Air Force Academy
FALCON OPEN
2009 Falcon Open Fencing Results
2/1/2009 12:00:00 AM | Fencing
Feb. 1, 2009
The Air Force Academy fencing team hosted its annual Falcon Open, Jan. 31-Feb. 1, in the USAFA Cadet Gymnasium. Overall, in their final home-meet of the season, the Falcons had a successful weekend with several AFA fencers finishing it the top 8 of their events. On Saturday, junior Peter French, Austin, Texas, won the senior mixed epee event and junior Michael O'Connor, Charlotte, N.C., won the senior mixed saber competition. Former Air Force fencer, Eliza Enyart, won the senior women's epee contest. On Sunday, sophomore Nick Stockdale (Lansdowne, Pa.) was the senior mixed foil open champion.
"I am very proud of our fencers," said head coach Abdel Salem. "We had several fencers finish in the top 8 and several advanced their USFA ratings. This is good results for our fencers, especially since this is our last home meet for the year."
On Saturday, French advanced to the final round after winning the semifinal bout, 15-6, versus Air Force fencer Samuel McKinnon, a freshman from Flower Mound, Texas. Both fencers renewed their U.S. Fencing Association "B" ratings. In the championship round, French competed against AFA freshman Ben Rinaldi, Pittsburgh, Pa., who had advanced to the finals following his 15-9 victory over Genadijus Sokolovas (unattached). French won the gold medal bout 15-7. Also in mixed epee, Rinaldi took second place followed by McKinnon in third place and sophomore Daniel Trapani (Houston, Texas) who finished in fifth place.
In mixed saber, coming off a 15-8 semifinal win, O'Connor advanced to the final round to win it, 15-5, against Trey Slunder a fencer from the Amarillo College Fencing Association. Freshman Geoffrey Pamerleau (Annandale, N.J.) finished in sixth place and renewed his "E" rating in USFA. Sophomore Christopher Daniels (Woodbridge, Va.) finished in seventh place. In women's saber, freshman Saskia Hicks (Waterloo, Belgium) was the Falcons' top finisher with a third-place finish. Senior Angelica Plazas (Bogota, Colombia) took seventh place.
In women's epee, former AFA fencer Eliza Enyart (class of 2008) won the championship round defeating Christine Dominick from the Northern Colorado Fencers Club, 15-13. Freshman Simone Barrette (Louisville, Ky.) finished third in epee, while senior Mary Guzowski (Tiffin, Ohio) placed ninth.
On Sunday, Stockdale won the gold medal bout, 15- 9, against a fencer from the Heartland Fencing Academy. Stockdale advanced to the final round after defeating AFA freshman Phil Choy. Choy (Basking Ridge, N.J.) tied for third place, while freshman Sam Rinaldi (Pittsburgh, Pa.) finished in sixth place. Sophomore Daniel Fang (Duluth, Ga.) took 11th place.
The Falcons' only heartbreaker was in women's foil. The women's team of seniors Ainsley Allen (Grand Saline, Texas), Julie Luce (Denton, Texas), freshmen CJ Young (Waynesville, Mo.) and Michelle Kiyota (Wahiawa, Hawaii) did not advance to the top 8. Allen finished in ninth place, while Luce took 12th place. Young and Kiyota finished 15th and 16th, respectively.
Sidebar: International -- The team of Seth Kelsey, USAFA class of 2003, Cody Mattern and Tom Urmie took third place in the 2009 World Cup.
2009 Falcon Open - USAFA Colorado -- Jan. 31 - Feb. 1, 2009 -- AFA's Top 8 January 31, 2009 Senior Mixed Epee 56 Competitors, A2 Event 1 - Peter French 2 - Ben Rinaldi 3 - Samuel McKinnon 5 - Daniel Trapani
Senior Women's Epee 20 Competitors, A1 Event 1 - Eliza Enyart, USAFA 3 - Simone Barrette
Senior Mixed Saber 27 Competitors, C2 Event 1 - Michael O'Connor 6 - Geoffrey Pamerleau 7 - Christopher Daniels
Senior Women's Saber 9 Competitors, E1 Event 3 - Saskia Hicks 7 - Angelica Plazas 9 - Mary Guzowski
February 1, 2009 Open Senior Mixed Foil 41 Competitors, B2 Event 1 - Nick Stockdale 3T - Phil Choy 6 - Sam Rinaldi
Players Mentioned
