"Today we had a Tournament"

[HilandDoug]

WOW! I wanted to share our successful weekend with all of you great fencing.net people. The Schoolcraft College Fencing Club in Livonia, Michigan, USA, held an "E & Under" tournament concurrently with our state Junior Olympic Qualifiers on Saturday, November 18. As usual, the SCFC gals were out en mass, with Mary sitting on the sidelines nursing her stress fracture. The gals needed one more entrant to make it a "D" event, so they put the full court press on ol' Moonitic, and she reluctantly suited up. She didn't have it all that morning, but she was, I thought, remarkably relaxed, and fenced a lot better than her competitors thought she would fence. I think her relaxed attitude contributed to her hand speed, and I noticed her getting quite a few touches on the riposte.
I had not healed enough to hold a weapon, so I had a blast as a referee for women's foil, and men's and women's epee. I also had the pleasure of outfitting a young gent who drove 4 hours to fence with us. No electric gear, no knowledge of the competition or rules, just some basics and a lot of desire. His name was Zack, and he drove down with his dad the night before and joined us for my beginner's & advanced class. After my beginner class, Zack approached me and said, "I learned more in the first half hour of your beginner's class than I've learned from my coach in 3 months!" Not only did that warm my heart, but he fenced extremely well in my knickers, with someone else's sox (he didn't have any that went to the knee), and my friend Sean's left handed lame and weapons. I had it in my power to grant him the opportunity to fence, if only he could get to Livonia, and there was no way I was going to deny him.
I was also proud that the SCFC had the largest turnout we've ever had from our MALE fencers, and we even had our whole U12 gang there, ranging in age from 9 to 12, and they fenced with the teenagers and had a blast! The best thing, however, was our medal tally. I'll let Mary (Moonitic), our club President, tell it, as she wrote in our "Fencing News" bulliten that she circulates after tournaments:

"On 11-18-00, something amazing happened in Schoolcraft's gym. For those of you who were there, you know what I mean. For those who weren't...boy, did you miss one HECK of an event!

We hosted the JO Qualifiers & an E & Under. Amy Webster (Ms. Vice President) came up with a wonderful idea to give away t-shirts (with sponsorship) at the event. She ordered 100. Except for approximately 10 that were saved for the sponsors themselves, 1 was left at the end of the day. ONE, people. We had THAT many people compete! The gym was overflowing with people. It was awesome. We set up relatively quickly on Friday night. Good thing too, because we were still in the gym at 9pm on Saturday! When Robbie gets the official results of how many people were there, we'll let you know. We weren't expecting so many, but I'm NOT complaining!

A lot of wonderful things happened. Jim Vesper gave us a couple very good compliments (hold on to your seats!). Friday night he said we did a good job getting the strips down. On Saturday, on the way out to go home, he said (with a satisfied smile), "Today we had a tournament." We also received many compliments about how nice we are to fence with, & how well things went (even with all the problems, people were VERY good about it). One fencer thanked us for making things fun for her. That really means a lot. It's something to be proud of.

Speaking of being PROUD...we had at least 20 people (not counting all our junior fencers from the advanced class...I think that puts us up to 25) representing Schoolcraft. Wow. That's the largest turnout I've ever seen. THANK YOU!!!

Now, on to the REALLY good stuff...the results...

Would you believe 10 medals were snagged for Schoolcraft in ONE day? Here's who got what:

Josh Beattie: 2nd (sabre)
Sean Layow: 3rd (sabre)
Sean O'Brien: 1st (foil)...Earning is D rating!!!
2nd (U20 foil)
Mike Byrd: 3rd (foil)
Tina O'Brien: 2nd (foil)
Stephanie Salwen: 2nd (U16 foil)
John Fleming: 1st (U16 foil), 3rd (U20 foil)
Nick Stephanos: 2nd (U16 foil)

If I missed anyone, let me know!

I want to thank everyone who made the event a success. Your hard work is really appreciated.

We didn't get to have the planning meeting, so when that does happen, I'll get you the information on upcoming events."

Yes, in our naievity (sp?), we were hoping to have a planning meeting to work out a schedule for the second half of the season, but I was the last one out of the gym at 9:45pm, and no one would have been awake enough to plan anything at that time of night. Over THIRTEEN HOURS of fencing!!!!!

Thank you, everyone who helped make it happen. I'm still getting goose bumps (or goose flesh for you Brits) when I think about it.

[Moonitic]

Yes, it was a complete BLAST being at the tourney. I forgot that I even fenced! I was so excited about everything else going on (ok...by the end I was more excited to pull strips up than watch more fencing...), that my fencing meant very little to me!

We got corporate sponsors & gave out free t-shirts, which is a GREAT idea if anyone has the time to do it. People really liked it. They felt that they got something good out of the deal. I like that!

Now I'm excited about the next tourney we host!

[rusty epee]

Guys, that is soooooooooooo awesome -- congratulations! (I can remember the days when having 30 turn out was an event...)

The very best of luck with all of your future endeavors, guys -- may all good things be yours!

-- k

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Youth and enthusiam are no match for age and treachery....

Hey thank you all so much for everything you did to allow me to fence this weekend. For those who havn't guessed I am th "Gent" that drove 4 hours to make it intime for classes and then to go to the tourniment the next day. This was a great event and as far as the T-shirts go I am wearing mine now. And everyone at the event made me feel so at home that I forgot how sore I was fro sleepng in the van the night before. And for those who havn't tried compitition fencing yet it is a must but do only one event not two and don't plan on doing anything the next day. I was hardly able to walk let alone wait tables like I was supposed to that night. But that doesn't mean that I didn't have a great time and make some good freinds. Thank you to the School Craft Fencing Club for hostingand everyone else for showing up and making it a great success.
Zack "Sunflash" Sherman
P.S. Pleas forgive the spelling its hard to type when bruies you appear in places you didn't know you got hit(like the finger tips and wrist of your foil hand).

[Nasty]

moonitic and the rest of her clan, Congtrats on what seemed to be a great turn out for your tournament. If the USFA could do the same thing maybe draw more spectators to the sport.
Yes Moonitic Nasty is Back from the Corps at least until Monday......
Again congrats
Nasty

[Moonitic]

Nice seeing you again, Nasty. Stay well. It would be great if more clubs & the USFA in general could pull of what we pulled off.

Hey Zack! It's me "Buffy" (ok, Mary)...the little blonde president of S'craft's club. I'm very happy to hear you had a pleasant experience. Come back some day!

I forgot to mention that Schoolcraft's total medals for the season (since the end of August, when it began) is 22! Not bad, huh? Can you tell I'm SO proud of my club?? They're like family.

Ok...getting misty eyed...must stop...<giggle>

[HilandDoug]

Thanks, Eli, that means a lot.

[Moonitic]

Doug,

We have some serious celebrating to do next week!

[RC]

Sounds good, when is your next tournament?


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"Etes-vous prets?"
"Oui!"

[HilandDoug]

Our next tournament isn't until the second half of the season, in early 2001. Since the Division hasn't set anything in stone yet, I don't want to say. But we, as a division, have a pretty good schedule. Check our web page:
www.michfencing.org