Arianna Choi and Chase Yourek of Brevard County took home gold and silver medals respectively at the Florida State Fencing Championships on the University of Miami campus. The event, held in March, saw four local fencers earn podium finishes. Choi, 12, won gold in the Y12 division, while Yourek, 10, secured silver in the Y10 category. Asher Mabry, 7, and Connor Mills, 9, both earned third-place finishes in their respective divisions. All four competitors are coached by Charlie Williams of Space Coast Olympic Fencing in Rockledge.
Williams said Choi is currently ranked No. 7 in the USA in the Y12 division. 'She’s definitely one of the biggest superstars in fencing,' Williams said. 'Not just in Florida, but nationally.' Choi’s success follows a year of intense training, with Williams noting her dedication to improving her skills.
Mabry and Mills also impressed judges and coaches. Mabry’s parents plan to enter him in larger tournaments, while Mills, who tried multiple sports before finding fencing, now practices with his father, who recently started the sport. 'He’s a really smart kid,' Williams said. 'Fencing was the first sport he actually truly enjoyed.'
Yourek, who comes from a hockey family, trains multiple times a week and takes private lessons. His parents support his commitment to fencing, which he has pursued for the past year. The championships highlighted the growing presence of Brevard County in competitive fencing, with Williams crediting his own training under Maestro Daniel Bucur, founder of Space Coast Olympic Fencing, for shaping his coaching approach.