Gascon, and won the bout 15-12. Next, Cannone eliminated #7 world-ranked, Bas Verwijlen from the Netherlands with a score of 15-11. Cannone then took on the world’s #2 epee fencer, Sergey Bida from Russia, and defeated him 15-12. For the semi-final, Cannone faced Ukrainian, Igor Reizlin, to win 15-10. In the finals, Cannone challenged the #1 epeeist in the world, Gergely Siklós of Hungry, and secured the gold medal with a score of 15-10. Cannone’s incredibly confident debut performance earned France its first individual Olympic gold medal in men’s epee since 1992.

Born in France, but raised mostly in the US, Cannone picked up the epee for the first time in 2010 when he began training with coach Misha Mokretsov who had just opened his first club in Brooklyn. Eleven years later, Coach Mokretsov shared the news with pride in an online post. “One of my first students, Romain Cannone, became an Olympic Champion! Looking back at his path as an athlete starting from a small twelve year old skinny boy to this amazing fencer, I know that he deserved every little bit of this medal.” Mokretsov explained, “Romain started fencing relatively late, didn’t have his US citizenship, and couldn’t fence many events here, but what he had was a huge love and passion for the sport, a strong work ethic and sportsmanship. Everyone who knows Romain knows he is a great person besides being an amazing athlete.”

Mokretsov went on to say, “I want to congratulate Romain for the achievement that proves when you put your heart into the sport, when you make sacrifices to move to a new level, when you stay true to yourself, when you remember your roots and value people that impacted your life, you will inevitably succeed because you deserve and earn it! And no matter how many obstacles Romain had on his way he never gave up, always worked to the top of his abilities and stayed a kind, respectful and loving person.”

Mokretsov credits Cecile and Arnaud Cannone for raising their son to be “a true gentleman and the best role model there can be for any athlete.” He also thanked Coach Dima Chumak who helped train Cannone for a couple of years while in high school in Westchester and starting college in Connecticut. But when Cannone realized he had to take a big chance and move to France to try to qualify for their senior team to pursue his fencing dreams, his New York coach supported him. “It was a difficult decision for him,” Mokretsov said. “He could have stayed in the United States, given it all up, pursued his business studies and worked in New York. But no, he took the idea to the end. He was so passionate.”

Cannone was considered a promising contender for the 2024 Olympics, but no one could have predicted he would take home the gold this time around. Even Cannone seemed surprised. “I was shocked and truly happy, I didn’t know how to celebrate. I just felt this happiness and this energy. I was living the moment fully and completely and I also felt the good energy from my team.”

That energy he felt from his French team by his side in Tokyo on Sunday, was certainly multiplied on the other side of the world by his fencing family from day one, at New York Fencing Academy in Coney Island, Brooklyn, USA.

New York Fencing Academy (NYFA) was founded in 2010 in Brooklyn, NY by owner and head coach Misha Mokretsov. In 2018, NYFA opened their second location in Port Washington, Long Island, NY. NYFA is a center for excellence in epee, with one of the strongest competitive epee programs in the country. NYFA has produced National and World Champions, and has members on the USA and French national teams. NYFA provides private lessons, group classes, after school programs, and camps for students of all ages and all levels, beginners to advanced. Visit http://www.fencenyfa.com for more info.

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Contact: Misha Mokretsov, , cell phone: (347) 741-1343
Company: New York Fencing Academy
Brooklyn: 2896 W 12th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11224, club phone: (718) 996-0426
Long Island: 8 Haven Avenue, Port Washington, NY 11050, club phone: (516) 472-7042

info.nyfa@gmail.com

www.fenceNYFA.com  

fencing, PRESS RELEASES

For Immediate Release: Brooklyn Fencer Jaclyn Khrol Top 8 in World Championship, #13 in World

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For Immediate Release: Brooklyn Fencer Jaclyn Khrol Top 8 in World Championship, #13 in World

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Misha Mokretsov, info.nyfa@gmail.com, (347) 741-1343

BROOKLYN FENCER JACLYN KHROL TOP 8 IN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, #13 IN WORLD

Brooklyn, NY (April 30, 2021) – Jaclyn Khrol (Bensonhurst, Midwood High School) competed for the first time in the Junior (under-20) World Championship in Cairo, Egypt earlier this month, and rose to 13th in the world after her top 8 result in the most prominent international competition in the sport of fencing, after the Olympic Games.

Khrol has been fencing since she was nine years old and has had consistent success from the age of 10, with countless medals at North American Cups, Summer Nationals, and Junior Olympics, as well as World Cups. But in 2019, Khrol was crushed when she was just one spot away from making the National Team. “It was very hard to keep her inspired and motivated to start training again,” said her coach, Misha Mokretsov (New York Fencing Academy, Brooklyn, NY). “Jackie was so successful from a young age, that in her mind, she would make the National Team. But when it didn’t happen, it was very shocking for her.” The next year, the story repeated and again she was one spot short. “That was so disappointing,” said Khrol, “plus COVID started and I wasn’t able to train for 8 months.” That is an extremely long time to stop training for an athlete of her level. As soon as it was allowed, they started training again and it became obvious that she had a lot of work to do to get back in shape to the level needed for major events.

Then the good news came. Khrol recalled, “I was thrilled to learn that the World Championships were happening and I finally got selected for the team!” They had a very short time to prepare, but with a sharp training plan and Khrol’s experience, the student and coach created the best momentum they could for the 2021 World Championships.

“Jackie was a little uncomfortable going to her dream event after such a long break, but what she lacked in training, we knew she could cover with her mental game, experience and strategic thinking,” said coach Mokretsov.

The day of the competition, Khrol carried out her routine and looked ready. She started off winning her first bout confidently. For the second bout, Khrol began ahead 4-1 and finished 5-3. Next, against Carmen Andrea Correa Santa from Colombia, Khrol started winning 2-0 and later in the bout received 2 touches against her before realizing that her weapon wasn’t working. That threw off Khrol’s focus and she lost the bout in priority 2-3.

Even though she tried to get back in the zone, Khrol was still affected by the last bout and lost the next two bouts to athletes from Poland and Spain. Finally, Khrol managed to regain her confidence and won one more bout, finishing the pool round at 3-3. She ranked 58th out of 113 fencers.

In direct elimination, Khrol dominated her first bout against Kamilia Abdyl-Khamitova from Kyrgyzstan, even though it ended with a close 15-13 score. Next, Khrol faced an extremely hard opponent, Kinga Zgryzniak from Poland, who ranked 7th after pools and didn’t lose a single pool bout. Khrol was behind through most of the bout, but near the end with 18 seconds left and 2 points behind, she scored a touch and got to 11-12. Mokretsov recalled, “She had 5 seconds left to catch up and managed to do it when the clock had only .007 seconds remaining! Then in overtime, she won! That was an amazing bout and it put Jackie in a strong mindset for the next bout.”

To make top 16, Khrol fenced Olexandra Lazarenko from Ukraine and built a comfortable lead from the beginning, finishing 13-8. For top 8, Khrol faced a strong athlete from Egypt, Rodaina Gaafar. Again, Khrol was leading the whole bout and never let the opponent doubt her advantage. The final score was 15-12. To make top 4, Khrol had to face another Ukrainian athlete, Anastasiia Zelentsova. Khrol started ahead and kept it up until the last 15 seconds where she had a 3 point lead. At this point. Khrol started fencing too carefully and tried to save the lead rather than fence actively to keep the pressure on the opponent. Zelentsova fought up to a 1 point deficit with 5 seconds left. The plan was to retreat and pretend to defend but instead attack when the distance got close. But under the pressure, Khrol tried defense and Zelentsova evened up the score and won in priority. Khrol said, “I’m happy I made top 8 in my first junior world championship and moved up to 13th in world rankings! I have two more years in juniors and I’m seriously focused on beating this result!”

New York Fencing Academy (NYFA) was founded in 2010 in Brooklyn, NY by owner and head coach Misha Mokretsov. In 2018, NYFA opened their second location in Port Washington, Long Island, NY. NYFA is a center for excellence in epee, with one of the strongest competitive epee programs in the country. NYFA has produced National and World Champions, and has members on the USA and French national teams. NYFA provides private lessons, group classes, after school programs, and camps for students of all ages and all levels, beginners to advanced. Visit http://www.fencenyfa.com for more info.

