Fencing in the News

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Women's Fencing Records Three Top-Five Finishes At Garret Open
Garina wins epee, Kuzniak places second in Sabre.[/b][/color]
Wayne State Warriors
Collegesports.com
10/23/05

wsuathletics.collegesports.com/sports/w-fenc/recaps/102305aaa.html


Katarzyna Kuzniak placed second in the
women's sabre at the Garret Open.

University Park, Pa. - Seven members of the Wayne State University women's fencing squad participated in the 33rd annual Garret Open hosted by Penn State University on Saturday, October 22.

Anna Garina (Kiev, Ukraine), the 2003 Garret Open champion in the epee, reclaimed her title with a win over Notre Dame's K. Montoya. Garina was second in 2004. WSU had two other competitors in the epee, Justyna Konczalska (5th) and Alyse Schneider (Harper Woods, Mich./Grosse Pointe North), who placed 36th out of 50 participants.

In the women's sabre, Katarzyna Kuzniak placed second falling to Penn State's Caitlin Thompson in the championship match. Junior Alicia Chmielewski (Harper Woods, Mich./University Liggett) was 42nd.

Competing in the women's foil were juniors Lindsey Howard (Goshen, Ind./Mishawaka) and MaryBeth Ketko (Livonia, Mich./Franklin). Howard was 13th with Ketko placing 26th out of 45 participants.

The men's squad takes center stage in Sunday's (Oct. 23) Garret Open competition.

The next event for the WSU women's fencing squad will be Nov. 19-20 at the Northwestern Dual meets in Evanston, Ill.

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THREE FENCERS ADVANCE TO SEMIFINALS AT PENN STATE OPEN
Temple Owl Athletics
Owlsports.com
10/23/05

www.owlsports.com/sports/wfencing/releases/release.asp?RELEASE_ID=16513


Nina Gernes

STATE COLLEGE---The Cherry and White headed to Happy Valley today to get their first taste of competitive fencing action at the Penn State Open. Temple advanced two foilists, Jenna Remmert and Nina Gernes, and epeeist Melissa Forsythe to the semifinals. Freshman Melissa Forsythe proved the strength of this year’s recruiting class by defeating two time defending NCAA Epee Champion Anna Garina in the second round. Forsythe was knocked out by Garina later in the day.

The event is an individual tournament which boasts the strongest teams of the East Coast and Midwest. Competitors included defending NCAA Champion Notre Dame, NCAA 2nd place Ohio State, NCAA 3rd place Penn State as well as Wayne State, Harvard, Yale, and Princeton.

The foil competition had 45 entries. Two of the foil semifinalists were Owls, Remmert and Gernes. Remmert looking this season to return to the NCAA Championships finished 11th, Temple’s best of the day. Freshman Nina Gernes, last year’s NJ High School Fencer of the Year, finished her first collegiate event 16th. Senior Maryanne Forsythe placed 19th, sophomore Samantha Myles 25th, and freshman Sabrina Shapiro finished 27th in her first appearance as a Temple Fencer.

Melissa Forsythe was the solo epee finalist placing 15th out of 50 entries. Her winning play against a former NCAA champion signals a bright season for the Owls. Sophomores Marla Nacey, Brianna Ferrara, and Ninah Bell finished 23rd, 25th, and 37th respectively. In her first collegiate experience freshman Kaitlyn Uckert placed 45th.

Forty-two entries comprised the sabre competition. Sophomore Kristine Jones finished just slightly out of semifinals reach at 18th and senior Keri Ecker placed 26th.

“Today was the first collegiate competition for the freshmen. As a team we will use this event to prepare for our first home meet, the Temple Open, that’s coming up in two weeks,” said Coach Brad Baker.

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Men's Fencing Competed In Penn State's Garret Open
Smith records top WSU finishWayne State Warriors
Collegesports.com
Oct. 24, 2005

wsuathletics.collegesports.com/sports/m-fenc/recaps/102405aaa.html

University Park, Pa. - Six members of the Wayne State University men's fencing squad participated in the 33rd annual Garret Open hosted by Penn State University on Sunday, October 23.

Junior Bobby Smith (Hillsborough, N.J.) placed 17th in the sabre out of 44 competitors. Also participating in the sabre for WSU was senior Jarry Vega (Detroit, Mich./Murray-Wright), who finished 42nd.

