CHATTER: CARVING OUT HIS NICHE.

Byline: Chris Branam Daily News Staff Writer

Sometimes, out of the most unfortunate circumstances, a life path blooms.

That's what happened in January 1994, when the Northridge Earthquake left many San Fernando Valley families without homes, including the Snyders of Chatsworth.

Don Snyder, his wife Pamela and son Derek were forced to move into a 196-square-foot office behind the family's house. When summer came, Derek was told by his parents that he had to go to summer school because of the cramped living space.

Derek took two classes - guitar and fencing. Four years later, he has no ambition to become the next Eddie Van Halen. But he does aspire to become an Olympic fencer.

Snyder, who fences for the formidable Chaminade High team that is coached by Fr. Lawrence Calhoun, finished 40th out of 231 competitors in the open men's foil at the U.S. Fencing Association's North American Cup tournament two weeks ago.

At 15, he was competing against the best fencers in the nation, many of whom are in college or on the national team.

``Fortieth doesn't sound like a great finish,'' said Don Snyder, ``but it is sort of like taking a star high school quarterback and putting him in an NFL situation.''

Fencing is a difficult sport to understand. Derek says he doesn't mind none of his friends come to watch his bouts.

``Most of my friends make a joke out of it,'' he said. ``I tell them not to come most of the time because it is boring and they won't understand what is going on.''

Five other fencers from the Valley went to the NAC tournament, including four from Chaminade: Vinnie Carbone, Michele Cordi, Matt McConnaughy and Chris Smith. Harvard-Westlake's Elizabeth Blase also competed.

``(Fencing) is mainly an eastern thing,'' Don Snyder said. ``It's growing out here. It's getting bigger and bigger in Southern California.'' . . .

Fantastic final foiled: It was a good idea while it lasted. Harvard-Westlake and Westlake seemed destined to meet in the Southern Section Division III girls' tennis final, played Monday at Claremont Country Club.

But last Thursday, the top-seeded Warriors lost to Palm Desert 10-8 and the Wolverines fell to Laguna Hills 13-5.

Ms. Microphone: After one week of practices, there has been a noticeable change during Alemany's practices: Coach Melissa Hearlihy is using a portable microphone to save her voice.

She was ordered by doctors to rest her voice after the season ended in March, and for the most part, Hearlihy said she talked as little as possible.

``I did very well,'' she said, ``but I'm already starting to get raspy.''

Home cookin': Notre Dame football coach Kevin Rooney gave his team a choice: Home or almost home. The vote was unanimous.

The Knights wanted to play Friday night's Southern Section Division I playoff game against Mater Dei at home, rather than at Pierce College. Notre Dame was upset in the Division III championship by Arroyo Grande last year - at Pierce.

Keeping tabs: Tawnee Cooper, who was the best girls' basketball player in the area in 1995, got off to a good start for UC Santa Barbara on Nov. 12. A junior, the former Simi Valley standout scored 14 points, grabbed six rebounds and had four assists in an exhibition win over Slovan Bratislava.

Cooper's younger sister, Teresa, is a 5-7 freshman guard at Simi Valley who should see some playing time with the Pioneers' varsity.