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Contact: Misha Mokretsov, , cell phone: (347) 741-1343
Company: New York Fencing Academy
Brooklyn: 2896 W 12th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11224, club phone: (718) 996-0426
Long Island: 8 Haven Avenue, Port Washington, NY 11050, club phone: (516) 472-7042

info.nyfa@gmail.com

www.fenceNYFA.com  

fencing, PRESS RELEASES

For Immediate Release: World Championship Bronze Medal for New York Fencer Skyler Liverant

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For Immediate Release: World Championship Bronze Medal for New York Fencer Skyler Liverant

Brooklyn, NY (April 15, 2021) –  The World Championships is the most prominent international competition in the sport of fencing, after the Olympic Games. Only three fencers from each country qualify to participate. For 17-year-old Skyler Liverant (Kensington, Brooklyn Prospect Charter School), this was his second World Championship in the Cadet (17 and under) age group, and his experience paid off with a bronze medal finish in Cairo, Egypt last week. 

Liverant’s coach, Misha Mokretsov at New York Fencing Academy, recalls, “when Skyler competed two years ago in the World Championship in Poland, he was only 15 years old fencing against opponents two years older, and he was overwhelmed by the magnitude of the event. This time, Skyler came fully prepared and knew what to expect.”

“I felt really confident,” Liverant confirmed. “I was practicing really well and was mentally prepared. Having been there before, I knew how I needed to approach the competition to win.”  The COVID-19 protocols didn’t seem to faze him either. Athletes remained in a “bubble” from arrival at the airport and throughout the competition. “On one hand it was hard to stay in the hotel all the time” said Liverant “but I think it also helped us to focus on the competition.”

Liverant started off feeling a little nervous and tight and lost the first pool bout by one touch. After discussing his mistakes with coach Mokretsov, he took off, fencing free and easy and winning the remaining bouts in his pool. He finished the pool round 14th out of 100 athletes. 

In the direct elimination round, Liverant first faced Krystof Pohnan from Czech Republic. Liverant was flawless, leading 14-0 and he finished the bout with a double touch to make 15-1. In his bout for top 16 against Lukin Bogdan from Kazakhstan, Liverant started confidently and held his lead throughout to lock in a 15-7 win. 

For Liverant, the most significant bout of the day was for top 8 when he had to beat fellow American, Henry Lawson. “It’s always a lot of pressure to fence a teammate at an international competition, especially World Championships,” Liverant said.  Lawson was ranked third after pools, and both fencers knew each other very well. It all came down to who could change the game enough to surprise the opponent. They fenced evenly to 7-7, then Liverant built a comfortable lead and won 15-9. 

The next bout determined whether Liverant would make top 4 and earn a medal. His competitor was Markus Salm from Estonia, whom Liverant fenced and beat in the pool round. Coach Mokretsov’s main advice was to not underestimate his opponent just because he beat him in the pools. Liverant was winning 13-8 and then lost 3 touches in a row. His lead narrowed to 13-11 and his coach intervened, changing tactics to attack more aggressively so as not to give too much freedom to the opponent. Liverant succeeded, won 15-12, and earned a medal. 

To make the finals, Liverant had to fence in the semifinals against a very strong fencer, Artem Sarkisyan from Russia. Liverant started to attack early in the match which was not the right strategy. Sarkisyan was very comfortable defending and with his lead, did not need to attack. With a strong performance, Liverant ended the day with the bronze medal, adding to USA’s success at this World Championship. 

“Skyler fenced his heart out,” said coach Mokretsov. “He really deserves this medal for all his hard work over the past eight years, his dedication and love for the sport of fencing, and very importantly his personal qualities – honesty, loyalty and diligence. It’s a beautiful way to finish the cadet age level and I know it will only inspire him to achieve greater results in the future.” 

