From left to right, silver medalist Matteo Tagliariol of Italy, gold medalist Anton Avdeev of Russia, bronze medalists Jose Luis Abajo of Spain and bronze medalist Jerome Jeannet of France, are seen during the medal ceremony at the Fencing World Championships, following the final of the Men's Epee in Antalya, Turkey, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)
ANTALYA, TURKEY – Columbia senior Kurt Getz reached the top eight at the 2009 World Championships this weekend in Turkey, upsetting the world's third-ranked fencer, Richard Kruse of Great Britain, in the round of 16.
In the past 70 years, United States Fencing has never had two fencers in the top 16 at the World Championships and Getz and Notre Dame's Gerek Meinhardt pulled off the feat at this year's competition.
Getz ultimately fell to Zhu Fei of China in the round of eight in a match that lasted nearly an hour, thanks to two injury timeouts, a strip change, several equipment stoppages and an intermission while the opening ceremonies took place.
In her first appearance at the World Championships, fellow Columbia senior Daria Schneider reached the round of 16 in women's sabre action. Schneider defeated Poland's Alexandra Socha in the round of 64, then knocked off U.S. teammate Monica Aksamit in the round of 32.
Schneider then fell to the eventual World Champion, Mariel Zagunis, a two-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist in women's foil. Foil? FOIL??? I didn't write this article!
The 2009 World Championships continue until Thursday, October 8 in Turkey.
"Free speech is an act of desperation. It is a last resort, an onslaught of quiet fury, and -- in most cases -- an insult to, and abandonment of, vital social norms. Men who murder have usually lost their inhibitions only for a moment; but men who speak freely have lost them forever, and are thus as dangerous to a society as a mad dog. "-John "Birdman" Bryant
PANAMA CITY, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Japan will donate funds to build a martial arts and fencing center in Panama City's Irving Saladino Sports City, the Panama Sports Agency announced on Thursday
Japan promised eight million dollars for a three-storey building which will host facilities for eight sports, the agency said as part of a government-wide effort to report what Ricardo Matinelli has done during his first 100 days as president.
The government is also gong to fund the agency to the tune of eight million dollars for other activities.
Panama lacks appropriate fencing facilities, said Fencer Yesika Jimenez, who represented Panama at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Agency director Omar Moreno said it had not yet received approval for a 40 million dollar budget plan for 2010.
Bucharest, Oct 8 /Agerpres/ - The Romanian men's sabre team, made up of Rares Dumitrescu, Florin Zalomir, Cosmin Hanceanu and Tiberiu Dolniceanu, on Thursday won the gold medal in the World Fencing Championships, in Antalya (Turkey), after the victory in the final against Italy, 45-44.
The Romanian team, directly qualified for the 2nd round of the competition, successively defeated Germany (45-42), France (45-41) and Hungary (45-39).
Romania conquered also a silver medal in this edition of the World Championships, with Rares Dumitrescu ranking 2nd in the individual sabre event. AGERPRES [by Romaniapress]
ANTALYA, Turkey — Canada's Sherraine Schalm pushed her opponent to overtime before settling for a silver medal Monday at the world fencing championships.
Schalm, of Ottawa, and Lubov Shutova of Russia were tied 8-8 after regulation in the final of the women's epee event. Shutova scored her winning point 20 seconds into extra time.
"I was completely worn out entering overtime," Schalm said. "I was hoping I could capitalize on a mistake but I should have been more daring and provoked her. I gave everything I had."
Anfisa Pochkalova of Ukraine and Sonja Tol of the Netherlands won the bronze medals.
Schalm's second-place effort was Canada's best-ever result at the event. She burst into tears when the bout ended.
"I am physically and mentally exhausted, that's why I cried and why I still want to cry, but inside I feel joy," Schalm said.
"All year I had sub-par results. But I had decided to focus primarily for the worlds and it's a great feeling to get on the podium. Maybe that's my strategy for the 2012 Olympics in London."
Joseph Polossifakis of Montreal was 25th in men's sabre.
Schalm's previous best was a third-place finish at the 2005 world championships.
Penn State fencing coach Emmanuil Kaidanov was unable to attend this weekend's annual alumni event, but his wife commanded the afternoon in his place.
With her husband overseas at the Senior World Championships in Turkey, she arrived looking like she just walked out of the pages of a Russian fashion magazine with huge, clip-on earrings dangling from her ears, oversized sun glasses covering her face and leather boots nearly up to her knees.
Pinching the players cheeks as if she were their grandmother and hugging everyone in sight, Mrs. Kaidanov represented the amiable atmosphere at this year's alumni event.