In the men's foil, senior Joe Langdorf (Royal Oak, Mich./Dondero) was 45th while junior Anthony Tejada (Allen Park, Mich.) finished 48th out of 57 competitors.

Competing in the men's epee was junior Steve Znoy (Sterling Hts., Mich./Madison Heights Bishop Foley) and Matt Crist. Znoy was 41st with Crist placing 42nd out of 51 participants.

The next event for the WSU fencing squads will be Nov. 19-20 at the Northwestern Dual meets in Evanston, Ill.

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Fencing teams have strong weekend at Garret Open
By Ken Cara and Brian Hacker
Collegian Staff Writers
Penn State Digital Collegian
University Park, PA, USA
10/24/05

www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2005/10/10-24-05tdc/10-24-05dsports-09.asp

The Penn State men's and women's fencing teams made a strong statement to the collegiate fencing scene over the weekend at the Garret Open in State College.

On Saturday the women placed three fencers in the top 10 in the saber division. Freshman Caitlin Thompson won the tournament one week after winning a gold medal at the 2005 World Championships in Germany. Junior Sophie Hiss placed seventh, and sophomore Ashley Linker took ninth.

In the foil, sophomore Anna Donath grabbed fourth out of a field of 45. Junior Tamara Najm finished in eighth.

Junior Case Szarwark took fourth place in the epee, the only Nittany Lion finishing in the top 10 in that weapon.

The Lions feel very confident as a team after their first tournament of the season. The Garret open, usually held later in the season, features the most talented fencers in the nation from a variety of schools. According to junior Lilly Matusiak, who competes in the saber, this year's Lion squad is just as talented as the one that finished strong nationally last year, but they are closer together as a team.

"We always have great talent on the team. This year we are a family of talented individuals," Matusiak said.

Case and Hiss echoed Matusiak's comments and said that by working together, the team has an excellent shot at success. Hiss lost to teammate Thompson in saber.

"Together we can take on anyone. [On the team] who is better then who, I don't care," Hiss said.

Head coach Emmanuil Kaidanov was very happy with his team's performance in saber. He said that anytime you place in the top eight it is impressive. Penn State put three fencers in the top 16.

In the men's side, sophomore epee Arthur Urman won two intense bouts and captured the epee title.

"It was all thanks to the fans, my teammates. It was like extra points for me," Urman said. " It was a great start, I hope to exit like this."

The men placed two fencers in the top five of foil, and saber to go along with Urman's win in epee. Sophomore Francise Boghicev placed third in saber and feels the freshmen on the team are making a big impact.

"[The freshmen] are helping improve the team," Boghicev said. "The freshmen are promising and funny guys."

In the foil, sophomore Jeff Chang finished second for Penn State and was the highest finisher.

Kaidanov said the men showed good individual results and good consistency.

He was happy that both the men's and women's teams had representatives in the top four in each weapon.

Penn State returns to action next weekend with an Alumni-Alumnae Meet at home.

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Fencing title for Navjot
Express News
Ludhiana, India
10/23/05

cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=154216

Ludhiana, October 23: NAVJOT (Fatehgarh Sahib) defeated Ravisha (Patiala) 10-4 in the finals of the two-day long Shaheed Joginder Paul Pandey Memorial Junior Fencing Championship that concluded today at the indoor stadium of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU).

Punjab Agricultural University Vice-Chancellor KS Aulakh gave away prizes to the winners. Ludhiana District Fencing Association (LDFA) president AK Sharma was also present on this occasion.

Results:

Semi-finals: Navjot Kaur (Fatehgarh Sahib) bt Ravisha (Patiala) 10-4; Sandeep Kaur (Patiala) bt Amandeep (Amritsar) 10-3 Finals: Navjot (Fatehgarh Sahib) bt Sandeep (Patiala) 15-13.

Girls Epee:

Semi-finals: Gagan (Patiala) bt Ramandeep (Gurdaspur) 10-2; Sapna (Patiala) bt Arshdeep Mansa 10-2.

Final: Gagandeep (Patiala) bt Sapna (Patiala).

Girls Foil:

Semi-finals: Gagandeep (Patiala) bt Ramandeep (Gurdaspur) 10-2; Sapna (Patiala) bt Arshdeep Mansa 10-2.

