Brian McDermott and Alexandra Smuk, both from Barrington, secured top-eight medals in different events at a Super Youth/Regional Cadet Circuit fencing tournament in New Jersey late last month.

Brian competed in cadet men’s epee, a category restricted to fencers aged 16 years old and under. He collected a sixth place medal for his efforts.  

Alex finished seventh in Y-10 girl’s epee. This category limited participants to fencers aged 10 years old and under. 

The New England Division of the United States Fencing Association held a Junior Olympic qualifying tournament at Boston Fencing Club on Nov. 25, for fencers in the junior category. Barrington's Julia Douglas scored a silver medal in women’s epee, while Brian McDermott took third in men’s epee. With the bronze medal, Brian boosted his national rating from “C” to “B." The United States Fencing Association (USFA) awards ratings that range from “A” at the highest to “E.” Dahlia Pahlavi finished fifth in women’s foil. 

McDermott and Pahlavi secured positions at the upcoming Junior Olympic Fencing Championships, after strong finishes at a qualifying tournament in Boston recently. Brian captured third place in cadet men's epee while Dahlia tied for third in cadet women's foil. Both fencers will be traveling to Denver, Colo. in mid-February for the Junior Olympics. They will be challenged by the nation’s most talented and experienced fencers.

Brian was also among the four Barrington fencers who recently won medals at a regional open circuit tournament in Brighton, Mass. Brian scored a second place medal in Division II Men’s Epee, defeating all but one fencer in a field of 48.

Erin Faucher collected a fifth place medal in Division II Women’s Sabre. Timmy Zhou grabbed fifth in Division II Men’s Foil, and Dasha Smuk placed sixth in Division II Women’s Epee.