Laurel Clark-Skillman
Laurel Clark began fencing in Junior High, talking her mom into driving to San Jose State so Laurel could train with coach Michael D’Asaro and the fencers in that program.
She attended San Jose for undergraduate studies, teaming with Joy Ellingson for a second place team finish at the 1982 NCAA championship and finishing 6th in the individual event.
She moved to San Francisco to attend SF State for grad school and competed in both foil and epee for Halberstadt Fencers Club. Women’s epee began National individual championship competions in 1981 and Laurel was in the top ranks in both foil and epee for several years.
READ MORE...Coached by Peter Burchard at Halberstadt and Paul Soter, she traveled with Paul to Cuba in 1991 for a World Cup event and took first place. Laurel is the first US woman to win a World Cup fencing event in any weapon.
Articles
Fencing and Wine, 1982
Ever wondered who has the “fencing.com” URL? Yup, it’s the Silicon Valley original, The Fencing Center. Proximity and foresight; a powerful combination. The past two weeks of “Shelterinplace Con – 2020” have been all about San Jose’s The Fencing Center.
The Spartan Women, Part One
The last article I wrote, which featured Michael D’Asaro’s time in San Antonio and the Army, got me thinking about one of the reasons I decided to attend San Jose State to train with him. That reason was the awesome strength of his Women’s foil program.
My Forever Summer
You don’t forget your first team, or your first teammates. The fortuitous circumstances surrounding my introduction to fencing couldn’t be more memorable; a time filled with remarkable personalities.
The First NCAA Women’s Championship
Everything has a first time and 1982 was the year of the first Women’s Foil championship for the NCAA.
1983 D’Asaro Women’s Foil Final
The 1983 D’Asaro Women’s Foil was one of four national circuit events held during the season at different venues prior to the national championships in the early summer. Preliminary rounds were fought at San José State until the final 8 were decided
1980 Cabrillo Invitational
In 1980, Len Carnighan, then coach at Cabrillo Community College in Aptos, CA, hosted a tournament seeded with three of the top fencers in the area.
Photo Gallery
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