Final: Gagandeep (Patiala) bt Sapna (Patiala) 15-14.

Boys Sabre: Semi-final: Manpreet Singh (FGS) bt Simranjit Singh (Patiala) 10-9; Deepanshu Singh (FGS) bt Sandeep Singh (Patiala) 10-6.

Final: Manpreet Singh (FGS) bt Deepanshu (FGS) 15-10.

Boys Foil:- Semi-final: Harpreet Singh (Patiala) bt Ajay Shori (Jalandhar) 10-7; Kailash (Patiala) bt Manpreet (FGS) 10-1

Final: Harpreet (Patiala) bt Kailash (Patiala) 15-9.

Boys Epee:- Semi-finals: Manvdeep (Patiala) bt Sahil (Gurdaspur) 10-7; Ajay Shori (Jalandhar) bt Pardeep (Gurdaspur) 5-3.Final: Manvdeep (Patiala) bt Ajay Shori (Jalandhar) 15-13.

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BANDERAS FINETUNED FENCING SKILLS WITH OLYMPIC TEAM
ContactMusic.com
10/25/05

www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/banderas%20finetuned%20fencing%20skills%20with%20olympic%20team

ANTONIO BANDERAS perfected his swordplay for the original ZORRO movie seven years ago (98) by training with the Spanish Olympic fencing team.

The Spaniard feared he wouldn't be ready to play the masked hero when THE MASK OF ZORRO started shooting, but then director ROBERT RODRIGUEZ dropped out of the project and Banderas found himself with four months to kill.

He recalls, "When he dropped out, that gave me the possibility of working with the Olympic National Fencing Team of Spain, and I used all those skills I got sword fighting."

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Inter-college fencing
Source: The Sangai Express
E-paonetwork
Imphal, India
10/26/05

www.e-pao.net/GP.asp?
src=Sport1.12.271005.oct05

Imphal, October 26: DMC Arts, Mayai Lambi College and LMS Law college shared the top honours on offer on the opening day of the MU Inter-College Fencing Tournament at Khuman Lampak Indoor Stadium today.

Th Rajeshwor of DMC Arts emerged the men’s foil event champion defeating A Shaolin of Liberal College in the final as O Megha (Mayai Lambi) and S Sanathoiba (Standard College) shared the third position as losing semi finalists.

O Megha improved his performance in sabre event wresting the gold after winning the final showdown against T Rockson of MU PG Classes.

The bronze went to N Tenying (Regional College) and S Sanathoiba.

In the only women’s competition held today, L Sayakiran of LMS Law College won the final defeating Gaijillu Golmei (MU PG Classes).

DMC Arts’ Th Ibechoubi and L Baby of GP women’s college settled for the bronze.

Fencers from ten colleges are taking part in the two day competition hosted by DMC Arts.

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Victor Svatenko Joins Nittany Lion Fencing Staff as Assistant Coach
USOC National Coach of the Year Comes to Penn State
GoPSUsports.com
State College, Pa.
October 27, 2005

www.gopsusports.com/pressreleases/pressrelease.cfm?anncid=8802

The Penn State men's and women's fencing teams will now have the services of one of the United States Olympic Committee's best coaches as Victor Svatenko has joined the Nittany Lion staff as an assistant coach.

Svatenko joins head coach Emmanuil Kaidanov and current assistants Wes Glon and David Ling, rounding out the staff of two of Penn State's most successful programs. The Penn State men's and women's fencing teams have combined to win nine NCAA national titles in the past 15 years.

Svatenko brings a distinguished background in fencing and modern pentathlon to Penn State. A graduate of the University of Physical Culture in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Svatenko became the head fencing coach of the Republic of Kazakhstan's national team, serving in this position from 1977 through 1985. He coached elite athletes in foil and epee.

In 1982, the former U.S.S.R. Olympic Committee named him the Fencing Coach of the Year for the Republic of Kazakhstan. Later, he became the Assistant Director of Sports Science for Kazakhstan and then the Director/Chief Administrator of the Sports Training Center for Elite Athletes.

Svatenko came to the United States in 1990 and quickly established himself with the USOC, becoming the head fencing coach of the United States' national modern pentathlon team. He was a four-time Olympics coach and coached several teams in World Championships.

