The Men's Foil Finalists. The winner, Mr.
Gia Kvaratskhelia, is second from right. The guy jumping out of line just
as I was about to take the picture is Jamie Douraghy, a former IFC member
who moved to California to grow his own granola. Jamie took 2nd place.
The Men's Sabre Finalists. The winner, Mr. Lasker
from Ohio State University, is on the far right.
Former IFC fencer (now NWU) Carly
Wells with Assistant Coach Ed Kihatsu on the right. We are
sooo proud of her.
Two years ago, a young homeless waif by the name of Mike Siward
walked into the IFC, wanting to learn how to fence. He had applied to the Ohio
State University Fencing Team, but it was "Sorry kid. No experience,
no fencing." Over the summer of 1998 Mike honed his skills. Next year he
made it! Now look at him. In 1998 he was 30th place. This year
14th. Every once in a while, during school breaks, he returns to the IFC to treat
his former mentors Most Cruelly.
The winners of Women's Epee, from Left (First Place, Marta
Sciubisz of Wayne State University) to Right. They are all brandishing there weapons
at me because they did not want their picture taken.
Don
Badowski (or Me, as I like to call myself), on the left,
fencing my first DE bout. He took 13th place, the best
he have ever
done. Still... more training, less fencing for fun would have put him into the top
eight. Now if he can only hold this commitment to work harder for a full year,
he'll
have it made. Do you think his had position is good?
Chris Karll on the right, up against the best that Ohio State
had to offer. Chris beat him quite handily. To the right, you see a whole
horde of Marauding Visigoths, er, Michigan State Fencers, cheering on
there old Assistant Coach.
I am afraid I have no idea
who these guys are. "Mystery Fencers". But it
seamed like a good shot. So in it goes.
The best
thing about fencing Dedicated Sabre Fencers is that you know where you
stand. For example, fast attacks, head cuts and a lot of doubles. The worst
thing about fencing sabre with Chris is that he is Not a dedicated sabre
fencer. So every once in a while he is going to pull a sneaky epee move out
of his bag, as this poor guy learned. Chris's attack would fall short. His
opponent would extend and come forward, only to run his hand onto Chris's point. An epee
remise? In Sabre? Usually he didn't even know he was touched until the
Directer called halt. Comedy Relief.
My buddy, Steven Sacco,
on the right, showing his usual classic form.
Ed Kaihatsu (on
left), Assistant Fencing Coach of Northwestern University took 5th place in Men's Foil.
Gee! He gets paid to fence college kids. Such a deal. I am sure
its not all fun and games. But still...
OK, last Chris Karll Picture. Foil this time.
Well hey, he did do that Iron Man thing. All three weapons in two days.
18th place.
Winners of Men's Epee, 1st thru
7th place. Normally 1st thru 8th is show. I don't know where Mr. Charngshio
Way (eighth place) of the University of Michigan had gotten to.Gary Hayenga of the Ann Arbor Dueling Society is first place. My old buddy Andre Frabosilio of Fencing 2000 is third from left, and third place. David Miller of New Trier High was so excited about his sixth place showing, he is already packed to leave while receiving his award.
Finally, my Thirteen Place
trophy. If you look really hard, you can see in my right hand an epee made
of the finest Toledo (Spain, not Ohio) steel. Of coarse it is only 5 inches long,
and belongs in a Martini glass impailing an olive. Actually, I didn't win it for
thirteenth place. Highest showing of an 'E' ranked fencer.