Fencing Community Unites After Winter Storm Diverts Teen’s First Solo Flight

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. —  After fencing in the Vet-50 Women’s Saber event Friday night at the January North American Cup, Alisa Suzuki Han (South Bay Fencing Academy) changed out of her fencing gear and headed to Kansas City International Airport.

She was there to pick up her 15-year-old daughter, Emma Han, who was registered to fence in the Cadet Women’s Saber event on Monday.

Alisa was excited to see her daughter, flying solo for the first time, and even brought a box of Munchkins to welcome her to Kansas City.

“She was sitting next to another fencer on the plane, Chloe Wu, whom she had met previously on the piste, and they were now becoming friends,” Alisa says. “Alas, it was not to be.”

Anyone who braved the journey to the January NAC during a historically bad winter storm can predict what happened next. And anyone who has been involved with the U.S. fencing community — a “small, tight-knit family” of 40,000 fencers — might also predict how kindness and compassion saved the day.

Alisa stood at the MCI baggage claim, Munchkins in hand, staring at the arrivals monitor.

Just before Emma was due to land, the line of text changed from “landing at MCI in 5 minutes” to “landing at OMA in 20 minutes.”

Instead of Kansas City, Emma’s plane was heading to Omaha, Neb. — 185 miles away.

“Instant stomachache,” Alisa says. “In that moment of panic, I received a phone call from an unknown number. Warily, I picked up the phone.”

The caller was Yang Wu, Chloe’s dad.

“I had never met Chloe’s father, but he relaxed my nerves, informing me that she was doing OK and that the plane was heading to Omaha,” Alisa says. “He let my daughter use his phone to keep in contact.”

Yang took Chloe and Emma to lunch and dinner, keeping Alisa updated throughout the day.

“Through the turmoil of boarding the plane, waiting on the runway, then turning around and deplaning, with all the twists and turns of the weather reports, my daughter stayed calm thanks to Yang’s steady attitude and poise,” Alisa says.

Eventually, Yang booked hotel rooms for the night — one for himself and another for Chloe and Emma.

On Saturday, with massive delays and cancellations at the Kansas City airport, Emma boarded a flight back home to California. She wouldn’t make it to the January NAC, but she and Chloe promised to keep in touch and meet again at the Junior Olympics in Charlotte and the April NAC in Los Angeles.

Now back home, Alisa has had time to reflect on what this moment signifies.

“Thanks to Yang Wu’s calm demeanor and guidance, my daughter’s first solo trip morphed from a disaster,” she says, “to a chance to spread her wings and make new friends.”

Emma was in a new city without her family, but thanks to the power of the fencing community, she wasn’t alone.

“I can’t express enough appreciation for Yang and Chloe Wu for their kindness and generosity in difficult times,” Alisa says.

And Alisa felt supported, too, by her fellow fencers.

“The Veteran fencing community was incredibly supportive of my emotional state as a mother with a child on an unexpected adventure,” she says. “But they encouraged me to continue participating in my events.

“We appreciate fencing for bringing together a community of athletes and families who can be so supportive and friendly when faced with difficult and unforeseen circumstances, both youth and Veteran alike.”