Air Force Academy
NCAA West Regionals
Air Force Fencers Claim West Regional Championship Titles
3/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Fencing
U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. - Two Air Force fencers claimed NCAA West Regional Championship titles, four take second place and one earned third place.
In the NCAA West Regional Championships in La Jolla, California on Sat., March 7, Air Force fencers Mary McElwee and Ryan Redhead claimed the region titles in their respective weapons. McElwee was undefeated in women's foil, beating her opponent, 15-7 in the finals, and finished 9-0 overall. Redhead, who won 85% of his bouts in the men's saber, won the gold medal bout, 15-10, and finished 6-1 in bouts to claim his title as saber champion.
Finishing second in their respective weapons were Alexander Chiang in men's foil. Chiang finishes 9-3 and now has a 60-16 dual record for the season. Madeleine Girardot finished with a 7-2 bout record in foil. She lost in the gold medal bout 7-15 against McElwee. Girardot is now 67-20 for the season.
Also, taking the #2 spot was James Salem in men's epee. Salem finished 7-3 in all bouts and now has a season dual record of 43-9. Emiliano Kaptain finished 5-2, losing to Redhead, 10-15, in the final round. Kaptain concludes the regular season with a 46-24 record.
Alyssa Hofilena finished third in women's saber with a 7-2 bout record. She finished the regular season with a 57-21 bout record.
Also competing on Saturday were Nathan Lee, who finished eighth in men's epee followed by Elias Johnson in ninth place. David Arneberg finished 11th in foil. Matthew Bergstedt and Ryan Andrieux finished seventh and eighth, respectively, in saber. In women's epee, Virginia Long and Waverly Hock finished seventh and eighth, respectively, and Schaeffer McHenry finished 11th. In foil, Nicole Quattrociocchi finished ninth.
This Tournament determines the West Regional top fencers and is used for selection to the NCAA National Championship on March 19-20 in Columbus, Ohio. On March 11, the NCAA Fencing Championships Selection Committee will announce the teams and individuals selected to compete.
