Cheshire Community YMCA

Dodd Middle School YMCA Leaders Club

The Dodd Middle School YMCA Leaders Club is a group of seventh and eighth grade students at Dodd Middle School who are interested in providing volunteer service to the local community. Leaders Club also serves the purpose of providing its members with knowledge and training designed to help its members to better serve the community. The goal is to develop school and community leaders which will be able to shape a positive lifestyle for themselves as well as for their community. Meetings are held Monday afternoons from 2:45-3:45pm at Dodd Middle School in Room 214. For more information, please contact Mike Tedesco at the Cheshire YMCA at 203-272-3150.

Leaders Club

This program is designed for teens who want to take an active role in the YMCA and the Cheshire Community while developing leadership and group work skills. Weekly meetings focus on group interaction, values, team building, planning activities, and field trips. Camping, skiing/snowboarding, mountain climbing, and much more are planned for this year. Grades 9-12 meets Wednesday from 6:15-7:15pm at the Cheshire Community YMCA. For more information, contact Mike Tedesco at 203-272-3150.

Cheshire Community YMCA Fencing Club

The mission of the Cheshire Community YMCA Fencing Club is to introduce the sport of fencing to the children of Cheshire with physical training, exciting competition, and tactical study. 

We offer basic training, all equipment, and protective gear for novice fencers, and a variety of competitive opportunities for experienced foil and epee fencers. 

What is the Dodd Middle School Fencing Program?

The Cheshire Community YMCA sponsors the Dodd Middle School club.  The Cheshire Fencing Club works in conjunction with the YMCA to bring fencing instruction to Dodd Middle School Students as a club sport and was formed to introduce the sport of fencing to the students of Cheshire with physical training, exciting competition, and tactical study. 

What about the High School Club?

The Cheshire High School program is completely funded through the Cheshire Community YMCA Fencing Club. Several efforts are underway to formally secure fencing as a club sport at Cheshire High School , however the team is granted space and training through classes offered by the Cheshire Community YMCA.  Cheshire High School competes with about 25 other high schools throughout the state as part of the Connecticut High School Fencing Association.

Fencing instruction for Cheshire High School Students was formed to introduce the sport of fencing to the students of Cheshire with physical training, exciting competition, and tactical study. 

Class Descriptions

Fencing

BOYS AND GIRLS GRADES 6-8

Beginning Fencing is designed to provide a good understanding of the sport of fencing in a dynamic and fun way. This class will cover the basic principles of fencing, including footwork, blade skills, and competition. The program teaches the beginning level of fencing in a competitive manner, but having fun while learning to fence is focus of the class. This program is open to students in grades 6-8; please wear court or gym shoes and clothes (long pants/t-shirts) that you can stretch in.

Competitive Fencing

BOYS AND GIRLS GRADES 9-12

Competitive Fencing will provide fencers with additional tactics, theory, and skills to prepare for more competitive foil and epee fencing opportunities. There are local tournaments that the fencers can participate in. This program is open to students in Dodd Middle School as well as Cheshire High School; please wear court or gym shoes and clothes (long pants/t-shirts) that you can stretch in.

On Wednesday evenings from 7-8:30pm Competitive fencing meets at Norton Elementary School and compete in weekly bouts. Each week fencers are engaged in tournament bouts to prepare fencers for other competitions. The Wednesday bouts is not an instructional class, but is a meeting time instructed by a coach for the purpose of competitive fencing. Fencers should check with a coach before showing up to Wednesday night bouts.

If you have any questions please contact Mike Tedesco, Program Director at the Cheshire YMCA, at (203) 272-3150; or Scott vonFischer, Fencing Head Coach, at (203) 272-2209.