Ranging from alumni who graduated in the '70s to last year's graduating players, the event saw a huge turnout as it was a chance for fencers to reunite with their old coaches, share family photographs and attempt to hold their own against today's reigning NCAA Championship team.
"Every year is fun because you don't know who is going to show up, so hopefully you get to see some people you haven't seen in a while," said Jason Krasowitz, Class of 1989.
Krasowitz, whose graduating class was there celebrating its 20-year reunion, was just one of a number of alumni returning for the festivities which included a meet and greet with the players and some friendly fencing.
The afternoon began with the players and alumni splitting up into two groups to introduce themselves to each other.
Coach Wieslaw 'Wes' Glon passed around a megaphone to his team, which went around one by one introducing themselves. While most only gave their name and major, others had more fun with their responses.
Senior Anastasia Ferdman made a point to tell the alumni she had a great time going out and drinking with them the night before, while senior Dan Bak made everyone aware he majored in being "good looking."
After going down the line with the megaphone, the players proceeded to huddle in a circle and chant "We are...Penn State," before lining up to fence.
The alumni responded with a "We were...Penn State" chant of their own to rile up their opponents as they took to the fencing strip.
"The coach pretty much told me if I don't win he's going to kick me off of the team because he won't hear the end of this," said Bak, who let out a primordial "Ahhh" at the top of his lungs every time he hit his opponent.
Split up into the three different fencing positions, Bak and his fellow sabers jumped out to an early lead but ended up tying their older counterparts, 9-9.
"It's all for fun," Krasowitz said. "We try to psych each other out and play some games. For the alumni, we have guys coming back who are ex-Olympians, national champions, All Americans. So the alumni can put up a pretty good fight depending on who shows up."
The event, which is held annually, is a chance to strengthen what Krasowitz called a certain 'mystique of the program.'
He said events like this help build a strong relationship between coaches, alumni and players, which has made Penn State's fencing program as successful as it has been throughout the years.
Krasowitz lives in State College and keeps up to date with the team on a yearly basis, but for alumni who live far away, this is a perfect event to keep in contact with old friends.
While the event is a year tradition for Krasowitz, new alumnus Megan Luteran hopes it will become the same for her.
"I'm totally a die hard Penn State fan and I love this school and I love so much being a part of the fencing team," said Luteran, Class of 2008. "I got to do so many awesome experiences, [like] winning NCAA Championships and going to meet the president. I love, love, love being a part of the team and I'll always come back."
Joined: Apr 2004 Gender: Male Posts: 3,056 Location: San Marcos, TX Karma: 45
Re: Fencing in the News « Reply #1089 on Oct 8, 2009, 10:56pm »
China aiming higher in fencing By Sabine Colpart AFP 10/07/09
ANTALYA, Turkey — China, buoyed by carrying off a first men's Olympic fencing gold medal at the Beijing Games, are determined to carry on that success, as shown by some battling showings at the world championships in Antalya.
At the age of 25, Zhong Man was feted back home as a hero following his Olympic title in front of the home fans. The women had beaten the men to the top spot on the podium when Luan Jujie bagged Asia's first foil success at the Los Angeles Games in 1984.
Zhong Man owes much of his success to French coach Christian Bauer.
The Chinese enticed Bauer over back in 2006 in the run-up to Beijing and he promptly delivered - even if he had expected 2004 silver medalist Tan Xue to be the man to go that one step further.
"Just after the Games I signed on for another four years, I am proud as I am the only foreigner in any sport to have had his contract renewed," says Bauer.
Now he has another target - another gold in London in three years time.
Bauer's record suggests he is well capable of delivering again. After many years honing his trade in France, one of the world's top fencing nations, he moved on to Italy, where he coached among others Aldo Montano, who landed the individual sabre title at the 2004 Athens Games.
"The Chinese Federation believed they were not yet ready to go it alone. They were not sure how to develop and organise things on their own and structure their competitions. Their system is not adapted to the highest level.
"Theirs is a very short term system. They need recognition so I am passing onto them what they must do for long term success," says Bauer.
Bauer works at a national centre in Beijing where more than 4000 fencers have registered out of some 10,000 non-amateurs nationwide. Fencing is for now an elitist sport in China.
But Bauer regards the country as a breeding ground for future champions, even if they are comparative late starters.
"The Chinese start fencing at 14 whereas the Europeans begin at seven and four years later they are junior world champions. They are starting to step it up as they are good and in all respects," the Frenchman adds.
Bauer, the only non-Chinese coach in the country, has to convince the Chinese to carry on developing in the sport beyond the age of 25, when they traditionally give up competition, whereas this is the age when participants are just hitting their peak.
Further French influence on the Chinese comes from another Frenchman, Daniel Levavasseur, who has helped the squad on an occasional basis, and who has mentored among others 1996 French epee champion Laura Flessel.
