Salem Gazette
March 01, 2008

Instructor Michael Tarascio can still recall the day Salem YMCA staff member Ted Toleous walked into a gym class and asked who wanted to try fencing.

“I was in eighth grade at the time. Ted told me I was too small, but he let me participate anyway,” Tarascio recalls. “Almost 60 kids started out taking fencing from the legendary Joe Pechinsky that first day and within two weeks I was the only one left.”

Nine kids became involved consistently in the fencing program over the next year. Of those nine, Scott Bozek and Sally Pechinsky went on to the Olympics and Tarascio went on to compete in the World Championships in 1973.

When he moved back to Salem three years ago, Tarascio visited the Salem YMCA to sign up for membership again. In conversation with staff, he explained how he used to do fencing at the Y, the history the program had in the community and how several participants went on to compete on the international level. They quickly recruited him to teach fencing at the Y once again.

 “I have students who compete, but the most important thing is that they have fun. Our Tuesday night class welcomes kids and adults of all ability levels. I have some parents who have joined the class because they saw how much fun their child was having,” he says. “The Salem Y has produced some great fencers over the years.”

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