New York Fencing Academy (NYFA) was founded in 2010 in Brooklyn, NY by owner and head coach Misha Mokretsov.  In 2018, NYFA opened their second location in Port Washington, Long Island, NY.  NYFA is a center for excellence in epee, with one of the strongest competitive epee programs in the country. NYFA has produced National and World Champions, and has members on the USA and French national teams.  NYFA provides private lessons, group classes, after school programs, and camps for students of all ages and all levels, beginners to advanced. Visit www.fencenyfa.com for more info.

###

Contact: Misha Mokretsov, , cell phone: (347) 741-1343

Company: New York Fencing Academy

Brooklyn: 2896 W 12th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11224, club phone: (718) 996-0426

Long Island: 8 Haven Avenue, Port Washington, NY 11050, club phone: (516) 472-7042

info.nyfa@gmail.com

www.fenceNYFA.com  

PRESS RELEASES

For Immediate Release: World Cup Silver Medal for Brooklyn Fencer on USA Team in Budapest

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For Immediate Release: World Cup Silver Medal for Brooklyn Fencer on USA Team in Budapest

Brooklyn, NY (October 7, 2019) – This weekend Team USA earned silver in the Cadet World Cup in Budapest, Hungary. This was the first and strongest world cup of the season with most of the dominating nations in the world were present. Three New York Fencing Academy (NYFA) students represented the US: Skyler Liverant (Kensington, Brooklyn Prospect Charter School), Jaclyn Khrol (Bensonhurst, Midwood High School), and Ethan Kushnerik (Mill Basin, York Prep School). All three athletes are aiming to qualify for the World Championships which will be held in Salt Lake City, UT in April 2020.

Jaclyn Khrol made top 32 out of 289 athletes and was one touch short of winning the top 16 bout against Italy’s Margherita Baratta who eventually took bronze. Khrol was one of seven girls from the USA that earned international points and is now ranked #3 in the US. The top three athletes in each category will qualify for World Championships.

Skyler Liverant had the best result for team USA, earning bronze in the individual competition out of 324 athletes. This was Liverant’s personal best result which moved him into the #1 spot on US rankings and #5 in the world. Team USA National Coach, Alex Zurabishvili said, “On his way to bronze medal, Skyler was fighting for every touch, very focused and coachable, high level of focus, determined to win.”

Liverant recalled, “I was very focused throughout the competition, both bouts in direct elimination for top 64 and 32 came down to one touch to decide the winner but I stayed calm, relaxed and confident about what I was going to do and I believed I could do it!”

In the first direct elimination bout for top 64, Liverant was down the entire time against a Russian fencer, until the end. With a score of 11:14, Liverant managed to catch up and win 15:14. In his second DE bout, Liverant also won by one touch.

The next day, Liverant and his US teammates earned silver in the team event. Liverant trains at New York Fencing Academy in Brooklyn with coach Misha Mokretsov who said, “Skyler is one of the youngest athletes on the traveling USA team (top 20 athletes), but nevertheless was the most experienced since he is the only one who made Team USA last year and participated in the World Championships! We expect him to keep up his level of fencing and lead other USA fencers. He is very hard working and trained non-stop the whole summer while many were on vacation. Hard work pays off and we will keep working hard to qualify for World Championships in Salt Lake City and fight for medals there!”

New York Fencing Academy (NYFA) was founded in 2010 in Brooklyn, NY by owner and head coach Misha Mokretsov. In 2018, NYFA opened their second location in Port Washington, Long Island, NY. NYFA is a center for excellence in epee, with one of the strongest competitive epee programs in the country. NYFA has produced National and World Champions, and has members on the USA and French national teams. NYFA provides private lessons, group classes, after school programs, and camps for students of all ages and all levels, beginners to advanced. Visit http://www.fencenyfa.com for more info.

###

Contact: Misha Mokretsov, , cell phone: (347) 741-1343
Company: New York Fencing Academy
Brooklyn: 2896 W 12th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11224, club phone: (718) 996-0426
Long Island: 8 Haven Avenue, Port Washington, NY 11050, club phone: (516) 472-7042
info.nyfa@gmail.com
http://www.fenceNYFA.com

Skyler Liverant 2nd from right Bronze Cadet World Cup Budapest
Skyler Liverant 2nd from right Team Silver Cadet World Cup Budapest