During his tenure as fencing coach with the USOC, his athletes claimed a silver medal at the Olympics and three gold, one silver, and a bronze medal at the World Championships. He also coached athletes to four gold medals at the Pan American games. From 1998 through 2001, he was named the USOC's National Coach of the Year in Modern Pentathlon. From 2002 through 2004, he was the USOC's Developmental Coach of the year.

Penn State continues fencing action on Nov. 5-6 at the Temple Open in Philadelphia.

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Senate, Fencing Club duel over new budget figures
By Christopher Barrett
The Good 5 Cent Cigar
Student Newspaper at the University of Rhode Island
October 27, 2005

www.ramcigar.com/media/paper366/news/2005/10/27/News/Senate.Fencing.Club.Duel.Over.New.Budget.Figures-1036123.shtml

The University of Rhode Island Student Senate sparred over funding for the Fencing Club and elected a new Campus Affairs Committee chairwoman before swearing in 10 new members yesterday.

In a rare occurrence, the senate debated the merits of two bills that would have awarded the Fencing Club a combined $2,875 to hire an instructor and to buy electronic fencing equipment. The senate cut the request to $1,900 - $450 for equipment and $1,450 for an instructor - citing financial constraints.

Finance Committee Chairman Dave Mack called the $1,900 "a good offer."

He said the senate could not afford the initial request for $650 for equipment because the capital improvement budget stood at a low $1,445 and the senate needed to fund requests throughout the year.

Senator Ben Wright, a member of the fencing club, joined approximately 15 fencing club members in calling the request for electronic equipment necessary for the club's operation.

"It's one of those essential things," Wright said. "It's like trying to have a track team without a track ... I told Finance Committee we need electronic equipment. They told me we don't. I don't know who's the expert here but we need electronic equipment to function."

The senate disagreed saying "dry"- non-electric - equipment would be sufficient.

"We decided they didn't need the electronic equipment because they can still function with the dry equipment," Mac said.

The senate also took the recommendation of the finance committee and approved funding 75 percent of the cost for one instructor, putting the club on par with other organizations that hire instructors.

Wright, who is also a member of the finance committee, accused Mack of creating a policy of funding only 75 percent of the cost of instructors without consulting him or holding an official meeting.

"There was no meeting on record but apparently everyone else knew what was going on except me," Wright said. "It's really hard to get me mad but I'm pretty close right now. [The 75 percent] came out of nowhere."

Makc said he did not create a new policy but rather a recommendation based on precedent. He added that he did not consult Wright because he did not have Wright's phone number.

"As far as the secret meeting, I did tell most of the people I saw," Mac said. "There was no secret debate or meeting or anything like that."

Separately, the senate elected senator Sara Addis as chairwoman of the Campus Affairs Committee. In her role as vice chairwoman, Addis had been serving as acting chairwoman after former Chairman Kevin McCarthy resigned two weeks ago.

"I decided that it was time that I step up and do something that I want to do," Addis said. "I decided that I would be best on senate as campus affairs chair and it would be best for me."

She called the committee "my baby, my love and my joy" and promised to work with administrators and senators to complete tasks such as the annual safety and lighting walk.

Addis beat out fellow senators Cristin Langworthy and Mary Eustace and non-senate member Yemi Odewale but not without debate.

Wright accused Academic Affairs Committee Chairman Jared Abdirkin of nominating Odewale to "bury" issues "especially one he would like to see disappear."

Wright said he was referring to Abdirkin's public opposition to the student senate becoming involved with student rights.

"I do not appreciate that," Abdirkin replied.

The senate also heard from yearbook editor Kristin Marge, who explained the club has thousands of yearbooks - technically senate property - in a small office and lacks sufficient space to operate.

"I don't have the room to function," Marge said. "If the yearbook at URI is going to function we need more space and we need these books out."

The senate referred the issue to the Executive Committee.

The senate also recognized the Promoting Awareness for Gender Equality group as an official student group. The group works primarily to further women's rights.

Annie-Laurie Hogan contributed to this report.

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Fencing meet
The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, India
10/26/05

www.kanglaonline.com/index.php?template=headline&newsid=27122&typeid=3

The 1st inter college fencing championship 2005 organised by DM college of Arts at Khuman Lampak indoor stadium kicked off today.

In the opening function, Dr Ng Navachandra, addl director education, Th Bedamani, principal DM college of Science and W Ibempishak, principal DM college of Arts, graced as the chief guest, guest of honour and president respectively.

