Michael Marx inducted in Sports Hall of Fame in Oregon

[esgrimista1]

Michael Marx is being inducted into the state of ORegon's Sports Hall on Fame, Saturday 16/Aug.

Congratulations Michael! Well-done.

[a517dogg]

well done and well deserved.

[westcoastsabre]

I'm not trying to be disrespectful or obnoxious, just curious...What has he done besided being the WE national coach

[edew]

Member of the 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996 Olympic teams in Men's Foil (and in Men's Epee in 1996).

Silver medalist in the 1985 World University Games.

Many, many times national champion in foil (seven? eight?)

Coach of Olympians such as Leslie Marx, Arlene Stevens, coach of top epee fencers such as Cody Mattern, Seth Baldwin. Coach of up and coming fencers such as Alex Salsman, Ariel DeSmet.

He and his brother Robert Marx were members of many US national World Championships teams and Olympic teams. Many time national champions, many time North American Cup winners.

Yeah, I'd say he's done a bit more than coach a couple of women epeeists.

[Inquartata]

And don't forget putting all of our names on our lames! ( Mustn't forget the capitalist contributions! )

Anyway, very well deserved indeed!

[Peach]

Doesn't his brother have the stenciling business?

[Mo]

Originally posted by Peach
Doesn't his brother have the stenciling business?

Bob Marx has the stenciling business and helps with the team on the road.

Michael Marx is the coach and all around fun kind of guy! If you look in the last issue of American Fencing at the pics of the Pacific NW sectionals, he is the one in the pic of the referees tipping the bottle!

Both the Marx brothers have great senses of humor and neither one takes themselves too seriously. (which I think is a great quality to have as a coach)

Congrats Michael!

[wflaschka]

I recently found and read a back issue of American Fencing, from ??1999.

At the World Championships, one of the Epee team members showed up with an injured knee. The knee wasn't going to allow the fencer to take part in the competition, and there was no chance the USFA could fly another fencer out in time.

Michael Marx was there as a coach, and he came out of retirement to fence Epee. They had a picture of one of his globe-spanning lunges. He ended up in the middle-bottom rankings, but in the seeding pool he went 3-2(!!). (I can look up specifics if anybody is interested.)

I've liked Michael Marx ever since a training camp I took with Auriole up in Oregon, as a kid. Marx sat us down and we all chatted about fencing. He told us the story of how he beat Romankov. I didn't know Romankov at the time, but now I'm impressed.

Years later, at a California tournament, we passed each other at the door to the bathroom. He said, casually, "How're you doing? Up? Down? Indifferent?" I still use that to this day.

Also -- at the 1989 Nationals, I saw him beat Olympian David Littell, and then a young Marc Pavese, to earn his 8th national championship. It was the first high-level fencing I'd seen, very formative.

Hall of Fame -- couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.