SPARC Athletics and the St. Johns Middle School Athletic Association (SJMSAA) are partnering with the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office and Tristyn Bailey’s family to provide classes teaching middle and high school students how to defend themselves against an attacker.
Tristyn, 13, was stabbed to death by a schoolmate in 2021. Her body was found on Mother’s Day in the Durbin Creek neighborhood where she lived.
Aiden Fucci, who was 14 at the time, was arrested and pleaded guilty. He is serving a life sentence.
Tristyn’s family members have become advocates for safety and awareness.
St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick joined us on The Morning Show to tell us more about the self-defense seminars and to reflect on the impact Tristyn’s murder has had on the community.
The first self-defense seminar is Friday, and as of Friday morning, there were a few spots still available.
The classes are taught by an all-woman team of St. Johns County, St. Augustine and St. Augustine Beach law enforcement officers.
The focus is to teach threat awareness, combined with basic self-defense techniques to respond to potential threats. The program teaches situational awareness, verbal commands, assertiveness and physical techniques.
Participants will receive one-on-one training demonstrating what they should do if they are grabbed by someone to teach them the skills to get away.
The instructors are part of a program that has been offered for several years called W.A.V.E., Women Against Violent Encounters. While preference is given to St. Johns County residents, anyone is invited to register.
The seminars provided in honor of Tristyn are specifically offered to middle and high school students, with preference given to St. Johns County students first.
If you would like to attend one of the four seminars offered to students, the dates are:
- 5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, March 1
- 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday, May 4
- 5:30-8:30 p.m. , Wednesday, Aug. 14
- 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 6
There is no cost for the seminars, but students must register. The seminars are offered at SPARC Athletics on the corner of International Golf Parkway and U.S. 1 at 94 Thomas Industry Way, Suite 103.
If you have any questions or need help registering, call SPARC Athletics: at 904-604-9611.
If you would like to register for one of the W.A.V.E. self-defense classes offered through the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, call the sheriff’s office non-emergency number: 904-824-8304.
Two W.A.V.E. instructors joined us on The Morning Show to demonstrate some of the techniques they teach during the classes. Watch the video below for more: