Air Force Fencing With Three Champions At Nick Toth Open

USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Air Force fencing opened the 2021-22 season by hosting the Nick Toth Open this past weekend, Oct. 2-3 at the East Gym in the Cadet Gymnasium. The Falcons had three champions crowned.

Leading the way on the men's side was senior Nestor Levin, who won the senior men's foil. Levin went 4-1 in pool competition and 3-0 in the elimination bracket to post a 7-1 record on Saturday.

On the women's side, senior Erin Shea and sophomore Josie Ratzlaff earned titles in their respective weapons on Sunday. Shea won the senior women's saber with a 6-1 overall record. Ratzlaff posted a 9-1 overall record to win the senior women's epee.

Air Force was also responsible for two more titles, winning the senior men's epee and senior women's foil. Assistant coach Ari Simmons went 10-0 to win the senior men's epee and 2nd. Lt. Kaitlyn Guo won the senior women's foil with a 7-0 mark.

Air Force also had several other strong performances over the weekend. In the men's epee, junior Matthew Han went 9-1 to finish runner-up. Senior Zack Yung made the quarterfinals with a 6-2 record and freshman George Gasparovich IV went 6-3.

In men's foil, sophomore Griffin Peter posted a 5-3 mark. In men's saber, senior Will Nikolai made the semifinals with a 6-2 record. Sophmore Eric Iwamoto went 4-2.

In women's epee, freshman Valerie Slackman made the semifinals, posting a 7-2 mark. Freshman Ashley Graflund also made the semifinals in the women's foil, posting a 5-3 record. Sophomore Catherine Kim also posted a winning record, going 4-2 i nthe women's saber and making the semifinals.

"It was great to bring back the Toth Open after two years since the covid outbreak," head coach Omar Elgeziry said. "The tournament was successful, and we had a good turnout. I'm happy with our cadets' performance and the way they focused on the strips. The competition was a nice warm-up for us and an excellent chance to set the team up for the semester. Go Falcons!"

Air Force returns to action Oct. 29-Nov. 1 at the October North American Cup (NAC) in St. Louis, Mo.

2021 Nick Toth Open Results For Air Force

Senior Men's Epee
1. Ari Simmons (assistant) 10-0
2. Matthew Han 9-1
5. Zack Yung 6-2 QF
6. George Gasparovich IV 6-3
11. Siddhant Padhye 4-3
31. Jeremy Pinon 0-6

Senior Men's Foil
1. Nestor Levin 7-1
3. Griffin Peter 5-3
5. Ned Maurer 3-4
6. Luke Kinney 1-5

Senior Men's Saber
3. Will Nikolai 6-2 SF
6. Eric Iwamoto 4-2
10. Chip Maurer 0-5

Senior Women's Epee
1. Josie Ratzlaff 9-1
3. Valerie Slackman 7-2 SF
8. Renata Russell 3-4 QF

Senior Women's Foil
1. Kaitlyn Guo (alumni) 7-0
2. Ashley Graflund 5-3 SF
3. Tati Kong 2-5
5. Tiffany Li 2-4
6. Elizabeth Cassidy 0-6

Senior Women's Saber
1. Erin Shea 6-1
3. Catherine Kim 4-2 SF

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