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Harry Rulnick Open

Mr. Harry Rulnick is a long time supporter of the All-American Fencing Club. He’s supported the program since it’s inception in 2001 when the fencing club was just starting at the Pine Forest Recreation Center.

At the time, the club was under the control of Cumberland County Parks and Recreation, and so it was named, the Cumberland County Fencing Club. Shortly after hosting one of it’s first fencing tournaments at the Pine Forest Recreation Center, which included many new (at the time) fencers from Raleigh, Charlotte and New Bern, an article was featured in the Fayetteville Observer.

Mr. Rulnick saw the article and was happy to see fencing now being offered in Fayetteville. He contacted the paper and found the club contact information which eventually led him to the club’s head coach, Gerhard Guevarra.

On October 15, 2001, he contacted Gerhard and said, “Gerhard, I want to donate $100 to your club, where do I send the check?” Those were his first words to Gerhard. With the donation, the club bought as much weapons, masks and jackets it could from ebay and other equipment suppliers.

Harry Rulnick was a fencer. He fenced on the UNC-Chapel Hill epee team from 1939-1943. He was captain from 1942-1943. This was most definitely pre-Coach Miller era. At the time, there were no coaches for the Carolina fencing team. During those years, Harry Rulnick was the South Atlantic Champion.

Mr. Rulnick was also in the Navy from 1942-1946, he returned to Fayetteville after WWII and became a CPA; Mr. Rulnick is now retired.

REMEMBERING HARRY RULNICK

Harris “Harry” Meisels Rulnick, 85, of 2301 Westdale Drive, passed away Sunday, March 24, 2009, in his home. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Doris Rulnick; daughters and their spouses, Jane and Vaughn MacEntee, Rosalind and Earl Howell and Lisa and Robert Pharr; five grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. He was a graduate of the University of North Carolina 1939, with a degree in accounting, and he became a CPA.

Harry had numerous accomplishments to include: Eagle Scout; Naval officer in the Pacific Theater during World War II; president and treasurer of the Beth Israel Synagogue and chairman of the Human Relations Committee; created the MLK scholarship fund; served as chairman of the FEMA Board; chairman and treasurer of the Urban Ministry; president of the N.C. B’nai B’rith; and president of the District 5 B’nai B’rith.

In 2003, he received the Governors Award: Order of the Longleaf Pine for years of service to the community.

PRIOR HARRY RULNICK OPEN CHAMPIONS
(AskFred List)

2023
Open Mixed Foil:  Maria Shmukler
DIV3 Mixed Foil:  Elise Owens

2022
Men’s Foil: Conrad Emenheiser
Women’s Foil: Veronica Hernandez
Unsanctioned Adult Only Epee: William Joseph

2020*/2021
No event: Fall tournaments cancelled due to COVID-19 Pandemic.

2019
Mixed Foil: Doug Abel

2018
Y10 Mixed Foil:  James Russell
Y12 Mixed Foil:  Jacob Wechsler
Men’s Foil:  Alex Sichitiu
Women’s Foil:  Sabrina Krupenko

2017
Y10 Mixed Foil: Daniel Johnson
Y12 Mixed Foil: Tusker Robbins
Open Mixed Epee:  Victor Gomez
Open Men’s Foil:  Anthony Cui
Open Women’s Foil: Melea Stoltenberg

2016
Open Mixed Epee:  Chris Ruminski
Y12 Open Mixed Foil:  Conner Long
Y10 Open Mixed Foil: Isabelle Guevarra

2015
Open Mixed Epee:  Gerhard Guevarra
Men’s Foil:  Sam Moore Jr.
Women’s Foil: Inez Page

2014
Open Mixed Foil: Gerardo Gomez
Y14 Mixed Foil:  Kurt Schmitkons

2013
Y12 Mixed Epee:  Gabriel Guevarra
Y12 Mixed Foil: Daniel Charpentier
Open Mixed Epee:  Matt Harris
Open Mixed Foil:  Charles Chow

2012
Open Mixed Epee: Greg Spahr

2011
No event

2010
Open Mixed Epee:  Bertrand Platret

2009
Open Mixed Epee:  Tommy Dietz

2008
Open Mixed Epee:  Tommy Dietz

2007
Open Mixed Epee: Tommy Dietz

2006
Open Mixed Epee:  Scott Anderson

Harry Rulnick tournament logo

Harry Rulnick's Letter

1941 UNC Fencing Team

Harry Rulnick last fencer on the right.

1942 UNC Fencing Team

Harry Rulnick, first row, second fencer from left.