The Teaneck Recreation Department will host a reception for Olympic Fencer and Bronze Medalist, Maya Lawrence.
Ms. Lawrence will meet with her hometown community and share her accomplishments on Thursday, November 15, 2012 from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm at the Richard Rodda Community Center, 250 Colonial Court (south end of Votee Park).
This event will also feature a guest appearance by Sumner Perera, winner of Teaneck Teen Idol 2010 and National Teen Idol 2011, performing the National Anthem. All are welcome.
Maya Lawrence moved to Teaneck from New York City as a young girl and was an active participant in the Teaneck Recreation After-School Program and Sports & Arts Summer Camp. Lawrence began fencing foil at Teaneck High School at the age of 15. After a year, she tried her hand at epee and found an affinity for this style of fencing. She made the All-State Fencing team in her junior and senior years. She graduated from Teaneck High School with honors in 1998, and went on to receive an academic scholarship to Princeton University.
During her four years in college, Lawrence won many awards such as Honorable Mention All-American, Second Team All American and All Ivy League. She also went undefeated her senior year. Lawrence graduated with a double major in Political Science and African-American studies.
After college, Lawrence went on to earn a Masters Degree in English as a Second Language from Columbia University in New York City.
For the past seven years Lawrence has been living in Paris where she trained day in and day out with world renowned coach Daniel LeVavasseur and some of the best fencers in the world. She has traveled all around the globe to pursue her dream, battling ACL injuries in both knees as well as a hand injury. Nonetheless, all the hard work and dedication paid off as she went on to qualify as a member of the US Women’s Epee Team in the London 2012 Olympic Games. The U.S. women beat number 5 Italy in a quarterfinal match in which Lawrence went a combined 15-11 in her three bouts. On August 4th, Maya would defeat Lyubov Shutova, 4-2 in touches, handing the United States a 27-25 lead heading into the final bout. They would hold on for a 31-30 overtime victory over Russia and take home the first ever Olympic medal for the US Women’s Fencing Team.
Click here to view the invitation for this Teaneck event.
