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bigdawg2121 · 09-15-2005, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JEC

The issue is not fencing me (a fencer that had a good day in 1 tournament), but:

1. fencing some of the 22 A's that signed up for the tournament, and

2. potential opportunity that if the tournament is an A4, there are 8 A's being awarded in a field of 97.

The Bobcat Open and the other 2 tournaments (The Longhorn Open and the POUJ Memorial) provide as many opportunities in Epee to earn an A than any Div. I NAC, while the field, perhaps, is not as strong as a Div. I NAC.

JEC......what the heck? Last I checked this thread was about DFP not about your tournament. Who said anything about fencing you? You're so self-centered, GEEZ!!!

JEC · 09-15-2005, 11:40 PM

Sorry if I gave you that impression... but what I have been saying all along regarding D+F+P=Hadouken's goal of getting an A rating is that:

A. He needs to attend tournaments that give several opportunities to earn an A rating. An A1 or A2 tournament only give you one chance to earn an A rating. An A3 tournament gives you A ratings to the top 4 fencers (4 chances), and an A4 tournament gives you A's to the top 8 fencers (8 chances). Attending an A4 tournament gives you a better chance of earning an A than an A2 tournament. Div. I NAC events are A4 tournaments. There are very few regional A4 Epee tournaments in the country. We are fortunate of having probably 3 regional A4 Epee tournaments this season in the Southwest section.

B. The Southwest section (SWS) is geographically adjacent to the Southeast section (SES). I did not find any A4 tournament results over the past year for epee in the SES. If I was living int the SES, I would think that it is easier to get to the top 8 in a regional A4 event of the SWS than in a national A4 event.

Thus, I think D+F+P=Hadouken has a better chance of attaining his goal (earning his A rating) fencing in these 3 tournaments than in the 3 Div. I NAC's. That is why I was encouraging him to attend any or all of those 3 SWS epee events.

prototoast · 09-16-2005, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JEC

A. He needs to attend tournaments that give several opportunities to earn an A rating. An A1 or A2 tournament only give you one chance to earn an A rating. An A3 tournament gives you A ratings to the top 4 fencers (4 chances), and an A4 tournament gives you A's to the top 8 fencers (8 chances). Attending an A4 tournament gives you a better chance of earning an A than an A2 tournament. Div. I NAC events are A4 tournaments. There are very few regional A4 Epee tournaments in the country. We are fortunate of having probably 3 regional A4 Epee tournaments this season in the Southwest section.

But you also have to consider difficulty vs opportunity. I'd say the easiest A to earn (obviously depending on the participants) would be a mixed A1 that barely meets the minimum requirements. I think the biggest thing to consider is the "surplus over the minimum"--basically, how many good fencers are there who aren't actively bumping it up to the next rating level.

glowstix · 09-16-2005, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JEC

Thus, I think D+F+P=Hadouken has a better chance of attaining his goal (earning his A rating) fencing in these 3 tournaments than in the 3 Div. I NAC's. That is why I was encouraging him to attend any or all of those 3 SWS epee events.

and i would agree with that. the SE section has nothing really higher than an occasional A2 and he would have to win the tournament to secure the A05 which is no small feat. there are some strong fencers here. i think the best bet is in texas where there are tons of A2's pretty much every weekend it seems with the few A4's you mentioned. those are safer bets but its a long way to go.

JEC · 09-16-2005, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prototoast

But you also have to consider difficulty vs opportunity. I'd say the easiest A to earn (obviously depending on the participants) would be a mixed A1 that barely meets the minimum requirements. I think the biggest thing to consider is the "surplus over the minimum"--basically, how many good fencers are there who aren't actively bumping it up to the next rating level.

You're totally right! That is why an A rating earned in regional events is easier than in those earned at national events. The regional typically has a significant group of fencers below C rating to make up 25 or 64, whereas the lowest you see in a Div. I is a C. The Gulf coast (Houston) and the South Texas (San Antonio, San Marcos, Austin) have tournaments during the season at a A2 level quite often, almost weekly. Thus, tournaments close to the minimum limit 15 (A1), 25 (A2), or 64 (A3 or A4) with just the required number of highly rated fencers are easier than those with over 180 C or better fencers.

bigdawg2121 · 09-16-2005, 04:51 AM

Division is NC...but I specifically meant that the tourneys that the NCFDP club hold are pretty much guaranteed to be A2s in epee and saber assuming the UNC team isn't travelling that week. They pretty much have in house A2s built in.

Frank Pratt · 09-16-2005, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JEC

Thus, I think D+F+P=Hadouken has a better chance of attaining his goal (earning his A rating) fencing in these 3 tournaments than in the 3 Div. I NAC's. That is why I was encouraging him to attend any or all of those 3 SWS epee events.

Indeed. Anyone who can make it to the finals at a Div I NAC will probably already be an "A." The same might be said for fencers who place high enough to get Sr. points. My guess is that very few new classifications are handed out at Div I NACs.

Frank Pratt · 09-16-2005, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JEC

Thus, I think D+F+P=Hadouken has a better chance of attaining his goal (earning his A rating) fencing in these 3 tournaments than in the 3 Div. I NAC's. That is why I was encouraging him to attend any or all of those 3 SWS epee events.

Indeed. Anyonw who can make it to the finals at a Div I NAC (or even place high enough to get points) will probably already be an "A." My guess is that very few new classifications are handed out at Div I NACs.

fencergal33 · 09-16-2005, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdawg2121

Division is NC...but I specifically meant that the tourneys that the NCFDP club hold are pretty much guaranteed to be A2s in epee and saber assuming the UNC team isn't travelling that week. They pretty much have in house A2s built in.

You know......there is PLENTY more going on in NC than just the team at Chapel Hill. There are other A rated tournaments.

bigdawg2121 · 09-16-2005, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fencergal33

You know......there is PLENTY more going on in NC than just the team at Chapel Hill. There are other A rated tournaments.

Never said there weren't , however, they're far from common, and generally depend on who shows up. I was more just noting that since the Chapel Hill team has to fence at their local tourneys and they have the ratings to make A2s that there is a very high chance of earning your A in Chapel Hill. All you have to do is win (and not accidentally knock out an A or 2 on your way up, I hate it when that happens, it's terribly inconvenient).

JEC · 09-17-2005, 01:43 AM

Aren't at least two of the Duke Men's Epee squad A rated fencers?

Frank Pratt · 09-17-2005, 09:27 AM

Well, here's his chance. Good luck!

bigdawg2121 · 09-17-2005, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JEC

Aren't at least two of the Duke Men's Epee squad A rated fencers?

Ummm, it's possible. I don't knowif Nick Testerman graduated or not yet, but he is. I don't know about any of the others, Zach Moss...maybe? Either way most of the Duke kids don't compete at local tournaments anyway. They also have a weird practice schedule b/c Duke doesn't compete until their 2nd semester. Although if they do decide to compete pretty much the only local tourneys within an hour of either campus are hosted at UNC anyway.