Teen fencing duo headed to Germany for international competition

By Christopher Drexel

Thursday, Nov. 20, 2008 | midnight

When it comes to fencing, Nik-Nik Ameli and Dakota Root do just about everything together.

They are the only two teenage girls who regularly compete out of the Fencing Academy of Nevada, located inside Las Vegas Sports Park in Summerlin. As a result, they practice together at least three times a week. And for the last couple years, they’ve traveled to national meets across America together.

This weekend, Ameli and Root will take another step together when they compete in the Federation International d’escrie World Cup on Saturday and Sunday in Heidenheim, Germany.

It will be the first time both Ameli, a 15-year sophomore at Palo Verde High School, and Root, a 16-year-old home-schooled Henderson resident, will travel outside America to compete.

“It will be the biggest competition I’ve ever been in,” said Root, who lives in Anthem. “Just the fact it’s in Europe makes it so many degrees more important. You learn different fencing styles. You have to be able to acclimate to different weather, different time and deal with different languages and coaches. That’s what makes World Cup so challenging — you’re dealing with more than fencing.”

Both Root and Ameli said it will be easier making their first international trip with their sparring partner along for the ride.

“It’s really exciting to be going,” Ameli said. “It will be a nice experience to face international fencers. They’re really into fencing over there — it’s very popular. So it will be cool to go with my friend and see how far each of us have come.”

Ameli began fencing four years ago and was the only girl at the academy. It wasn’t until a year later that Root arrived. Since coming together, both have made tremendous strides.

Last month, both competed at the North American Cup in St. Louis. Ameli took third in the 17-and-under division, and Root was is the top-32 in the 17-and-under. More than 100 fencers competed.

“It’s really nice having another girl who is my age and close to my rating level who I can practice with,” Root said. “We share similar techniques and help each other. She is definitely my best friend here. We’re friends outside of fencing, too.”

The duo will have their work cut out for them in Germany. The first day will consist of four rounds of pool play, with about seven participants in each pool.

Competitors are then ranked based on their performance and an elimination round takes place the second day.

“There are a lot of girls going from all over the U.S.,” Ameli said. “There will people from Germany, Canada, Italy and Hungary. It will be a good experience.”

Yves Auriol, who coaches Ameli and Root, said the tournament will be a big step in both fencers’ young careers.

“It will be tough,” Auriol said. “Germany, because it’s central, all the Eastern countries will be there. I will have to give them a pep talk because there are no easy bouts there. I’m not expecting them to win them to win the tournament but if they can win a few bouts, it’s going to be interesting.”