Peter French wins Men's Epee Championship
2/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Fencing
Freshman Daniel Trapani finished tied for 54th in men's epee. Trapani went 4-2 in his pools, winning his first two bouts 15-2 and 15-6. The freshman from Houston, Texas, lost his third bout for the top 32 to Princeton's Nate Sulat.
"Dan fenced well, but had a tough bout against a top fencer," said head coach Abdel Salem.
French, a sophomore from Austin, Texas, went 6-0 in the pools.
"I was seeded third after the first round, and received a bye into the 128. I then defeated my first three opponents 15-4, 15-5, and 15-6 to make the top 16," said French. "My bout to make the final eight was against Lorenzo Casertano from Columbia University, who I defeated 15-5. In the round of eight, I fenced Michael Elfassy of Princeton, who I defeated 15-6. In the round of four, I fenced Bob Cottam from Arizona State, beating him 15-7. Finally, in the gold medal bout, I defeated Corwin Duncan 15-7."
"I am very happy with Peter's fencing at the Junior Olympics," added Salem. "No one scored more than seven touches on Peter all day."
With the national title, French was selected to the 2008 Junior World Team. French will compete with two other Americans in the World Championships on April 11 in Acireale, Italy, (Sicily). French's win at the Junior Olympics puts him in the No. 2 spot for the Junior World Team.
In the men's individual foil competition, freshman Nick Stockdale finished 20th among 235 competitors, while William Hock tied for 188th place.
