Peter Zappia earned his “E” 2024 rating in saber.
February 24th, DFA celebrated its 21st anniversary! The club opened on February 24, 2003.
DFA hosted the 3rd Annual Ira Rader Epee Tournament on Saturday, February 17, 2024.
A great time, tremendous tournament, awesome fencing and Ira, with wife Marty Anne, were in attendance.
Left to right: 5th place, Reese Frenter, 7th place, Denis Solonovich, 4th place, David Greene, 3rd place, Maks Solonovich, 2nd place, Levi Kassinove, Coach Leslie, 1st place, Garrett Blakeslee, Ira Rader.
An interesting story about Ira. Ira’s competitive sport was tennis. When Ira turned 70, he switched from tennis to fencing and began taking fencing lessons at Swordplay, in Burbank, California.
Ira and his wife moved to the desert in 2015 and Ira began fencing at DFA. He also competed in San Bernardino Division epee tournaments. In February of 2022, we named the tournament the “Ira Rader Annual Epee Tournament”.
Ira presenting to Garrett the 1st Place Ira Rader Annual Epee Tournament Plaque.
Ira and Mary Anne Rader
Wishing everyone a happy March, a festive St. Patrick’s Day and a blessed Easter.
Leslie, the fencing coach
