South Xtra: Upper St. Clair girl, 13, wins second U.S. title
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At the tender age of 13, Giana Vierheller is already a two-time national champion.
Vierheller, about to enter the eighth grade at Fort Couch Middle School in the Upper St. Clair School District, won another gold medal at the 2011 U.S. Fencing Association's National Championships.
Two years after winning the 10-and-under championship in the Epee Division at the North American Cup competition, Vierheller won the event again last month in Reno, Nev., this time in the women's Y12 age group.
Epee is the middle weighted sword between foil (the lightest) and saber (the heavest) in the sport.
"For a kid who just started fencing a few years ago to go into nationals and internationals in a couple years is remarkable," said Tim Yultchiev, assistant coach at the Tiger Fencing Club located in Eighty Four, Washington County, where Vierheller trains.
The triumph in Reno capped a 2010-11 season in which Vierheller won several national Super Youth and regional competitions, including the Y12 Epee at the U.S. Fencing North American Cup "E" national competition in Portland, Ore., in April.
For her efforts, Vierheller leads the season's women's Y12 Epee national "Rolling Point Standings" list.
Vierheller takes her successes in stride.
"I was lucky enough to do well this year," Vierheller said. "I was the oldest in my age group this year, so this was my lucky year."
Vierheller has worked her way up to earning a "B" rating by fencing's national governing body. Only "A" is higher, and, according to Yultchiev, that is reserved for international-level caliber fencers. Vierheller is at "B", or what is essentially national-level.
At her age, that is quite a designation.
"I'm starting to take it more seriously and really thinking of ways to make myself better, whether it be practicing more at home or learning new techniques in fencing," Vierheller said.
"I'm definitely going to more competitions and getting more experience with more of the girls [lately], and I definitely think that getting to know girls you fence with and getting to talk with them about it, that benefits you. You practice with them and get tips from them. It's all about just getting more experience, I guess."
First Published August 18, 2011 12:00 am