In men`s foil 1st position went to Th Rajeshwor of DM college of arts, 2nd A Shaolin of Liberal college and 3rd O Megha of Mayai Lambi and S Sanathoiba of Standard college. Sabre men`s 1st position went to O Megha of Mayai Lambi college, 2nd T Rockson of MU PG classes and 3rd N Tenjing of Regional collge and S Sanathoiba of Standard college. Women`s Sabre 1st position went to L Sayakiran of LMS law college, 2nd Gaijillu Golmei of MU PG classes and 3rd Th Ibechaobi and L Baby of GP women`s college. Women`s foil and men`s epee will be played tomorrow. The MU fencing team will be selected from this tournament and will participate in the forthcoming all India inter university fencing championship 2005-06.

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Local fencing lessons available
By Jondi Schmitt
The Shield
Evansville, IN, USA
October 27, 2005

www.usishield.com/media/paper605/news/2005/10/27/Sports/Local.Fencing.Lessons.Available-1034902.shtml

What do The Three Musketeers, Zorro and The Dread Pirate Roberts have in common?

Fencing, the gentleman's sport.

In other words, they all try to run long pointy objects through the gut of their enemies.

Although fencing is not the sport that it once was in the medieval and renaissance eras, it is still around and thriving as a competitive sport and a pastime activity.

There are two main types of fencing today, historical fencing and strip fencing (which is 99 percent less hot than it sounds).

To clear up any confusion, fencing, in the broadest definition is "the practice of armed combat involving cutting, stabbing or bludgeoning weapons directly manipulated by hand, rather than shot or thrown (in other words, swords, knives, pikes, bayonets, batons, clubs and so on)," according to en.wikipedia.org.

In strip fencing, bouts take place on a strip, or piste, with two fencers facing one another, hence the name "strip fencing." Three types of swords are used; foil, Epee and sabre.

"The term Historical fencing refers to any fencing system that was in use before the development of the three classical fencing weapons," according to wikipedia.org. "Historical fencing is based on the work of historical texts and traditions."

Kenneth Carter, assistant professor of psychology, has been involved in historical fencing for a few years with the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA).

"Some friends of mine in Kansas City got me into it," Carter said. "When I moved [to Evansville] it was a way to get involved with something and meet people."

The SCA is a world-wide organization dedicated to researching and re-creating the arts and skills of pre-17th-century Europe.

Carter is interested in getting a student-fencing group together as well as rekindling a medieval club, which existed on campus in past years.
"I have a few students who might be interested," Carter said.

The cost of taking up fencing as a hobby can be relatively low. Most places have equipment to loan to beginners for use.

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Area athletes shine for Indysabre fencing team
The Noblesville Daily Times
Noblesville, IN, USA
Staff report
10/28/05

www.thenoblesvilletimes.com/articles/2005/10/28/sports/sports/sports31.txt

Indysabre youth fencers were among the top finishers at the Remenyik Open at Northwestern University Oct. 22-23.

Indysabre's leading fencers in the competition included the following:

Anthony Schlehuber, 16, of Carmel finishing sixth in the men's saber competition while upgrading his ranking from E05 to D05;

Emerson Woerner, 14, of Carmel and Cruz Baisa, 18, of Indianapolis finished in the top 16 in the college level competition;

Taylor Crane, 14, Indianapolis, 22nd;

Kevin Kim, 15, Carmel, finished 29th;

Philip Gast, 13, Zionsville, finished 34th;

Nikhil Bysani, 16, Carmel, finished 42nd;

Kaethan Bysani, 13, of Carmel finished 44th.

According to the United States Fencing Association and the Web site www.usfencing.org, the main objective of a fencing bout is to score 15 points in direct elimination play or five points in preliminary pool play on your opponent before he does. A point is awarded when a fencer scores a touch. Direct elimination matches consist of three, three-minute periods.

There are three types of weapons one can choose in fencing including the foil, the epee and the sabre. According to Indysabre, the foil is a “point-thrusting weapon” with a flexible rectangular blade. A point is scored when the tip of the blade hits the torso. The epee is less flexible but similarly shaped to the foil with a cup at the end near the handle. The fencer can attack anywhere on the body but only with the tip of the blade. Finally, the sabre is the modern version of the slashing cavalry sword and is like the foil in its dimensions. The fencer can use the saber to thrust and cut to score points. With the sabre, points can be scored from the bend of the hips to the top of the head.

