Fencing at 2004 Keystone State Games - Postponed!

[Khrysinth]

Fencing @ the 2004 Keystone State Games - Fencing Postponed!
Unfortunately due to the continuing debate as to sanctioning of the Fencing component of the Keystone States Games due to it's location in Wilkes-Barre (National Division) this year, the decision was made by the Keystone State Games staff, my regional coordinators, and myself to postpone the tournament to later in the year in order to secure a time and place where the tournament could be held as an official USFA sanctioned event. On a bright note, Fencing will be moving to the Winter Games this coming year in an effort to synchronize the tournament with the fencing season. Also, the Fencing Tournament will be expanding to include youth events (Y10,Y12,Y14,Y16) and teams. Everyone's help is needed to make it a success. Please contact KSG Fencing Director, Ed Kane[ed.kane@bdfencing.com], at 717.805.2610 for more information.

[Aeric]

Sigh. I just heard of this, like, 5 minutes ago.

The only reason they're being postposted is because Mr. Kane will be out of the country and he doesn't trust anyone else to take over. I'm pretty sure Rusen or Kirchoff would be up for the task.

[Repechage]

I'm pretty sure darn near anyone could do it as well as Ed. He's not the most organized organizer in the world.

[great bowyer]

I'm pretty sure darn near anyone could do it as well as Ed. He's not the most organized organizer in the world.

i agree

Sigh. I just heard of this, like, 5 minutes ago.

The only reason they're being postposted is because Mr. Kane will be out of the country and he doesn't trust anyone else to take over. I'm pretty sure Rusen or Kirchoff would be up for the task.

i also agree. if i remember correctly, there was an issue about this a few years ago with the philly open, but i never did get very many details on the situation. i beleive that harrisburg division has also just gone through some major organizational issues.

i know several people in the pa area that would be able to do a great job running the event.

[Khrysinth]

Official sanctioning of the state games has provided an avenue for the tournament to rise from the ashes to the high-caliber and quality event it is today. So much so that we have been asked to expand to team events and add additional junior events.

The turmoil in the Harrisburg Division that spilled over into the issue of sanctioning of fencing at the Keystone Games is the unfortunate result of the actions of few, but outspoken, individuals.

The National office had scheduled a meeting at Nationals to address these issues and yet none of these few made an effort to attend.

The delay imposed by the late date of this meeting in relation to the Games has left many in questioning the caliber of a tournament brought together at this point.

After discussing this issue with a great many fencers who have participated in this event over the years, the Keystone Games Staff, my regional coordinators, and I decided it would be best to hold the event later at a site where sanctioning would be assured.

It is interesting to note the amount of mudslinging from individuals who have not helped in any fashion. Mr. Rusen was asked to assist in organizing the youth events. His respone is evident from the flaming emails he has sent this past few days.

To those of you who feel you could do a better job, please contact at my email or phone (717.541.0449), help is always needed.

[Aeric]

Yeah if HBG can't do it, let the Phila division take over. Who cares, as long as everyone can fence, right?

[jeff]

This should be relevant for Philly area people: there will be a USFA-sanctioned foil open at Bucks County Academy of Fencing (BCAF) next Sunday, July 25: see http://bcaf.com/Competiton%20USFA%20schedule.htm for details. I heard today at Garden State Games that it will be a USFA event.

[great bowyer]

Yeah if HBG can't do it, let the Phila division take over. Who cares, as long as everyone can fence, right?

i agree that there are other options, but as i was just pointed out to, the issue is the proposed location will prevent the tournament from being sanctioned. this in turn will take away from the size and quality of the event.

[Philistine]

i agree that there are other options, but as i was just pointed out to, the issue is the proposed location will prevent the tournament from being sanctioned. this in turn will take away from the size and quality of the event.

I know I'm late getting to this--but is the sanctioning really that much of an attraction to anyone fencing in the Keystone Games?

In the 2003 Keystone Games, which was USFA sanctioned--the highest-ranked events were C1's (Open Men's Foil and Junior Men's Epee). A handful were D1 (Junior Men's foil, Open Mixed Sabre, Open Men's Epee). Everything else was either an E1 or unrated. Not exactly the biggest draw if improving your rating was what was being sought--I think the idea of it as a State Championship was much more of a draw.

Just out of curiousity--what about the propsoed location would have prevented it from being sanctioned?

--Philistine

[Aeric]

If it is postposted to the Winter, perhaps there will be more advertising for it? It would be worth it, like you said, to get a highly-rated competition for the state games.

[pacer]

At least it is postponed. In Colorado they did not include fencing in the state games.

[DHCJr]

In California, they felt that they would have a better turnout if they switched it from the Summer Games to the Winter Games, so they dropped themselves from the Summer Games. The Winter Games were not interested in them.

There is no California State Games for Fencing.