Touche! Men's fencing leads by foil and epee

It's a big game of chess. So big, in fact, that the pieces are life-sized—and happen to be wearing Yale uniforms.

COURTESY SPORTS PUBLICITY Men's fencing will utilize a week away from Ivy competition to prepare for the upcoming HYPs.

Fencing seems to be a bit of an enigma. It's a team sport for the individual. It has dangerous weapons, yet it's practiced in civilized society. It's a game of the mind played with the body. And the uniforms make players look like aliens. These seemingly contrasting conditions captivate players and spectators alike. Stephen Townley, ES '02, says that fencing is "an amazing sport in and of itself" due to the necessary combination of physical and mental activity. Its dual challenge to mind and body make it appropriate for athletes with an intellectual intrigue, making Yale a prime place for the sport.

Fencing has three weapons: foil, epée, and saber. Each player specializes in one of the three weapons. In a tournament, three players from each team compete with each weapon. Each fencer takes on all three fencers from the opposing team competing in his category. Twenty-seven matches, called "bouts," occur during the tournament. A bout is won when one fencer gets five touches on an opponent.

With the disappointing loss of key members and a plethora of injuries, Yale has struggled early, posting a 4-5 (0-2 Ivy) record. But the squad's record doesn't tell the whole story. The graduation of Ayo Griffin, SM '00, a two-time All-American and 2000 All-Ivy fencer, has certainly created a void. Additionally, the loss of Mitsuhiro Sudo, JE '01, and Marcus Weickel, SY '03, who opted not to fence this year, has hurt the team. However, other team members have stepped up this season. New recruits, both freshmen and upperclassmen, have contributed to the team's accomplishments.

The importance of each player and each bout was especially apparent last weekend. Although Columbia convincingly beat Yale 21-6, the Bulldogs triumphed over Brown 14-13. The foil and epée squads were particularly strong with records of 7-2 and 6-3, respectively. Foilist Daniel Senft, PC '03, won all of his bouts against Brown, and Captain Cameron Hill, TD '02, followed suit in epée.

The foil squad has had a very successful season, winning all but one of its matches. Besides Senft, Peter Cellini, DC '04, has done exceptionally well this year and went undefeated against both NYU and Rutgers.

In contrast, the saber squad has suffered from significant injuries. Number-two saberist Byron Igoe, SM '04, broke his foot two weeks ago and will not compete for the remainder of the season. Additionally, the shoulder injury of the number-four saberist, Matthew Ferraro, BK '04, has been a disappointment. With these injuries, the saber squad and the entire team have suffered.

However, Yale hopes to step up the heat as the regular season winds down. The last major meet of the season against Harvard and Princeton will occur in just two weeks. Although Yale has defeated Harvard regularly in recent years, Princeton has successfully beaten Yale for most of the past decade and is currently 5-1 (1-0 Ivy) for the season. Last year, Princeton was the Ivy League champion and finished an impressive fifth at the NCAA tournament.

Beyond the regular season, the post-season promises to bring in more trophies. The Iron Man trophy is the big prize at the Intercollegiate Fencing Association Championship in Boston. Yale hopes to add another Iron Man to its collection by having the best men's foil squad at this meet. Additionally, several Yalies hope to showcase their talent at the NCAA championships on Thurs., Mar. 22.

Working to Yale's advantage is its experienced coaching staff. Head Coach Henry Harutunian is knowledgeable and exceptionally talented. His philosophy of teaching and method of having upperclassmen train beginners has given him a 215-105 men's fencing record and has contributed to the enjoyment that these fencers experience. "The coaches and captains are all top notch," Ferraro said. "I am fortunate to fence with such a solid group of people."

Marc Holden, MC '03, echoed this sentiment. "The fencers are a really great group of people who, for the most part, are quite different from one another," he said. "We are drawn together by our love of fencing." Although huge packs of Yale fencing jackets are not seen as regularly as some of the other sports jackets at Yale, the individuals on the fencing team have an impact on one another in less tangible forms. "Having fun at the meets, at practice, and outside of practice has been one of the most positive aspects of my three years of fencing at Yale," Townley added.

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