U Mass and U Conn Fencing

[stealingophelia]

hey guys,
can anyone tell me about the team from each school, and the coaches etc

also, does u mass even have a team? i just see a club

thankss

[RebelFencer]

Originally Posted by stealingophelia

hey guys,
can anyone tell me about the team from each school, and the coaches etc

also, does u mass even have a team? i just see a club

thankss

From what I understand, UMass has a very good club program. Also, they have Pris de fer nearby, which is probably the nicest fencing salle in the country.

[stealingophelia]

Originally Posted by RebelFencer

From what I understand, UMass has a very good club program. Also, they have Pris de fer nearby, which is probably the nicest fencing salle in the country.

wow, thanks!

[MyrddinsPrecint]

Umass has a club team that has won two out of the three collegiate club nationals.

they are very competitive, very large, and very loud.

"club" in college terms means "not NCAA". and that's mostly a factor of where teams get their money from. there are club teams that are very strong, and NCAA teams that are very weak.

then again, there are ncaa teams that are very strong, and club teams that are very weak.

Prise is a good.... hour and a half?-ish from Amherst. so yes, it's nearby, especially on the weekend. but it's not exactly right next door, especially not by new england standards.


there are a lot of colleges with teams in the area--- and a lot of college fencers on this board. wealth of information and such........

[Ordway]

It's been quite a while since I fenced with the team, but I've kept up with them as an alumna, and I'd say that UMass has a very strong team with a competitive mindset. I regularly see UMass fencers and recent alumni at national events.

Another point in the favor of UMass is that they are definitely a "family" not just a bunch of fencers. It carries over to the alumni too - it's a nice feeling of community that I think fosters good fencing as well as an enjoyable time on the team.

Loud? Hm, yes. That was true back when I was on the team ('92-95) too! Hehe. Guess some things never change. Kick ***, UMass, go State U! :-)

[oiuyt]

UMass is currently being coached by Taro Yama****a and Ariana Klinkov.

Competition-oriented club (although with purely recreational fencers as well) that participates in the Northeast Fencing Conference (mix of club and varsity teams from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire), the New England Intercollegiate Fencing Association (much the same group of schools as the NFC with some additions and including schools from Connecticut and New York as well), US Association of Collegiate Fencing Club Championships (national collegiate club event), as well as various non-conference meetdates that change year-to-year. Large group of ~60 fencers covering all 6 weapons. One of the strongest collegiate club programs in the country over the past several years.

UConn has not had a competition orientation for quite a few years. The club shifts in and out of existance periodically, taking a year or two off at not infrequent intervals depending on who is currently at UConn and interested in organizing practices. I don't know who's currently running the club. Latest news that I've heard is that they have a foil-only group, with either connections to or direct overlap with a non-sport-fencing (ie multi-weapon fighters, etc.) group.

As mentioned, PdF is NOT close to either, although a significant minority of UMass fencers represent PdF and regularly make the trip to train there, especially when school is not in session. Ariana is one of the founders/owners/coaches of PdF.

Also as mentioned there are a significant number of UMass fencers or recent alumni on f.net. Whtouche is the current president of the club. I'd suggest PM'ing him or posting here if you have specific questions you'd like answered.

-B
*UMass Fencing Coach 2000-2004*

[MyrddinsPrecint]

it's worth noting that a chunk of them aren't back from the div1 NAC yet, and thus haven't posted in this thread yet.............

[telkanuru]

Um, well, we kick *** and stuff. And we're awsome. Talk to whtouche, come see a practice or two. It'll be fun, and we're always looking for people with experience.

[MyrddinsPrecint]

Originally Posted by telkanuru

Um, well, we kick *** and stuff. And we're awsome. Talk to whtouche, come see a practice or two. It'll be fun, and we're always looking for people with experience.

that may, in fact, be the LEAST useful thing you've ever posted here.


of course, this very comment is the least useful thing i've ever posted here.

[stealingophelia]

Originally Posted by telkanuru

Um, well, we kick *** and stuff. And we're awsome. Talk to whtouche, come see a practice or two. It'll be fun, and we're always looking for people with experience.

oh hell yea hah
im me on sketchtheskyline @ aim
i'm gonna visit amherst soon, i'd love to come by a practice

[U.M.Amherst.Sabre95]

Originally Posted by Ordway

It's been quite a while since I fenced with the team, but I've kept up with them as an alumna, and I'd say that UMass has a very strong team with a competitive mindset. I regularly see UMass fencers and recent alumni at national events.

Another point in the favor of UMass is that they are definitely a "family" not just a bunch of fencers. It carries over to the alumni too - it's a nice feeling of community that I think fosters good fencing as well as an enjoyable time on the team.

Loud? Hm, yes. That was true back when I was on the team ('92-95) too! Hehe. Guess some things never change. Kick ***, UMass, go State U! :-)

I have to agree with Holly here, as we were teammates on the UMass Team back in the early 1990s...

... and yes, she was loud then, and there's one story in particular I can relate.

Two words Holly: Concord-Carlisle

UMass has fielded competitive teams for at least the last 20 years, competing against a variety of collegiate competition from club to varsity (NCAA) programs, and has done quite well. The origins of the club go back even further, back to the late 1940's when they became a registered student organization.

They were the first winners of the Northeast Fencing Conference back in 1994 (when the men's team went 17-1 in dual meets over the 1993-1994 season against a mix of club and NCAA competition), and more recently, have claimed to collegiate club national championships in the last three or so years.

They've reguarly sent fencers to U.S. Summer Nationals, their members have been active both as students and alumns at USFA competitions, they have one of the nicest guys (and better instructors out there) in Taro Yama****a, but the one thing that hasn't changed, and Holly's already mentioned this: they're a great group, a family.

