Fencing: Maria Roberta Casale of Cus Catania becomes Italian U17 sword champion
The liberating cry at the end of the race tells of the satisfaction and happiness of Maria Roberta Casale who won the U17 national epee title in Genoa, beating the reigning champion Dorotea Tarantini (Società del Giardino – Milan), with a score of 15-13 .
Maria Roberta Casale from Catania, born in 2008 at Cus Catania, is the new Italian U17 sword champion and will sew the Tricolor of the national Cadet Championship on her jacket. A result that underlines the constant growth of the athlete who already last year in Padua, in her first year in the cadet category, had recorded a good 10th place.
A year marked by two exceptional call-ups to the national team for the European Cadet and Youth Championships, and for the U17/U20 World Championships in Saudi Arabia, and by the silver won in the 2nd national test which was held in Catania, useful for accessing the Championship national team of Genoa.
“I had wanted to bring a title home ever since I missed the victory by two hits (in the student category, in the last year of the GPG) – says Maria Roberta Casale a few minutes after having won the coveted title -. I had achieved silver but I had another achievement. I dedicate this victory to my grandmother. And to my parents. I am grateful to my teachers who follow me in the gym and to the athletic trainer, as well as to my teammates with whom I train”.
Yes, the room, a true hotbed of talent from Cus Catania. “She had an extraordinary season – says Rosanna Fusco, the teacher who follows her most closely -. Despite the national team call-ups, a victory was missing. She was missing a first place which she achieved by landing the winning jab exactly the way she wanted.”
The final photos of the other Cus athletes who participated in the competitions, taken with Casale, with the cup, the gold medal and the bouquet of flowers, tell of a close-knit group, which builds, day after day, a spirit of team even though fencing is an individual sport.
In the same category, but for men, Giovanni Sinatra finished in 7th place.
“I am happy for this prestigious result which rewards a girl who, even before being an excellent swordsman, is a special, intelligent, serious and determined person. I am truly happy for her and for the result which gives prestige to her teacher Rosanna and to the entire fencing section of Cus – said Luigi Mazzone, pres. of the University Sports Center of Catania.
The final platform saw the reigning champion Dorotea Tarantini lining up on one side, who had to defend the title, and on the other, Maria Roberta Casale who, thanks to the exceptional results obtained this year, had the determination to surpass herself.
The first three points are the result of double hits. At 4-3 Casale begins to dictate her pace, albeit a limited one. In the third half, the break at 12-10 and the match point at 14-12. Tarantini doesn’t give in and hits the shot that shortens the distance: 14-13.
But 55 seconds from the end of the available time, Maria Roberta finally closes by winning 15-13.
