The Binders were among 500 fencers competing in the Mr. Ma Cup, named after the coach of the University of Pennsylvania fencing team.
Sylvie, 14, bested a field of 51 women foilists from as far away as Los Angeles to win the championship. In her category, competitors included many college-age and post-college fencers, some with international experience.
Many of the fencers at the event were tuning up for the 2014 Summer National Champioships to be held in Columbus, Ohio beginning on June 22. Binder is currently ranked number three in the United States in the Y14 category and number 10 in the cadets (ages 16 and under).
In addition to the Mr. Ma Cup title, Binder is the 2014 winner of the New Jersey Cup for women’s open foil – a year-long series of open tournaments where the end-of-the year points winner receives $250 toward her expenses to the Summer Nationals along with an engraved award.
Binder trains at the Fencing Academy of Westchester under the coaching of Anya Katkova and Slava Grigoriev – a two-time Olympic fencer from Khazakstan.
Her brother, Zachary, 11, took home the silver medal in the Y12 competition which attracted 44 fencers. Zachary currently ranks third in the U.S. in the Y10 category and will also compete in Columbus.
Zachary Binder has been fencing for over five years and trains with Grigoriev at the Fencing Academy of Westchester.
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