The 2001 Midwest Sectionals
May 19th & 20th, in Iowa City, IA

Ho Hum.  IFC crushed the competition in Men's Epee.  And our man Chris Karll crushed all in Men's Foil.  As a matter of fact, no one scored more than five touches on him all day.  Show off!

For the complete results of all the events, Click Here.

My thanks to California Surfer Chick Friend, Lucy Carver, for all the action shots.  She knows all the photo terminology, like aperture, exposure and F stop.  Also, thanks goes out to our newest (returning after 20 years) epee fencer, John Lartz.  John took the high contrast flash shots you see scattered among these pictures.

Click on the images to get a better view.

See my new mask? It's a beauty, ain't it.I have to remember to salute for these things. Chris leads the troops:
"OK, here's the plan.  Win.  And if you can't do that, don't loose."		 Our Bob Baldwin, above and below.  Above, taking on Mr. Holmstrom.
Chris, on the left, not loosing. 3.jpg (32762 bytes)
Our Peirce Richardson against University of Chicago's Carrington Ward.  Hmmm... what can I say.  Nothing! 14.jpg (73925 bytes) 4.jpg (47197 bytes)
19.jpg (75285 bytes) The prettiest picture of the day.  Me, nailing the kid with a fleche.  I can't brag.  I won by 15-13.  Jeez! This is NOT the way to get an "under the hand" touché.  Just because I did doesn't mean you should try it this way. Knock this battery off my shoulder. Come on, I dare ya.My front leg is way too turned in.  My front shoulder is dropped too far down.  It is a wonder I beat anybody.
I can't hit you if you stay so far away.Without a doubt, my toughest bout of the day. If, you discount the 15-6 slaughter dealt out by my buddy Chris in the final.  Mr. Holmstrom had a wicked toe touch, only one of which I was able to counter.  I was two touches away from being eliminated, when the second period ran out.  Coach Ina came over and gave me some useful advice.  "Ha ha ha!  You suck! Ha ha ha!"  With this knowledge, I was able to come back and win 15-14. 
University of IowaThe venue:  University of Iowa.  Ron and Jann Ream run a great tournament.  Strips were great.  Format was fine.  We had a Little Bit of Trouble with the occupants of the men's showers.  But you can hardly blame them for that.  Smooth!  If you look closely, you can see Ina talking to one of the nicest men in fencing, Mr. Michael Shepshelevich.  He's a real sweetheart.
No, Coach! Tell me how you REALLY feel."Don, you are my worst student.  You never hear a word I say.  You are always hitting me in the neck during lessons.  And you don't bring me enough chocolates.  I have decided to help your opponent.  Goodbye."  How many more times are you going to try that flick?Chris, still not loosing.  He was up against an opponent who thought he could flick Chris' wrist.  After about 30 tries, he still hadn't landed one.  But Chris now has a bell guard with a serious dent in the top.
Double? No Way! Yes, way.Barry Matchett couldn't believe I doubled this touche.  I couldn't believe he beat me 5-2. You'll get more touches on me if you just relax.My quarter final bout against Kang.  Normally, Kang tears up my arm, and leaves me swearing at myself.  Today I took his advice and relaxed.  And beat him. John Lartz on the left, is busy frustrating an opponent in the pool bouts.
Medals all around.See how nice we look in our IFC warm-ups?  I don't know why, but Pete always wares his with blue jeans.  Must be some kind of statement.

Clockwise from the bottom:
Kristin Rill - Third Place Women's Sabre.  Pete McCann, Me, Chris Karll.  And in the middle, the proud mother, Ina Harizanova.
A couple of shots of what was easily the best bout of the day.  In the quarter finals, our Pete McCann on the right, against Scott Rostal.  Scott had beaten Pete twice before (that I know of).  But not today.  Tied 14-14, Pete got a sweet little touch on Scott's glove. Whoa!

I am very grateful to Pete, because if he had lost, I would have had Mr. Rostal next.  And the only other time I had fenced him was a pool bout in Wisconsin last year.  5-1.

So, I owe my second place finish, and the C rating I earned that day, to Pete and his stupendous victory over Scott Rostal, and his heartbreaking loss to me.  Thanks Pete!
Pete against Patrick Gettings of Fencing 2000.  Pete won, but that is all I can say.  I wasn't watching this bout. Scully! Mulder!"Pete, I see your hand is visible again.  What was wrong?"
"I think it was this antibiotic I was taking.  Funny side effects"

(I few months ago, Pete McCann was part of a government plot to create an invisible fencer.  But it didn't take.  The government agency involved was the Postal Service.)
Don? We can still do it. We can still shave his eyebrows.The medallists in Men's Epee.  From the Left:
Me - second place
Pete McCann - third place
Carrington Ward - third place
Chris Karll - first place

See how happy everybody is?  Imagine, just two years ago, Chris and I were plotting to shave off Mr. Ward's eyebrows in his sleep.

 GeekI have to remember to smile for these things.  On second thought, maybe I shouldn't.  I look like such a geek when I smile. I want to go back to my bridge.I found Mr. Kang Sun living under a bridge.  He looked cold, tired, miserable and hungry.  So I said to him, "Hey! Would you like to learn how to fence?"

Now look at him.  He eats punks like you for breakfast.  6th place, Men's Epee.