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Phrogger · 08-10-2008, 11:56 AM

The announcers on MSNBC said that Becca Ward was attending Duke next year. Does anyone know if she is going to continue fencing and who her coach is going to be? I don't live in the Raleigh area or fence sabre but I have high hopes that someone can coax some kind of boost to our division's fencing out of this development. Perhaps NCFDP? Inspire young girls to begin fencing sabre?

KD5MDK · 08-10-2008, 11:59 AM

She will be fencing at Duke with Alex Beguinet.

Phrogger · 08-10-2008, 12:04 PM

I heard Beguinet was retiring.

darius · 08-10-2008, 12:23 PM

Yes, Becca is going to Duke.

No, Beguinet is not retiring.

darius

fencerbill · 08-10-2008, 02:25 PM

Read somewhere that this will be the first fencing scholarship ever awarded at Duke.

NNR · 08-10-2008, 03:23 PM

I had heard that Michael Marx was going to Duke for the 2008-2009 scholastic year. No longer true?

bigdawg2121 · 08-10-2008, 04:01 PM

Let me try:

1) Becca's going to Dook. Beguinet is taking off at least a semester and being replaced by Mike Marx in the interim. This could possibly last as long as all season but that's just scuttlebutt.

2) Becca should be the first scholarship recipient as their program committed to providing the max number of fully-funded scholarships and aid for the first time this season. It's unclear whether they'll finally get a decent Nike package to go along with it or if they'll continue to get the step-child treatment on that front.

3) NCFDP will continue to run saber classes BUT the most likely place to find someone capitalizing on Becca's presence in the Bull is at Mid-South Fencer's club which is a few blocks away.

4) Ola Socha, member of the Polish team, is also moving to the area (within an hour and half-ish) shortly and should be teaching.

5) The status of either Olympian wrt competing/practicing locally is almost entirely unknown (although looking bleak), however, we remain hopeful that they and a few other new transplants will choose to compete at least such that we can have some very strong national level saber events outside of NACs, Liberty Cups, and the Mr. Ma Cup.***

*** The statements of the above poster are entirely his own and do not reflect the official opinions or stances of anyone mentioned in said post. They should not be taken as gospel truth b/c, well, I just won't take that responsibility.

JEC · 08-10-2008, 04:35 PM

Leslie Marx has been an assistant at Duke for a couple of years.

When Duke was preparing to hire a new Athtletic Director, they developed a master plan. They are committed to find funding for each of the scholarships of the each and every sport that have.

Duke is a great academic college and has very nice facilities. I was there for 4 years, so I might be biased.

J. Parker (Men's Epee) is another good freshman for a program who will be coached by M. Marx, as an assistant.

Mariel still has a year of eligibility at Notre Dame. Likely rematch at NCAA!

Phrogger · 08-10-2008, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdawg2121

Ola Socha, member of the Polish team, is also moving to the area (within an hour and half-ish) shortly and should be teaching.

Do you know where? If she's moving near me (New Bern) I'd love to hear about it.

Mo · 08-10-2008, 05:06 PM

1. Partially correct. Becca is going to Duke or Deuke, she is very happy about that. Alex is not retiring.
MM is going there as an assistant coach.

2.Becca is getting the first fencing scholarship awarded by Duke.

3.Becca will not be fencing with Mid South Fencers who mostly want to capitalize on Becca's name. That fact very much annoys her mother.

4. Becca is good friends with Alexandra Socha and would enjoy training with her now and then. Training, not being coached by....

5. True
that we can have some very strong national level saber events outside of NACs, Liberty Cups, and the Mr. Ma Cup.***

The Momsters

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdawg2121

Let me try:

1) Becca's going to Dook. Beguinet is taking off at least a semester and being replaced by Mike Marx in the interim. This could possibly last as long as all season but that's just scuttlebutt.

2) Becca should be the first scholarship recipient as their program committed to providing the max number of fully-funded scholarships and aid for the first time this season. It's unclear whether they'll finally get a decent Nike package to go along with it or if they'll continue to get the step-child treatment on that front.

3) NCFDP will continue to run saber classes BUT the most likely place to find someone capitalizing on Becca's presence in the Bull is at Mid-South Fencer's club which is a few blocks away.

4) Ola Socha, member of the Polish team, is also moving to the area (within an hour and half-ish) shortly and should be teaching.