China have an up and coming epee hope in the shape of Na Li, silver medalist at the 2007 world championships, as well as Olympic silver medalist Wang Lei.
China's own Wang Haibin is the main man for coaching sabre hopefuls, having spent four years learning the trade in France. His men's team won a 2004 Olympic silver.
"They are aggressive in competition. That is new. They express themselves and are not afraid," said Bauer approvingly.
James Frewin has been crowned U17 National boys epee champion.
The City of Freemen’s School pupil won six round robin matches and five direct elmination bouts at Sheffield National Institute of Sport, beating the pre-tournament favourite 15-14 in the final.
Frewin, who also won the National Public Schools Championships in Nottingham in March, was presented with a medal, trophy and ceremonial sword.
On Sunday, he finished eighth in the National U20 Championships before being knocked out by the eventual winner.
Only a small minority will go on to athletic careers past their undergraduate studies, yet all of us push hard each week—if not for ourselves, then for our teammates, our coaches, our athletic department, our school, and maybe even those students who think we should not be here.
What’s constant is that people know. Just about everyone I have talked to for more than an elevator ride knows that I am on the fencing team. I used fencing a lot during the freshman year ice-breaker games we played. People know.
What changes each time is the reaction I get. It can be a nod of passing interest, like I just told the other party that I can juggle nine knives at the same time. Sometimes the other person will be genuinely interested and hold up a good conversation for five or 10 minutes. Then there are those that give an unmistakable look upon learning that I am an athlete. It’s easy to spot when their face tightens and their eyes go hard. “Oh,” they say, but you know they think, “That’s how he got in.” Talking with someone who thinks you slid by admissions because of your athletic ability is more disappointing than offensive. You could spend 20 minutes telling them all the ways you balanced both academics and your sport in high school. You could tell them how parties were a concept, a theoretical event, in high school or how sleep was like a rare vacation more than a nightly process. You could tell them this, but you know they won’t believe you—they’ve already made up their minds. Fortunately, people who genuinely detest and judge athletes as being “unworthy” of admittance to Columbia are fairly rare.
What my sports amounts to is another weight on my shoulders to be balanced with academics, a social life, and the unexpected events that show up each week. Although I love fencing, it will not be my life’s work. I have interesting classes and have found the things that I want to study and eventually make a career of. I am a sophomore, and I know that I’ll fence with as much intensity as I can muster for three more years, and then I may never fence competitively again. It is a strange feeling to see the expiration date on something you’ve done for most of your life and yet continue to pursue—but that is what Columbia athletes do. Only a small minority will go on to athletic careers past their undergraduate studies, yet all of us push hard each week—if not for ourselves, then for our teammates, our coaches, our athletic department, our school, and maybe even those students who think we should not be here.
Another symptom of being an athlete at Columbia is an appreciation of and support for the other teams. Athletes from different teams meet each other at events organized by the Athletics Department, in classes, or just by striking up a conversation at Dodge. Friendships evolve, and soon enough swimmers show up to volleyball games, fencers go to football games, and runners watch basketball. The biggest supporters of Columbia Athletics are the athletes themselves. If there were similar appreciation in the student body at large, maybe Wien Stadium at Baker Field would be filled to capacity more often.
Columbia athletes, by their nature, are multitalented. This personal diversity expands to areas beyond academics and athletics. One of the members of the fencing team is an anthropology major and spends his free time and breaks diving into ancient caves in the New Mexico desert. Others are writers, artists, class representatives, musicians, dancers, film-makers, debaters, yoga masters, and double-major students who happen to be good at a sport, too. Talk to a Columbia athlete without thinking of them as just the jocks in high school, and you may find yourself surprised.
My experience so far as an athlete here has been in no way a bad one. If any part of this article comes across as a complaint, then blame the author for lack of revision. Also, remember that these are my personal views and that other athletes may not only have a different perception, but may be completely opposed to mine. The best way to find out is to go out and meet an athlete. Take a peek at the fall sports schedules on the athletics Web site and go to the next game at Dodge or Baker.
Walt Dragonetti of Elyria won the veteran 50 men's epee last month at the World Veteran Fencing Championships in Moscow, Russia.
Elyria's Walt Dragonetti, left, scores the ninth hit on his way to a 10-8 victory over Mikhail Tishko of the Ukraine last month at the World Veteran Fencing Championships in Moscow, Russia.
The U.S. veterans team won 10 medals at the event.
Dragonetti is also a coach at Hooked on Fencing in North Royalton.
Elyria's Walt Dragonetti, left, scores the ninth hit on his way to a 10-8 victory over Mikhail Tishko of the Ukraine last month at the World Veteran Fencing Championships in Moscow, Russia.
