Today we’d like to introduce you to Patrick Lausi.
Hi Patrick, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started coaching fencing in Columbia, SC, as an assistant to my coach while in college. From 2007 to 2011, I helped coach youth and beginner fencers for Master of Arms Rick Thompson. He set the building blocks of my approach to teaching I still use today, passing on his passion and calm control of large and, at times, unruly classes of kids who want to swing weapons around like lightsabers. In 2011, I moved to Charleston, where I met fellow coaches and eventual close friends, Bob Mones(Mt. Pleasant) and Ian Dube(West Ashley), who were at separate clubs in the area. 2015, we formed the Edge of America Fencing Club in North Charleston. We have bounced around the North Charleston area, Tanger, Remount, and Ashley Phosphate. Yet, we continue to offer affordable fencing in a fun and safe environment to build a stronger community for both kid and adult fencers. Along the way, we met Coach Annemarie LeDonne, and we now have classes in Mt. Pleasant, James Island, and North Charleston.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
From the beginning, our primary goal has been to offer fencing at an affordable rate. Finding the right business model that suits the ethos of our club is a constant hurdle for us. Paired with the COVID pandemic, in which all fencing activity had to stop for many months, holding down locations that offer space and flexible times was a constant start-stop during the last few years.
As you know, we’re big fans of Edge of America Fencing Club. What can you tell our readers who might need to be more familiar with the brand?
We offer Olympic sports fencing. We run classes throughout the year, offering summer camps and tournaments throughout the school year to challenge our youth, teens, and adults who work hard to improve on a difficult individual sport. While I specialize in the weapon Foil, Coach LeDonne specializes in the weapon Epee, though we both offer classes in the other weapons.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
A refusal to quit. Between changes in location and COVID, there have been plenty of times when the correct financial decision was to close up shop and call it a day. But the community keeps going. We have young adults we have seen grow and challenge themselves since adolescence. It drives me to see individual and community growth and how we. can introduce more to a particular sport many don’t have access to.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://edgeofamericafencing.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/eoafencing?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fencingcharleston
