Fencing doesn’t stop at the Junior Pan American Games ASU2025. Men’s epee was the focus this time, where Kruz Schembri won the gold after a very tight final that was decided by small details and crowned the Virgin Islands native as a Pan American champion in Asunción.
His journey began in Group A, where he defeated opponents such as Cuban Marlon García 5-1, also beating Argentine Iván Groupierre 5-2 and Costa Rican Jorge Cabrera with a score of 5-2. His next victory was also 5-2 against Mexican Daniel Bravo, and in his last group stage duel, he finished by defeating Ecuadorian Bayardo Naranjo 5-3.
In the second round, he once again faced Mexican Daniel Bravo, this time defeating him 15-5 to advance to the quarterfinals. There, he beat Chilean Javier Carmona 15-7, earning his place in the semifinals. In the semifinals, he got revenge against Panamanian Issac Dorati, defeating him with a score of 15-8, thus advancing to the grand final. In that match, Kruz Schembri and Matheus Stuermer faced off, where the athlete from the Virgin Islands emerged victorious with a 15-7 score in a tight start that became unbalanced after a break in the match.
This is the first medal for the Virgin Islands in these Pan American Games—so far, the only one, but it’s bathed in gold.