Fencing was a large, and fantastic part of my college experience. I learned the sport through the Physical Education program there, joined the team on something of a whim, only to find myself making long car trips out to Boston, Buffalo, Durham... pretty much all over New England.

I don't know a lick about UConn, and as best a I remember, they didn't have a club or competitive team when I fenced for UMass (men's sabre, 1991-1994).

That being said, while the overall success of the team and club does go through up-and-down cycles, they have a good alumni base and a good presence on campus, and I can only wish them continued success.

-Evan

[dreamer90024]

I don't fence for UMass, but I live in Amherst and Taro Yama****a (UMass Head Coach) is also my coach. I think he's an awesome coach and my fencing has improved dramatically while working with him. He's also a really great person. I've watched UMass at a couple of team competitions and been to a practice or two and I can tell you this, the UMass team has one of the greatest team spirits I have seen. They all cheer together and any fencer who is competiting is pratically guaranteed to have 15-20 people standing by the strip to cheer them on. Also all the team members I've met are really nice people. If I didn't live in Amherst and was choosing a college based on fencing alone UMass would be at the top of the list.

[Ordway]

Originally Posted by U.M.Amherst.Sabre95

I have to agree with Holly here, as we were teammates on the UMass Team back in the early 1990s...

... and yes, she was loud then, and there's one story in particular I can relate.

Two words Holly: Concord-Carlisle

Groaaaaaaaannn... That is one event that I will NEVER forget...

You will be pleased to know that in the last year or so I have developed a genuine, natural scream, loosed at the, uh, more appropriate moment. I didn't actually recall that I was particularly loud when I fenced for UMass... my decibel level has gone up in the past year or so.

Another nice thing about UMass Fencing (though this may seem very far off for pre-college fencers) is that there's a really nice sense of camaraderie among the alumni, as I'm sure Evan can attest too. Now that I'm over on the West Coast I can't make it to the social events, but I do frequently run into alumni at Nationals and NACs and we always have nice conversations.

[prototoast]

Originally Posted by dreamer90024

If I didn't live in Amherst and was choosing a college based on fencing alone UMass would be at the top of the list.

Now, now... mustn't be hasty. I think the UMass club does a very good job of introducing people to fencing, and providing a good competitive college club, however if one were to choose a college based on fencing alone, the choice really should be limited to NCAA schools (and certainly not all of them).

[KD5MDK]

Unless you think you can make money off endorsements or whatever and don't want to put up with NCAA rules or something...

[whtouche]

It depends on what's important to you. When she says fencing she may not necessarily mean the cut throat competitiveness of the program, but the people that come with it.
When it comes to that sort of thing, we've got most, if not all schools beat.
We can't all beat the powerhouses that Brown is

[U.M.Amherst.Sabre95]

Originally Posted by prototoast

Now, now... mustn't be hasty. I think the UMass club does a very good job of introducing people to fencing, and providing a good competitive college club, however if one were to choose a college based on fencing alone, the choice really should be limited to NCAA schools (and certainly not all of them).

Maybe, maybe not: you could go to a school with a NCAA program and otherwise not like the school, or, you could end up at a place like UMass which retains a good, competitive club, and love the school.

[prototoast]

Originally Posted by whtouche

It depends on what's important to you. When she says fencing she may not necessarily mean the cut throat competitiveness of the program, but the people that come with it.
When it comes to that sort of thing, we've got most, if not all schools beat.
We can't all beat the powerhouses that Brown is

Hell, I didn't (and wouldn't) come here just for fencing... I don't think anyone does. Still, in terms of both funding and competition experience, clubs just can't compete.

[prototoast]

Originally Posted by U.M.Amherst.Sabre95

Maybe, maybe not: you could go to a school with a NCAA program and otherwise not like the school, or, you could end up at a place like UMass which retains a good, competitive club, and love the school.

Oh, of course (though meaning no offense to you or anyone else whe is or has been a student at UMass, I've never actually met anyone who loved it as a school). Still, the original point I was objecting to was saying to choose it as a school just for fencing. There are many reasons to attend UMass, and having a strong club team is a very good thing--I just think that if someone was looking at colleges based on fencing alone, that search really ought to be limited to a subset of NCAA teams.

[MyrddinsPrecint]

Originally Posted by prototoast

Oh, of course (though meaning no offense to you or anyone else whe is or has been a student at UMass, I've never actually met anyone who loved it as a school). Still, the original point I was objecting to was saying to choose it as a school just for fencing. There are many reasons to attend UMass, and having a strong club team is a very good thing--I just think that if someone was looking at colleges based on fencing alone, that search really ought to be limited to a subset of NCAA teams.

Unless what you want specifically can't be given to you by any of the better NCAA teams, and can be given to you by some of the better Club teams.

I'm not a very good fencer, but I love the people, I love the feeling of fencing, and I love the kind of structure it provides my life. But I have enough stress in my life so that if I were placed in an NCAA program, where practices were more intense, more was expected of me, and I rarely (if ever) received a competitive slot.... I would be miserable. I would grow to dislike fencing. Most of the Varsity coaches wouldn't have been good coaching matches for me either.

Sure, if I had gone to a varsity school, my fencing would probably be better right now. I would probably have better footwork, I would be fencing better people on a regular basis.

But I would probably also hate fencing, not like my coach, not spend most of my time with my teammates, and dread practice.

It's the same thing with colleges. You can not say that one college is overarchingly better than another for every person. people succeed and are happy in different programs. It's about finding a good match, not finding the programs that are regarded well by the most people, or the program that produces the best fencers.