NCAA results? Latest rankings?

[edew]

USFA has presented the 1/22/01 standings for the NCAA rankings. How has the past few weeks of competition changed the face of the rankings? Who are the first stringers for the various schools? What are the chances for Penn State making it 7 in a row? Vegas needs to know!

[Craig]

1/22 looks to be the latest:

Men's and Women's National Collegiate Fencing Poll
Polls provided by the United States Fencing Coaches Association.

January 22, 2001

MEN

1) Stanford
2) Notre Dame
3) St. John's (NY)
4) Penn State
5) Columbia
6) Princeton
7) Yale
8) Air Force
9) Pennsylvania
10) Rutgers


WOMEN:

1) Penn State
2) St. John's (NY)
3) Stanford
4) Northwestern
5) Columbia-Barnard
6) Yale
7) Notre Dame
8) Temple
9) Pennsylvania
10) Ohio State

[edew]

Ok, how about a friendly (non-monetary betting pool)? Check out:
http://www.ncaachampionships.com/fen/mfen/
and go to the full story to get the complete list of competitors. How do people think the results will end up?

My guess:
1) Stanford
2) Notre Dame
3) St John
4) Penn State

Reasons: Stanford really does field a strong team. Its only weakness is sabre, and even there, Robert Owens can win maybe 10-14 bouts. Stanford's men's and women's foil will dominate, possibly winning 80 bouts total (23 wins is the best one person can do). Jonathan Tiomkin will be a major factor for St John, but Joe Fisher might not, despite his very strong will to win.

Penn State is definitely out of the running. Their men's foil has Omar Bhutta and Nontapat Panchan. Nontapat is quite good, but he's going to get a bruising from a lot of the other foilists.

Stanford's women foilists with Ute Breden and Iris Zimmermann will dominate as the alternatives look really weak. Where's Eva Paetchnigg and such? This year's list of women foilists is pretty weak aside from the two from Stanford. I expect next year's (or the following year's) crop to be stronger as the Thompson twins and Andrea Ament go collegiate.

St Johns will kick up in women's epee and men's sabre. Their men's foil will dominate heavily as well. But their women's foil and women's sabre will not be as strong a factor.

St John's epee will be pretty good, but Princeton will dominate men's epee. Soren Thompson and Slep are pretty good. Stanford's men's epee squad is anchored by tempermental Eric Tribbett. He can be bruisingly good, or flat. Graham Allen is the sneaky sleeper. His epee success really took off this year and may be a surprise factor here. Thompson, Viviani, and Kelsey will be in the top 4.

Maybe I should set up a new post for various "bets".