Fencers keep a distance from each other in order not to be attacked by their opponent. Once an attack or a false attack begins, his or her opponent will react in a way that is advantageous to their situation.

According to the USFA, fencing is one of only four sports that has been in every modern Olympic Games since 1896.

It was also included at the original Olympic Games in ancient Greece.

Although fencing is scored electronically now, fencers traditionally wear white clothes so their touches could be recorded on the white uniforms with wads of ink-soaked cotton on the tips of the weapons.

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WSU Fencing 2005-06 Preview
Warriors have high expectations for upcoming season.
By Wojciech Dudek
WSU Sports Information Student Assistant
Wayne State University
Oct. 28, 2005

wsuathletics.collegesports.com/sports/w-fenc/spec-rel/102805aab.html


Justyna Konczalska is one of the top newcomers
to the WSU women's fencing squad.

With high expectations WSU fencers head into new season

The Wayne State University fencing teams head into the 2005-2006 campaign with new faces on the roster. After losing All-American fencers Anna Vinnikov and Wojciech Dudek, Warriors' head coach Jerzy Radz added international talents to the squad.

While trying to fill the gap after Vinnikov and Dudek completed their eligibility, newcomers Kasia Kuzniak and Justyna Konczalska are going to give a competitive edge to the Warriors. However, absolute leadership of the team belongs to veterans Anna Garina (two-time NCAA Champion, 2004-05) and Marek Petraszek (NCAA 2004 All-American, 2005 national runner-up).

There are also other new members on the team that are inexperienced but will try to rise to the high expectations of the WSU Athletic Department. Radz is used to molding inexperience with veteran talent and this year will not be any different. With a mix of talent and fresh blood, the Warrior fencers are expected to compete successfully on the national level.

Epee

After a very successful 2004-05 season, high expectations are placed on returning junior Marek Petraszek (NCAA 2005 Runner-up). This season, after graduation of the 2005 NCAA Champion Michal Sobieraj (Notre Dame), Petraszek is a favorite to win the gold. He will be only fencer of the men's epee squad with experience. Petraszek will be supported by returning sophomore Steve Znoy who finished 24th at the 2005 Midwest Fencing Conference Championships and newcomer Matt Crist.

The women's epee squad lost much-needed All-America Anna Vinnikov who brought experience and talent to the Warrior fencing program. Newcomer and native of Austria, Justyna Konczalska is expected to fill the gap left by Vinnikov. Konczalska has been a member of the Austrian National Team since 2001. She is the 2003 Senior Austrian National Champion both individually and with her team. In addition, returning two-time NCAA Champion Anna Garina will try to three-peat. Third place in the team belongs to sophomore Alyse Schneider who finished tied-for-13th at the 2005 Midwest Fencing Conference Championship. Newcomer Alexandra Hess will try to earn enough experience to compete for a roster spot.

The epee team is looking very competitive this season. According to Radz, the epee team is "suppose to lead our team to success."

Sabre

In the men's sabre, Bobby Smith, Ryan Ferrante and Jarry Vega return after having solid seasons a year ago. Smith missed the 2005 NCAA cut by only one place. This year, Smith seems more confident and will certainly compete for a place at the 2006 NCAA Championships. Ferrante, who went 4-12 at the Midwest Fencing Regional, is going to give much-needed support for Smith. Newcomer Marshall McClendon shows fine technique and determination during practices. Vega and McClendon will compete for third spot on the sabre team.

The women's sabre is going to be led by freshman Kasia Kuzniak. A native of Poland, Kuzniak has been a member of Polish National Team since 2000. Throughout her fencing career, Kuzniak earned a bronze medal on Senior European Championships, a bronze medal on Junior World Championships and a silver medal on Junior European Championships. Other members of the sabre team expected to contribute are Alicia and Jozefa Chmielewski, and freshman Larissa Leffingwell, who will try to earn the third spot on the team.

Foil

Both men's and women's foil teams look very solid. Returning team captains Lindsey Howard and Joseph Langdorf should lead the Warriors again this year. Langdorf will be supported by Anthony Tejada, Adam Whitford and newcomer Michal Brichacek. In women's foil, competition for two remaining starting positions is unsettled. Stacy Otremba, Erin Stranyak, MaryBeth Ketko, Adela Perez and Lai Yee Leung are competing for these two spots.

