CF360 2014 Fencer Focus (Q&A) – Women's Foil | Women's Epee | Women's Sabre
(posted below):
• Alex Kiefer (Harvard)
• Clarisse Luminet (Penn State)
• Madi Zeiss (Notre Dame)
still to be added: Alina Antokhina (Penn State), Kathryn Hawrot (Brown), Fatima Largaespada (Temple),
Caroline Mattos (Brandeis), Mary McElwee (Air Force), Lauren Miller (Yale),
Cassidy Seidl (Penn), Zuzanna Sobczak (Wayne State) and Jen Yamin (Northwestern)
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ALEX KIEFER (originally submitted in 2012)
HARVARD ... Foil ... Sr. ... Lexington, KY
... 2011 NCAA champion (three-time All-American, also 11th at '12 NCAAs, 6th in '13)
... #2 seed entering 2014 NCAA Northeast Regional (placed 2nd)
... won 2011 NCAA Northeast Regional (2nd in 2012)
Nicknames – "I get Kiefer Sutherland or Kief every once in a while."
Birthplace – Cleveland, OH
High School – Math, Science and Technology Center at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School (Lexington, KY)
College major – Human Evolutionary Biology
Why I chose Harvard – "The team is very tight-knit and the coaches are great."
My dream job? – Doctor
FENCING BACKGROUND ...
How I got started in fencing – "My dad fenced at Duke and I remember watching him fence in a local tournament. My sister and I must have expressed some interest because we started taking lessons after that."
Family members who have been fencers – "Steven Kiefer, father, foil team captain at Duke ... Lee Kiefer, younger sister, foil, 3rd place at Senior Worlds 2011 and won NCAAs in 2013 with ND ...Axel Kiefer, younger brother, foil attended 2012 Cadet Worlds."
Current coaches – Alex Ripa (foil coach at Harvard), Peter Brand (head coach at Harvard), Amgad Khazbak (head coach at Bluegrass Fencers Club, where I have been since 2004)
Former coach – Les Stawicki, Louisville Fencing Center, 2000-2004
Key influences on my fencing career – "My dad was the one who kept me going when I wasn't getting good results and I didn't feel like I was improving. He also gave us lessons and practiced with us in our empty dining room when we were just starting, and I attribute a lot of my skills today to him. My sister and brother are the reasons that I enjoy going to practice. The three of us have so much fun together. They also motivate me to get better so I can beat them every once in a while to deflate their egos (I'm mostly kidding). And my mom is always positive and happy and makes sure that I am happy too, even if I didn't get a great result."
ATHLETIC CAREER ...
Pre-bout rituals or superstition – "I always sleep in the clothes that I'm fencing in the next day (spandex, long socks, and t-shirt)."
Favorite international/national-team fencer – "We named one of our cats Nam after Nam Hyun-Hee, the Korean foil fencer. She's small but so quick and controlled (the fencer, not the cat)."
What I like most about college fencing – "Having a team. We're all very close and we have a lot of fun. Being a part of this team is one of my favorite things about college in general."
If I were to play another sport on the collegiate level, it would be – "Ice hockey! Or rugby. Or something rough where you get to beat up your opponents."
FAVORITES ...
Favorite pro sports team/athlete – "Jeremy Lin! and the Knicks. Jeremy seems like a nice guy and a hard worker. I hope he continues to achieve success because he deserves it and so many people look up to him."
Favorite food – shish tawook
Favorite TV shows and movies – "I watch Mad Men, Glee and Modern Family. My favorite movie is Remember the Titans."
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CLARISSE LUMINET BIO
(originally submitted in 2013)
Penn State ... Foil ... So. ... Lyon, France
Placed 7th at 2013 NCAAs
… #2 seed entering 2014 NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional (placed 3rd)
Nickname – Frenchie
Birthplace – Lyon, France
Anything notable or unusual about my hometown – “I live in the second nicest city after Paris.”
Former places my family has lived – “I used to live in ‘La Provence’ in France, in AIX EN PROVENCE.”
High School – LYON, college Fenelon.
College Major – CAS, communication Art en Science, minoring in Italian
Favorite College Class – “CAS201, History of Rhetoric. An amazing teacher talking about history of ancient greek and Roman Empire. And my Italian teacher.”
Why I chose Penn State – “For its athletic and academic high level and because WE ARE ….”
What I most like about being a student-athlete at Penn State – “Being an athlete at Penn State is amazing. We are a real family. We get to do a lot of things together especially with THON.”
Dream job? – “Travel all around the world, help people by working for an international organization.”
FENCING BACKGROUND ...
How I got started in fencing? – "Around 11 years old, I wanted to do a ‘fight sport.’ Nobody in my family were aware of this sport. It was really random. I had an amazing progression.”
