Local wins gold at fencing nationals

Despite it’s place as an Olympic sport, fencing doesn’t receive the same recognition as others in the youth sports market. That doesn’t deter Beaconsfield resident Harrison Kelertas, 15, who gained interest in the sport while watching the 2004 Olympics. He has been honing his skills over the past five years and has made quite a name for himself with an épée.

Training primarily out of Île Perrot with coach Sylvie Morel, Kelertas has risen to the top of his age class, capturing the gold medal at the Canadian championships in the under-15 category at the end of June. He also placed 7th in the under-17 division against competitors two years his senior. “You could say I was pretty confident in my own division. I had done a lot of training towards that day, so I was well prepared and felt that I should perform well,” Kelertas reflected. “As for the under-17, I really had had nothing to lose. Everyone was older than me so my attitude was to try my best. The challenge of facing higher competition will pay off in the long run.”

Kelertas had previously competed in the Provincial championships in order to qualify for the nationals. Held in April, he captured gold in his division and took home the bronze medal in the under-17.

Now heading into Grade 10 at Collège Notre-Dame, Kelertas plans to continue his studies at Collège Brébeuf after completing high school. Brébeuf boasts an excellent fencing program under the tutelage of esteemed coach Jean-Marie Banos, a long tenured member of the Canadian Fencing squad and four-time Olympian. “Right now that’s where I’m hoping to go,” he projected. “They have a great coach and their program is really advanced.”

On top of sessions with Coach Morel, Kelertas had begun working with a fencing master on a weekly basis at the Claude Robillard Centre, training 3-4 times per week altogether. But everything is put on hold, at least for a month, as Kelertas enjoys a well-earned repose. Training begins again in August in preparation for September competitions where Kelertas will be hoping to add to his accolades, ideally in the form of gold medals.