The next competition for the WSU fencing teams will be Nov. 19-20 at the Northwestern Dual meets. Wayne State hosts the Istvan Danosi Michigan Open at the Matthaei Athletics Complex on Saturday, Dec. 3.

[LongBlade]

Around Waltham
BOSTON FENCING CLUB
Free demonstration, open house
Daily News Tribune
Waltham, MA, USA
10/28/05

www.dailynewstribune.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=64232

The Boston Fencing Club will hold a free fencing demonstration and open house on Friday, Oct. 28, at 7:30 p.m., at 110 Clematis Ave. #2. The event is open to all. For more information, contact Syd Fadner, director, at 781-891-0119, or visit www.bostonfencingclub.org.

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Hurme second in men's epee at Tigers' first tourney
By Jennifer Hart
The Daily Princetonian
Princeton, NJ, USA
10/26/05

www.cstv.com/sports/c-fenc/uwire/102605aaa.html

Princeton fencing opened its season this weekend with strong performances on both the women's and men's sides at the Penn State Garret Open.

The Tigers, who had a total of five top-10 finishes between the men's and women's squads, had a good start that gives the team a positive outlook for the rest of the season.

Senior captain Owen Cornwall said he thought the team did very well this weekend.

"This tournament bodes well for the rest of the season," Cornwall said. "The Penn State Garrret Open always has world-class competition."

The Princeton men had two top-eight finishes, with sophomore Tommi Hurme placing second and senior Ben Solomon coming in third in the epee event. Hurme and Solomon finished behind Penn State's Arthur Urman. Urman, an Israeli national junior champion, narrowly defeated Solomon in an overtime semifinal match and edged Hurme, 15-13, in the final bout.

"These results are exceptional, as our guys swim upstream against many teams that increasingly give fencing scholarships," Cornwall said.

Epee was Princeton's strongest weapon at the Open. Led by Hurme and Solomon, the men's epee squad did well this weekend. Freshmen Max Peck and Noah Arjomand, senior Fenil Ghodadra and sophomore Matt Solomon placed 13th, 35th, 25th and 39th, respectively.

Cornwall was the top finisher for the men in the sabre event, placing 19th in a field of 44. He was joined by sophomores Jon Winnerman, David Leffler and Robert Brenner, who placed 20th, 27th and 28th, respectively. Junior Eric Besson and freshman Siddharth Bhaskar placed 43rd and 44th, respectively.

In foil, the Princeton men were led by junior John-Paul Mitchell, who recorded a 17th-place finish out of 57. Senior Alexander Vandenberg-Rhodes, sophomore Douglas Hohensee and freshman Jonathan Mayer placed 24th, 27th and 52nd, respectively, at the Open.

Leahy leads women

The Tiger women had a trio of top-10 finishers - senior Jacqueline Leahy placed third in the foil, freshman Jasjit Bhinder placed ninth in the epee and junior Sara Jew-Lim finished 10th in the foil event. Leahy finished behind Ohio State's All-American Hanna Thompson, who won her second straight Garret Open, and Harvard's Emily Cross.

Bhinder, who led the women in the epee this weekend, was joined by junior Erin McGarry, who placed 11th, seniors Kira Hohensee and Rachel Zuraw, a 'Prince' copy editor, who placed 21st and 50th respectively, and freshman Jane Yum, who placed 35th.

In sabre, the Princeton women's top finisher was sophomore Cara DiGirolamo, who placed 12th in a field of 42. Junior Elan DiMaio, freshmen Anastasia Dubov and Sara Pfau and sophomore Allison Wuertz placed 25th, 30th, 36th and 38th, respectively, to round out the scoring in the sabre event.

Sophomore Peri Rosenstein joined Leahy and Jew-Lim on the foil squad, placing 32nd.

Though the tournament is focused on individual performances, the Tigers still say that their showing demonstrates what can be expected from them this year.

"We had strong finishes in all three weapons," junior co-captain Elan DiMaio said, "and, considering that it is so early in the season, I think that we can look forward to a successful season. That being said, there are still things we can work on. The beauty of having the tournament so early this year is that we have more time to highlight those areas and improve on them before our dual meet season picks up."