Illinois Fencer Named National Champion

August 31, 2021

Judith "Jude" Offerle has returned home to Illinois as National Champion in Veteran 70 Women's Foil, having won GOLD at the USA Fencing Veteran National Championships in Atlanta over the weekend. Offerle has earned a berth on the World Team for the 16th time in foil and for the 4th time in saber, having also placed 6th in Vet 70 Women's Saber at the tournament.

Ms. Offerle began her fencing journey one half-century ago in 1971 at the University of Notre Dame, fencing for the legendary Coach Michael DeCicco, a long ago inductee into the USA Fencing Hall of Fame. Women could only fence foil then. Notre Dame won the women's team event in the 1974 Collegiate Midwest regionals, the precursor to the NCAA regionals. However, women were not invited to the NCAAs for another 6 years.

Jude currently fences at RedStar Fencing Club Chicago and is coached by Peter Habala. She has fenced and earned medals all over the world, including an individual bronze in saber and a team gold at the Veteran World Championships in France in 2015. When she is not fencing, you may see Ms. Offerle sporting a navy blazer as a national referee. 

While living in New York Ms. Offerle was an officer of the Westchester/Rockland Division for more than a decade through the 1980s. Her coach in New York was another USA Fencing Hall of Famer, Allan Kwartler. She took a pause in competition when she moved to the Chicago area in 1992, but resumed when her son began fencing for New Trier High School and Notre Dame.

Congratulations on becoming National Champion, Jude, and thank you for all you've contributed to the sport of fencing in Illinois and beyond!

Breaking- The FIE Veteran World Championships were to be held in Daytona Beach, Florida in October 2021, but the status of the tournament is uncertain at this time. An announcement was made this week postponing the event due to travel restrictions presented by Covid-19 that make it difficult or impossible for fencers from around the world to enter the United States.

2021-2022 Illinois Division Competition Schedule

The Illinois Division is pleased to present the 2021-2022 Competition Schedule!

This is the schedule of events that was formed at the Illinois Division Annual Meeting on August 22, 2021. Please note that the NCAA schedule and the High School schedule had not been finalized at that time, but we intend to update this spreadsheet as more details are known.

Be sure to check askfred.net for registration details on local tournaments. Regional and National events, along with Covid protocols, deadlines, etc. are posted on the USAFencing.org Tournament Browser.

See you on the strip!

Illinois Division Annual Meeting

The Division's annual meeting will be held on Zoom again this year.

Here is the info. Upon entering the Meeting ID and Passcode in Zoom, you will be admitted to the waiting room. Each participant will be admitted from the waiting room individually once verified.

Topic: USA Fencing Illinois Division Annual Meeting

Time: Aug 22, 2021 12:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2438676800...

Meeting ID: 243 867 6800

Passcode: 519026

Covid-19 Protocol for Fencing Center of Chicago ROC, VET & RJCC May 22-23 in Northbrook

With the CDC in the news recently relaxing its Covid-19 guidance, it's important to note that USA Fencing has thus far NOT changed any of the health and safety protocols that are in place for fencing events.

As a reminder, according to the tournament overview page on USA Fencing, here is what you can expect at the Fencing Center of Chicago ROC, VET & RJCC this weekend in Northbrook.

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Dear Fencers!

Fencing Center of Chicago is glad to announce that we are hosting one of the first ROC & RJCC tournaments as part of USA Fencing's Return to Competition schedule on May 22 - 23, 2021.

Schedule of events is subject to change yet due to Covid-19, but we will to allow all fencers who wish to register to have the chance to participate.

If should the tournament need to be cancelled regarding Covid-19 any refund of fees is subject to USA Fencing.

Check-In: We will be open at 7:00 am. Valid USA Fencing membership card, birth certificate or passport are required for check in.

1.) The temperature will be checked at the entrance to the building. The check-in worker will wear a face covering mask, and gloves.

2.) Hand sanitizer and all disinfectants will be available on the check-in desk.

3.) Venue will be provided with Air Purifiers, sanitizing stations and all the necessary protection standards will be observed.

4.) All participants, referees and all tournament's staff must have face covering masks during the competition. There is no exception.

5.) After each day's competition all facility's surfaces and equipment which were used during the tournament will be cleaned and sanitized.

6.) Everyone must practice social distancing.

7.) No parents, coaches, or spectators are allowed in the designated fencing area. NO EXCEPTIONS. Only ONE coach is allowed to assist a fencer during DE bouts. Coaches will need to provide their Coach membership cards and stand in a special designated area. • Fencers 17 and under may be accompanied by ONE PERSON ONLY and for DE bouts only! • Fencers 18 and older can not bring an additional person. We will have the colored wristband will be given daily to designated adult, accompanying the minor inside the designated fencing area for DE's BOUTS ONLY! No sharing wristband allowed. • Violators will be escorted out of the venue immediately. There will be a strict limit of one additional person per athlete allowed in the venue - either a parent or coach, but not both.

Please be advised that there will be no changing rooms it means fencers have to come half-dressed in their fencing gear.

Free parking.

Please do not share equipment such as weapons, body cords, fencing masks, gloves or uniforms, with others.

No food will be allowed in the fencing designated area. • The food time will be available outside the venue on the parking lot only.