5) The status of either Olympian wrt competing/practicing locally is almost entirely unknown (although looking bleak), however, we remain hopeful that they and a few other new transplants will choose to compete at least such 5.
*** The statements of the above poster are entirely his own and do not reflect the official opinions or stances of anyone mentioned in said post. They should not be taken as gospel truth b/c, well, I just won't take that responsibility.

Mo · 08-10-2008, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JEC

Leslie

Mariel still has a year of eligibility at Notre Dame. Likely rematch at NCAA!

Mariel has a contract with Nike and an agent which makes her no longer eligible to fence NCAA. She has had this since last summer as in a year ago.

The Momster

JEC · 08-10-2008, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mo

Mariel has a contract with Nike and an agent which makes her no longer eligible to fence NCAA. She has had this since last summer as in a year ago.

The Momster

Thanks, it is good to know. Becca all the way!

bigdawg2121 · 08-10-2008, 05:46 PM

NB: Given my personal leanings and affiliations I personally reserve the right to spell it as "Dook" until such a time as life mandates I "grow up". Undergrad rivalries are not joking matters.

That being said I actually hold nothing against the program's fencers and tend to think most of them are pretty chill. I kinda hope they participate in local events because really there's no reason that 30-50 person legit A2 events or better shouldn't be semi-regular occurences.

Also, I never intended to suggest where Becca would or would not practice (other than the fencing room in that other school 8ish miles down the road).

Also, Ola will be teaching at All-American I believe. It would be nice if someone could convince her to fence or train a little too. I imagine she'll have to fence a little bit right? (Cold Turkey is hard to do I'll bet, especially if you're coaching )

sheck · 08-10-2008, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdawg2121

NB: Given my personal leanings and affiliations I personally reserve the right to spell it as "Dook" until such a time as life mandates I "grow up". Undergrad rivalries are not joking matters.

Same here in Terp land. Puke on Dook!

http://www.truthaboutduke.com/

Mo · 08-10-2008, 06:01 PM

You guys and your rivalrys. Bob Hargman (I think that is his last name) and Becca have verbal sparring going on constantly about Duke VS UNC.
It is all in good fun (I think.) It keeps everyone from taking themselves too seriously... It was working until we discovered that Bob married a Dukie. (Dookie)
Ola and Becca have already talked about training a bit together. Now is the time however for Becca to be a college student and get on with her non fencing life.
A nice break is good for anyone.
I hope to see Becca jumping up and down in the stands with the other Cameron Crazies.
The Momster

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdawg2121

NB: Given my personal leanings and affiliations I personally reserve the right to spell it as "Dook" until such a time as life mandates I "grow up". Undergrad rivalries are not joking matters.

That being said I actually hold nothing against the program's fencers and tend to think most of them are pretty chill. I kinda hope they participate in local events because really there's no reason that 30-50 person legit A2 events or better shouldn't be semi-regular occurences.

Also, I never intended to suggest where Becca would or would not practice (other than the fencing room in that other school 8ish miles down the road).

Also, Ola will be teaching at All-American I believe. It would be nice if someone could convince her to fence or train a little too. I imagine she'll have to fence a little bit right? (Cold Turkey is hard to do I'll bet, especially if you're coaching )

Hobbes · 08-10-2008, 06:02 PM

I think it is awesome that we have an Olympian coming to our little corner of the world. Welcome to the Carolinas Becca. Hope you like it here!

HDG · 08-10-2008, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheck

Same here in Terp land. Puke on Dook!

Ah, UM, that other Maryland University.
Go Bluejays!

MyrddinsPrecint · 08-10-2008, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdawg2121

NB: Given my personal leanings and affiliations I personally reserve the right to spell it as "Dook" until such a time as life mandates I "grow up". Undergrad rivalries are not joking matters.

Hey, I was campaigning (not at all effectively) for Becca to come to Smith. I mean, really, what would have been a bigger "**** you" to fencing???

But in the end, I'm just glad she didn't end up at Wellesley ; )

thekoby · 08-10-2008, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JEC

Mariel still has a year of eligibility at Notre Dame. Likely rematch at NCAA!

It might be highly unlikely, but I'm hoping that Mariel is back at Notre Dame when I go up there for the DeCicco Open....I'm very interested in meeting her.

JEC · 08-10-2008, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thekoby

It might be highly unlikely, but I'm hoping that Mariel is back at Notre Dame when I go up there for the DeCicco Open....I'm very interested in meeting her.

If you look at the Notre Dame website, there is a story indicating that she has a year of eligibility. However, please see the comment of Momster regarding her contract with Nike. That would threathen her collegial eligibility.