The Point Fencing Club & School promotes and develops the art, sport, and joy of fencing—through teaching, mentoring, and competition.
We are a non-profit 501c-3 organization governed by a volunteer board of directors. Under its guidance, the club has grown to more than 100+ members providing classes, group and private lessons, and monthly competitions. Generous donations from inside and outside the club have supported its growth—including high levels of competition and instructional equipment.
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The Point Fencing Club & School was established in 2004 to spread the joy of fencing to beginners and to help good fencers get better.
The club was started by an array of volunteers, mostly college students and some professors from the U of I and Parkland, including international members.
Rebecca Schneider and Michael Vitoux provided direction as the Club started up. Before moving the club to the 500 N Walnut address, the Fencing Illini Club practiced and competed at the Armory on the U of I campus. Sharing this facility became problematic during the busy winter months, and another space was sought to start the Point Fencing Club & School in 2004, when space became available in the 500 N Walnut facility. In 2020 the Point moved to a much larger location at 401. N Vine in Urbana.
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Cavaliers
Rick Mouche
Charlie Ktsanes
Aadi Desai
Adults
Martin Bohn
Judy Van Cleeff
Michael Vitoux
Michel Bellini
Friday Beginners
Martin Bohn
Ray Richardson
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The Point Fencing Club & School has made National Fencing Club Rankings Honor Roll for “Best Fencing Clubs”.
This year NFCR has greatly expanded their rankings to include the comparative performance between U.S. clubs in the European Cadet Circuit, Junior World Cup and the Senior World Cup, which includes World Cups, Grand Prix, and the Senior World Championships.
The Point Fencing Club & School National & State Rankings:
# 31 Veteran Men's Saber Top 16 Placements
# 37T Veteran Men's Saber Top 8 Medal Points
# 59T Veteran Men's Epee Top 16 Placements
# 1 Illinois Veteran Men's Saber Top 16 Placements
# 3 Illinois Veteran Men's Saber Top 8 Medal Points
# 4 Illinois Veteran Men's Epee Top 16 Placements
Fencing Illini competed in the Midwestern Fencing Championship and the results are as follows:
Team
1st in Men's Team Epee - Nick, Ray, Aadi, Michal
3rd in Men's Team Sabre - Charlie, Adam, Joe
5th in Men's Team Foil - Joe, Ben
Individuals:
1st in Men's Individual Epee - Michal
2nd in Men's Individual Foil - Joe
3rd in Men's Individual Epee - Andrew
8th in Men's Individual Sabre - Adam
The club couldn't be more proud of these individuals!
Congratulations, again!
To the Fencing Illini’s 1st Place Men’s Epee Team (Nick, Ray, Aadi, and Michal) and the 3rd Place Men’s Sabre Team (Charlie, Adam, and Joe).
We are so proud of you!
Leadership
Martin Bohn
Board President
Martin wished he had started fencing as a Cavalier, but instead he began his “fencing career” as a Veteran. He joined the Point Fencing Club in 2006 and developed into a competitive foil and epee fencer. Martin competes regionally and nationally and is ranked in both weapons.
Michael Vitoux
Board Treasurer and Club Founder
Michael is the Founder of The Point Fencing Club & School, and currently serves as Board Vice President and Treasurer. He was on the 1966 Illinois Big Ten Championship team and competed in Epee for the 1968 Illinois Big Ten Championship team. Michael has competed at the state, national and international levels for the past 30 years, and is a rated fencer in Foil and Epee--and competes in sabre as well. Michael teaches the Beginners Plus classes which support continuing students who have taken the beginning foil class at The Point.
Michel Bellini
Board Secretary
Judy Van Cleeff
Club Armorer & Director of Competitions
Judy serves as the club armorer charged with maintaining the club equipment and all electrical components needed for the competition. She is also the Director of Competitions; coordinating all aspects of our local competitions. Judy is an avid foil fencer and assists with some adult class instruction.
Rick Mouche
Coach
Coach Rick Mouche’ has been fencing since 1968.
He fences foil, epee and saber. He is currently the head coach for the youth Cavalier program and instructs the advanced competitive foil class.
