Renaissance Fencing Club wins 10 medals at National Championships!!!
Jeidus Deseranno (Grosse Pointe) and Ann Marsh-Senic (Royal Oak) both won gold medals in their events at the National Championships in Philadelphia this week.
With his gold on Wednesday, Deseranno completed his sweep of the Y14 events this season after taking the top step of the podium at the April and May North American Cups. Deseranno, the 2019 Y10 national champion was perfect on the day, going 6-0 in pools and 7-0 in the direct elimination rounds. He posted outstanding results in the Under 17 and Under 20 National championship categories as well, making the round of 16 in both of these older age events. Deseranno is currently ranked 12th in the nation in the Under 17 standings which qualifies him for the international cadet travel team for the 2021- 2022 season. This brings him one step closer to his goal of making the USA Cadet World championship team in 2022.
Three days after taking gold in the Y14 event, Deseranno won his second national title with a 15 - 8 win over teammate Luao Yang (Bloomfield Hills). The duo have trained together at Renaissance Fencing Club since starting 5 years ago at the age of 8 years old. The teammates are ranked first and second in the Y12 national point standings and also faced each other for gold at the April North American cup.
Marsh-Senic, making her debut in the Veteran 50-59 event, won gold, besting two Vet world medalists both by scores of 10-5. Marsh, a three time Olympian (1992, 1996, 2000) is looking to earn a spot on her first Veteran World championship team. This is one of just two events that qualifies the top three ranked athletes for the Veteran World championships to be held in Daytona Beach, Florida in October of 2021. Marsh will compete at the second event in Atlanta in August to try to clinch her spot. Veteran teammates Michael Cho (Farmington Hills) and Polina McGrath (Troy) each won bronze medals in their respective Veteran events, Vet 50 men’s foil and Vet 40 women’s foil. Beth Vance (Clarkston), a member of the 2013 Veteran World team placed 6th in Vet 60 women’s sabre.
Adeline Senic (Royal Oak) placed 7th in the Y14 women’s foil event. Senic went 6-0 in pools and defeated opponents by scores of 15-6, 15-7, and 15-2 before losing a close match 15-12 for a top four spot. Senic placed in the top 8 of all Y14 events this season, including a bronze medal at the April North American cup.
Lucas Senic (Royal Oak) placed 12th in the Y10 men’s foil to finish the season ranked third in the USA. Marcus Zheng (Troy) placed 28th in the Y10 men’s foil and has another year remaining in the event. Leander Deseranno, possibly the youngest fencer in the Y10 event, won a pool bout and lost a nail biter in the direct elimination 10-9. Seren Deseranno (Grosse Pointe) placed 32nd in the Y10 women’s foil in her final Y10 event. Vir Gogoi (Northville) placed 39th in the Y14 men’s foil at his first national championships. Nicolas Wang (Rochester Hills) representing the Renaissance Sabre squad placed 30th in the Y14 Men’s Sabre event.
Although a young squad, Renaissance Fencing club had fencers who earned national points in the older age groups. Deseranno placed 14th in both the cadet (under 17) and junior (under 20) events, the largest two events of the nationals, with 270 and 291 respectively. Yang placed 58th in the cadet men’s foil and Sammy Freedman (Grosse Pointe). placed 63rd, both earning national points. Leighton Priest (Pontiac) placed 36th of 232 fencers in the Junior Men’s Sabre event. Zelia Newhard (Birmingham) placed 57th of 196 in the Cadet Women’s Foil. Bobbie Hirsch (Huntington Woods) placed 24th in Division 3 on the final day of Nationals whereas Aeres Zhou (Troy) placed 21st in Division 3 men’s sabre.