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Bellaire youth foiling local, national competition
  
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By MIKE TENNEY
These days Ira Schlosberg is taking things a little easy.
And possibly no one deserves the down time more than this 15-year-old nationally ranked fencer with Olympic dreams.
It’s been a busy last couple of weeks for the young Bellaire resident, culminating in a bronze medal for third place this past weekend in the United States Fencing Association Summer Nationals 14-and-under Men’s Foil competition in Dallas.
“Things are going well,” said Schlosberg, who won the regional competition the week prior to the state competition. “I was confident that I would do well at regionals. And I was confident that I would do well at state. But it is different at state, because I pretty much knew who the guys I was going against at regionals were, but I didn’t know all the guys that I was going against at state.”
He’s still a teenager, but Schlosberg has been at this for some time, having competed all over the country since he took up the sport five years ago. During that time, he’s not only progressed from a skills standpoint but has also realized it’s his love, right now.
“Every year that he gets older and gains another year’s experience, he gets better,” said his father David Schlosberg. “He gets a better handle on what he wants to do. He gets a better idea of what he needs to do. He’s just become better and better at it, and it’s been fun to watch.”
While it might seem he would most enjoy the spotlight as a solo competitor, Ira was part of the four-man group — along with fellow Bellaire resident Michael Dudey — that won the Regional Men’s Senior Division foil competition last year before the nationals.
Schlosberg said team fencing — in which competitors work almost like a relay team in track to pass off the foil to the next man until a certain score is reached — is a great experience.
“It really doesn’t matter to me, but it seems like team-wise it’s just a whole lot more fun,” he said. “Knowing that my teammates are counting on me to do well and having a chance to pull for them, you don’t get that when it’s just you. I mean I enjoy really challenging myself when it’s just me, but it just seems like it’s more exciting with a team.”
Like any sport, he says concentration is the key.
“I have to stay focused and relaxed out there,” he said. “I can’t get ahead of myself. I just have to go out and fence well every time. And that comes with being focused.”
His third-place showing at the Summer Nationals in the 14-and-under out of 192 competitors is just another solid showing since he stepped into the ring and began fencing.
His ultimate goal is to be on the United States Olympic team — possibly in 2016 when the event may be played out in Chicago.
Schlosberg said to represent his country with the Games here would be a dream come true.
“I have thought that far ahead,” he said. “It is something I think about. I know it’s a real long shot, but it’s definitely something I’ve thought about. Hopefully I’ll be good enough and consistent enough with my fencing for them to consider me. But it’s definitely a goal to set for myself.”
He got into the sport a few years ago at a fencing class at the Bellaire YMCA. Once he put the gear on, he was hooked.
“I tried all the other sports when I was little,” said Schlosberg. “I tried soccer and little league, but I just really enjoy fencing. Every meet is different, and every opponent is different. It’s just something I really enjoy doing and I want to go as far with it as I can.”
He said he’ll get back into the training sometime in August and then start to get ready for the various meets next year.
He will be moving up to the 16-and-under division, because he has turned 15.
Schlosberg said joining the 16's bracket is just another challenge, like so many the sport has presented.
Yeah, let this future Olympian hopeful enjoy some quiet time.
And possibly no one deserves the down time more than this 15-year-old nationally ranked fencer with Olympic dreams.
It’s been a busy last couple of weeks for the young Bellaire resident, culminating in a bronze medal for third place this past weekend in the United States Fencing Association Summer Nationals 14-and-under Men’s Foil competition in Dallas.
“Things are going well,” said Schlosberg, who won the regional competition the week prior to the state competition. “I was confident that I would do well at regionals. And I was confident that I would do well at state. But it is different at state, because I pretty much knew who the guys I was going against at regionals were, but I didn’t know all the guys that I was going against at state.”
He’s still a teenager, but Schlosberg has been at this for some time, having competed all over the country since he took up the sport five years ago. During that time, he’s not only progressed from a skills standpoint but has also realized it’s his love, right now.
“Every year that he gets older and gains another year’s experience, he gets better,” said his father David Schlosberg. “He gets a better handle on what he wants to do. He gets a better idea of what he needs to do. He’s just become better and better at it, and it’s been fun to watch.”
While it might seem he would most enjoy the spotlight as a solo competitor, Ira was part of the four-man group — along with fellow Bellaire resident Michael Dudey — that won the Regional Men’s Senior Division foil competition last year before the nationals.
Schlosberg said team fencing — in which competitors work almost like a relay team in track to pass off the foil to the next man until a certain score is reached — is a great experience.
“It really doesn’t matter to me, but it seems like team-wise it’s just a whole lot more fun,” he said. “Knowing that my teammates are counting on me to do well and having a chance to pull for them, you don’t get that when it’s just you. I mean I enjoy really challenging myself when it’s just me, but it just seems like it’s more exciting with a team.”
Like any sport, he says concentration is the key.
“I have to stay focused and relaxed out there,” he said. “I can’t get ahead of myself. I just have to go out and fence well every time. And that comes with being focused.”
His third-place showing at the Summer Nationals in the 14-and-under out of 192 competitors is just another solid showing since he stepped into the ring and began fencing.
His ultimate goal is to be on the United States Olympic team — possibly in 2016 when the event may be played out in Chicago.
Schlosberg said to represent his country with the Games here would be a dream come true.
“I have thought that far ahead,” he said. “It is something I think about. I know it’s a real long shot, but it’s definitely something I’ve thought about. Hopefully I’ll be good enough and consistent enough with my fencing for them to consider me. But it’s definitely a goal to set for myself.”
He got into the sport a few years ago at a fencing class at the Bellaire YMCA. Once he put the gear on, he was hooked.
“I tried all the other sports when I was little,” said Schlosberg. “I tried soccer and little league, but I just really enjoy fencing. Every meet is different, and every opponent is different. It’s just something I really enjoy doing and I want to go as far with it as I can.”
He said he’ll get back into the training sometime in August and then start to get ready for the various meets next year.
He will be moving up to the 16-and-under division, because he has turned 15.
Schlosberg said joining the 16's bracket is just another challenge, like so many the sport has presented.
Yeah, let this future Olympian hopeful enjoy some quiet time.
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