Canada is off to a great start at the 2019 Junior/Cadet Pan Am Fencing Championships in Bogota, Colombia.  Women’s Foil, Men’s Foil and Women’s Sabre were in action for the first three days of competition.  Jessica Zi Jia Guo(HHF, Ontario) started off strong, winning gold in Junior Women’s Foil. Guo defeated Skylar Knight (USA) in the quarter finals 15-5, to move on to the semifinals where she defeated Aranitza Inostroza from Chile 15-3.  Competing in the finals, Guo faced the USA’s Helen Tan and won 15-8 to take home gold.

In Junior Men’s Foil action, Blake Broszusdefeated Tommaso Archilei (MEX) 15-4 to advance to the quarter finals to face Leopoldo Alarcon (CHI).  Broszus defeated Alarcon 15-6, and moved on to compete in the semifinals where he fenced Kenji Bravo (USA).  Broszus lost 15-9 to win bronze, while Bravo went on to win gold in the final. Also competing in Junior Men’s Foil, Brian Li(YRK, Ontario) finished 5^thoverall, Niklas Holland finished 8^thand Patrick Liu(OTT, Ontario) finished 15^th giving Canada four top 16 results in Men’s Junior Foil.

Taking home silver in Junior Women’s Foil Team was Jessica Zi Jia Guo, Xiangxin He(HHF, Ontario), Annie Lin(TFC, Ontario), and Catherine Wu(HHF, Ontario). The Canadian team defeated Venezuela by a score of 45-25 to move on to the semifinals where they defeated Chile 44-33. Canada faced Team USA in the finals and lost 45-37, placing Canada in second.

Niklas Holland, Brian Li, Patrick Liu, and Simon Poon(TFC, Ontario), won bronze in the Junior Men’s Foil Team competition defeating Mexico 45-36 in the quarter-finals. The Canadian team lost to the USA 45-25 in the semi-finals to finish in third place. The USA went on to win gold against Chile 45-23.

Placing fourth overall was the Junior Women’s Sabre Team of Jane Chen(BRE, Québec), Laurie-Ann Lamothe(SPA, Québec), Jia Qui Wu(BRE, Québec), and Catherine Wu(HHF, Ontario). In Junior Women’s Individual Sabre action, Laurie-Ann Lamothefinished 15^thoverall and Jia Qu Wu, finished 16^th.

In Cadet action yesterday, Niklas Hollandwon bronze in Cadet Men’s Foil, winning his quarter final bout against a fellow Canadian, Darren Dong, 15-14.  Holland then went on to fence in the semifinals against Cesar Colen (PUR) and lost 15-6 to finish in third.  Cesar Colen went on to finish in first place defeating Paulo Morais (BRA). Also placing top 16 in Cadet Men’s Foil was Patrick Liuwho placed 6^th, Darren Dongwho finished 8^thand Simon Poonwho was 12^thoverall.

Winning gold for the second time in this tournament was Jessica Zi Jia Guo. Guo defeated Lisa Montecinos (CHI) 15-3 to move onto the semifinals in cadet women’s foil, where she defeated Katina Proestakis (CHI) 15-11 for a spot in the finals. Going up against Helen Tan (USA) for the second time in this competition, Guo once again defeated Tan 15-8 to take the gold. Finishing close behind Guo was Annie Linwho won bronze. Lin defeated USA’s Skylar Knight 15-12 to move on to the semifinals, where she lost to, USA’s Helen Tan 15-10.  Catherine Wuplaced 6^thoverall, while Xiangxin He(HHF, Ontario) placed 12^thgiving Canada four top 16 finishes in Cadet Women’s Foil.

In Cadet Women’s Sabre action, Jane Chenplaced 5^th, Judy Zhang(AXF, Ontario) placed 13^thand Laurie-Ann Lamotheplaced 14^thoverall.

Congratulations to all fencers! In action for the final three days are women’s epee, men’s epee and men’s sabre competitions in Junior, Junior Team and Cadet events.

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