A True Olympian: Mattern recognized for outstanding community service
Vanessa Virbitsky December 14, 2009
The word "Olympian" is a title reserved for those who make it to the top-level of their respective sport, a title reserved for heroes; but what does it really mean to be an Olympian?
To Cody Mattern, 2008 Olympic Games fencing coach and alternate, 2004 Olympian and Army World Class Athlete, being an Olympian goes beyond competition.
"Being an Olympian means giving back to the people who helped you get to the top of your game; it means igniting passion for sport and humanity in others; and it means using your experience to make someone else's life a little bit better," Mattern said.
For not only possessing this attitude, but for acting on it, Mattern today received a special honor from the Armed Forces - the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal - at Ft. Carson in Colorado Springs, Colo. This award is reserved for members of the Armed Forces of the United States who perform outstanding volunteer service that supports a community over time.
"It's really an honor to receive this recognition," Mattern said. "But, I don't volunteer to be recognized. I volunteer because I enjoy giving back, because it makes sense and because it makes me feel good to be able to use what I already have to help someone else."
Originally from Portland, Ore., Mattern, 28, joined the Army in 2006 after he heard about the World Class Athlete Program (WCAP), which provides soldier-athletes with the support and training needed to compete and succeed in national and international competitions leading to the Olympic and Paralympic Games. After six months of basic training and finishing No. 1 in his class, Mattern was invited to the WCAP program and moved into the Olympic Training Center (OTC) in Colorado Springs, which conveniently neighbors the Ft. Carson military base, in Feb. 2007.
"I learned very quickly that Cody was someone I could go to if I needed help with a community event," Sherry Von Riesen, OTC Coordinator of Athlete Services and Programs, said. "It's now to the point that I don't even have to ask Cody to participate in events; instead, he asks me what he can do to help. He's a hero and doesn't even know it. By volunteering, he's found the path that spreads his passion for sport, his passion for life, to the world."
A fencer for the last 14 years, Mattern started volunteering in the realm where he was most comfortable - the fencing strip. By coaching at a local club and attending local clinics, Mattern's passion for coaching was cemented by these first experiences as a volunteer coach.
"I've worked with kids for a long time," said Mattern. "Not only do I enjoy the instant feedback I get from them, but it's rewarding for me to share my experiences with people who haven't yet been exposed to the opportunities I've been fortunate enough to have."
While Mattern continues to volunteer his time as a fencing coach, he also participates in local elementary school visits, mentors patients at Memorial Children's Hospital and attends community events whenever his practice and competition schedule allows. His most recent act of volunteerism was at a Fantasy Flight event at Colorado Springs airport this Saturday. At this event, Cody helped to inspire 55 local children on an airplane headed to the "North Pole" - which was constructed in one of the airport's hangars.
"Cody is so passionate about sport and the difference it can make in people's lives," Alicia McConnell, OTC Athlete Services and Program Director said. "His passion for sport shows whenever he talks about it, whether it's giving a tour or speaking to kids at a school, his passion for the Olympic Movement helps others get excited for what the Olympics is all about. I also think this award is a reflection of the recent strides our training center has made in becoming more involved in the Colorado Springs community - perhaps more than ever before."
Mattern attributes much of his community involvement to Von Riesen who has been lovingly dubbed "Mama Sherry" by OTC resident athletes.
"All of the resident athletes live in a universe that is a three-block radius, and 90 percent of our day, whether training, lifting, eating or sleeping, is devoted to making us better athletes," Mattern said. "And while it's sometimes difficult to see beyond our practices and obligations on complex, Sherry finds us ways to branch out. She helps us to be able to help."
One of the most rewarding opportunities Mattern has had as a resident athlete was to befriend the late Ian Lyons, a 13-year-old boy who was battling a rare and aggressive form of cancer known as Aveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma at Memorial Children's Hospital in Colorado Springs.
"Cody was the first resident athlete I brought to meet Ian, and it was like they had known each other forever" Von Riesen said. "Ian was always pretty quiet around the athletes, but with Cody it was different - they had a special relationship."
Ian, who was made an honorary resident athlete after the hospital reached out to the OTC to support Ian in his struggle for health, lost his battle on April 27, 2009.
"Although Ian was never well enough for a formal fencing lesson like I had promised, we did things that he was able to do, like finger fence," Mattern said. "My experience with Ian taught me a lot about how to live and the impact he made on my life is truly lasting and something I'll never forget."
With his sights now set on the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Mattern plans to volunteer in the Colorado Springs community and elsewhere throughout his training.
"Volunteering has become a part of who I am," Mattern said. "I can't imagine not helping out in my free time."
It is a part of who he is as an athlete, as a person, as an Olympian.
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