Current coaches – In Penn State my foil coach is George Abashidze. In France my coach is Fabien Deleuil.
Former coaches – Pascal Mahne. LYON Masque De Fer (Fance) ... Lionel PLUMENAIL , French National center training. Fabien Deleuil , Cabries OCC.
Key influences on my fencing career? – “I love the Italian style however I don’t have any particularly influences.”
Three words that best describe your college weapon coach – George Abashidze: Positive. Unique. Helpful
ATHLETIC CAREER
Pre-bout rituals or superstitions – ”I call my parents and friends before competition. I had a lot of rituals before, not anymore.”
Areas where I have recently improved – Confidence. Speed.
Key areas of improvement that remain for me – Being more confident.
Fencers in the 2014 NCAAs that I have fenced a high number of times – Lee Kiefer from Notre Dame and Marta Hausman from St. John’s the most. Also Ambika Singh (Princeton), Jackie Dubrovich (Columbia) and Madi Zeiss (ND).
Favorite international fencer? – “Baldini , team foil Italy. He is really clever.”
What I like most about college fencing? – “The atmosphere and being a team.”
IfI were to play another sport on the collegiate level – Tennis
How long would you like to continue fencing on a competitive level? – 10 years
FAVORITES …
Favorite college fencing roadtrip – “My favorite fencing roadtrip was the really first one , it was really new for me and excited.”
Favorite cities where I have fenced at an event – “Lyon (France) because it was at home. Budapest because I made top-3 for the third time at a World Cup Junior.”
Favorite fencing moments – “Making top-3 in the World Cup in Lyon for the third time. Also because it was at home and I had to beat all Italians to go on top-3. To win the national championship because it was my last year if France with my coach.
Favorite pro sports athlete – “Bolt. He is an amazing champion.”
Favorite Food – “Mum’s French food for sure.”
Favorite TV Shows, Movies and Actors – Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. All Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. Marion Cotillard and Johnny Depp
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MADISON ("Madi") ZEISS (originally submitted in 2012)
NOTRE DAME ... Foil ... Jr. ... Los Angles, CA
2013 NCAA semifinalist (8th in 2012)
... #1 seed entering 2014 NCAA Midwest Regional (placed 1st)
What would be the title of my autobiography? – "The Life of Madison (working title)"
Birthplace – New York City
Anything notable or unusual about your hometown – "Los Angeles isn't known for fencing, so I was always given weird looks when I said I fenced. People would always try to make weird hand movements and immatate fencing since it wasn't well-known."
Other noteworthy places where my family has lived – "New York and Washington DC (where my brother was born)"
High School – Pacific Hills School
College major – science pre professional (pre-med)
Favorite college class – "Organic chemistry (I am really good at science)."
Why I chose Notre Dame – "I really want to go to medical school and eventually be a surgeon."
What I most like about being a student-athlete at Notre Dame – "I really love the lessons it teaches me, like responsibility. I have to manage getting my homework done, and still practice."
My dream job – Trauma surgeon
FENCING BACKGROUND ...
How I got started in fencing – Watching the Parent Trap with Lindsey Lohan. I watched the fencing scene and knew I wanted to do it.
Family members who have been fencers – My father Gary Zeiss fenced foil and my brother Jacob Zeiss fences sabre
Current coaches – Gia K and Misha Itkin (my home coach)
Former coach – Misha Itkin, LAIFC
Key influences on my fencing career – "My family and my coach at home (Misha Itkin) have been the most influential. My family has always supported my career."
Three words that best describe my college coach – "Father-figure, inspiring, loving"
ATHLETIC CAREER ...
Pre-bout rituals or superstitions – "I always have to adjust my body cord between every touch. It helps me reset between touches."
Areas where I improved the most in 2012 – "My mental ability to compete under pressure. NCAAs are a totally different game I was not used too."
Key areas of improvement that remained for me – "I can always improve in every way, it will keep me working hard."!
Present/former teammates who were fencing in the 2012 NCAAs – LAIFC fencing center, Eli Schenkel (St. John's)
Favorite international/national-team fencer – "Lee Kiefer is one of my closest friends and I truly admire her talent. I couldn't wait for her to come to ND in 2013!"
What I like most about college fencing – "The team aspect. I was not used to the feeling of being on a team at home."
If I were to play another sport on the collegiate level, it would be – "Volleyball, I have always been good at volleyball."
How long would you like to continue fencing on a competitive level? – "Hopefully as long as my body will let me. I love fencing and I want to keep it up."
FAVORITES ...
Favorite/most memorable fencing moment – "When I won my first NAC (a cadet one). It was a great feeling to know I could do it."
Favorite pro sports team – "Los Angeles Kings because they are a hometown favorite!"
Favorite food – "Mexican food of any sort"
Favorite movie – "The Parent Trap (it started my career)"