MUFG, Z, SJ

I seeded 19 out of 32 in an A2 epee event last Sunday at FAP.

http://mysite.verizon.net/vze2nzjy/index.html

The event had a composition that was really unprecedented. Out of 32
entries 21 were C and higher.

5 As, 12 Bs!, 4 Cs, 6Ds, 0 Es and 5 Us.

My record in my seeding pool of 8 was 3-4 including a win against the
Bronze metal finisher.

I faced #14 seed in my first DE bout. He was a tough one. And he got
an early lead 4-1 that he stretched to 8-4. In the second period I
started attacking more, but it was not my intention and pulled ahead
to 11 - 14. Then finished with crossover-lunge. This action was
hitting 100% that day, but I was saving it for the finale because it
causes a double touch. That ended 12 - 15.

As you can see from the chart

http://www.usfencing.org/Forms/score/DE32.pdf

my next encounter was with the #3 seed. This guy was a giant lefty
from Bucks with a B. Not Bucks, he had a B. Not in his name, that was
his rating in epee. We fought back and forth and it was at 13-13 that
I made a very critical error. I used crossover-lunge too early and was
hit on it making the score 14-13. He took the win with a double touch.
Those last two attacks of mine cost me the round of 8; I would have
earned a C04.

I stayed to see the final. My #3 seed finished T3 and the winner was
... I forgot his name. He was the JO Cadet champion and is now on the
world team, hold a sec... that's right Wicas. I did not get to fence
Wicas this time, but I have had a shot at him in the past. He's tough.

http://www.usfencing.org/Results/Results.asp?Code=2005JO&Event=CDTME
1. Wicas, Graham E (PHILADELPH)
2. French, Peter R.N. (SO. TEXAS)
3.T Chinman, Nicholas S (COLORADO)
3.T Duncan, Corwin (CAPITOL)

5. Stallings, William M. (SO. TEXAS)
6.T Gegan, Cooper M (SO. CALIF.)
6.T Sulat, Nathaniel (METRO NYC)
8. Trapani, Daniel K (GULFCST TX)

That final was spectacular. I have been fencing and observing fencing
for over 15 years and I am used to being able to see all of the
actions. I was studying this bout and was missing about 50% of the
actions. There were touches and I did not have the action - I did not
even know the location of the touch! It was the fastest epee I have
ever seen.

Despite not making the top 8, I felt pretty good. The top 8 was mostly
As and mostly lefties too. I was fencing at a B/C level other than
some mistakes. I need some epee lessons some day.

Cheers!
CLF