Top eight will receive their medals!

This tournament will have live results available at: http://www.fencingtimelive.com

Blue Gauntlet - will be the sponsor of the tournament.

Any Question regarding this ROC & RJCC email to: fcc@fencingcenterofchicago.com or ph.# 847 292 1146.

We still might have some updates and if there will be any changes we will send email to all participants prior to the tournament.

Thank you for your cooperation.

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2020 - 2021 Illinois Division Competition Calendar

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Illinois Division was unable to publish its Competition Calendar at the close of its annual meeting in August 2020 as it has in past seasons.

This is the calendar of tournaments sanctioned by the Division for the remainder of the 2020 - 2021 season. Also included are all National and Region 2 tournaments held by USA Fencing. This document will be updated as additional tournaments are sanctioned by the Illinois Division or as tournaments are added, canceled, or revised due to the changing Covid conditions.

Please consult askFRED.net or the Regional and National Events calendars at USAFencing.org for current details on each tournament.

USA Fencing Illinois Division Competition Calendar

2021 Junior Olympics Qualifier Tournament

The Illinois Division of USA Fencing has scheduled its annual Junior Olympics Qualifier Tournament for May 2, 2021 at Fencing Center of Chicago in Park Ridge.

Events contested are Junior Olympic Qualifiers for Cadet (U17) and Junior (U20) MS,MF, ME, WS, WF, and WE.

For more information please see https://askfred.net/Events/moreInfo.php?tournament_id=47823

In case you are wondering whether you need to fence in the Division Qualifier, here is the complete info from USA Fencing on how to qualify for Junior Olympics.

Junior Olympic Championships (Cadet - born 2004-2007)

· Fencers must meet age eligibility AND

· Be on the Cadet National Rolling Point Standings (NRPS) at the regular fee entry deadline OR

· Earn at least 110 regional points on either the Cadet or Junior Regional Point Standings (Total points = an athlete’s top two point results) OR

· Be in the top 25 percent (round up) of their division’s Cadet JO qualifying competition for the 2019-20 or 2020-21 season OR

· Be in the top 25 percent (round up) of their division’s Junior JO qualifying competition for the 2019-20 or 2020-21 season. (Junior event must occur first) OR

· Rank in top 25 percent of the Cadet Regional Point Standings list during the current season OR

· For EPEE ONLY: the top 3 (on Modern Pentathlon Point Standings) USA Fencing Modern Pentathlon fencers will be eligible to compete in the JO epee events without qualifying by any other means. USA Modern Pentathlon fencers MUST be USA Fencing members


Junior Olympic Championships (Junior - born 2001-2007)

· Fencers must meet age eligibility AND

· Be on the Junior national rolling point standings (NRPS) at the regular fee entry deadline OR

· Earn at least 110 regional points on the Junior Regional Point Standing (Total points = an athlete’s top two point results) OR

· Be in the top 25 percent (round up) of their division’s Junior JO qualifying competition for the 2019-20 or 2020-21 season OR

· Rank in top 25 percent of the Junior Regional Point Standings list during the current season OR

· For EPEE ONLY: the top 3 (on Modern Pentathlon Point Standings) USA Fencing Modern Pentathlon fencers will be eligible to compete in the JOI epee events without qualifying by any other means. USA Modern Pentathlon fencers MUST be USA Fencing members

2021 Summer Nationals Qualifier Tournament

The Illinois Division of USA Fencing has scheduled its annual Summer Nationals Qualifier Tournament for May 1, 2021 at Fencing Center of Chicago in Park Ridge.

This Division Qualifier is a combined event of Division II and III. All fencers born in 2007 or earlier rated C and Under may fence in the event. Qualification to Division II Summer Nationals will be awarded to the top 25% of the results. Within that qualification if the fencer is rated D and Under they will also qualify for Division III Summer Nationals. The top 25% of the remaining fencers and who are rated D and Under will qualify for Division III Summer Nationals.

For more information please see https://askfred.net/Events/moreInfo.php?tournament_id=47822


In case you are wondering whether you need to fence in the Division Qualifier for Summer Nationals...

Division II National Championships

· Fencers must meet eligibility and classification requirements as of the entry deadline AND

· Place in the top 25 percent of the current, or 2019-20 (if held), season’s division qualifying competition OR

· Be on the current or 2019-20 season’s Div IA ROC Regional Point Standings OR

· Be on the current or 2019-20 Div II ROC Regional Point Standings


Division III National Championships

· Fencers must meet eligibility and classification requirements as of the entry deadline AND

· Place in the top 25 percent (round up) of the total number of “D”, “E”, or “U” fencers competing in the current, or 2019-20 (if held), season division’s Division II Qualifying competition (when Division II and Division III qualifying competition held together) OR

· If separate Division III qualifying competition in the current, or 2019-20 (if held) season held by division, then top 25 percent of the field will qualify for Division III National Championships OR

· Be on the Division IA or Division II Regional Open Circuit point standings for 2019-20 or 2020-21, if classification eligible, at the regular fee entry deadline for these Championships OR

· Place in the top 40 percent at a Div II or Div III NAC of the 2019-20 season, if held

· Qualified for Division II National Championships in current or previous season, if classification eligible