New Odds 'n Ends

A number of fencers traveled to Washington, D.C., for the Cherry Blossom Open, held April 14, 15, and brought home some outstanding results.

Ben Rinaldi, Fencing Institute of America, was awarded an "A" rating in Epee, placing 6th out of 127. It was an A4 tournament.

Gabriella Kirilloff, Three Rivers Fencing Center, came in 2nd in Women's Foil, and teammate Dana Rosen tied for 3rd place.

Kate Rinaldi, Fencing Institute, placed 2nd in Women's Sabre.

Josh Karausky, Fencing Institute of American, was awarded a "C" rating in epee.

Also seen there were Lynn Bothelo (TRFC), March Hirsch (TRFC), Rachel Stonehirsch (TRFC), Jon Hyslop (FIA), Tristan Jackson (TRFC), Sam Rinaldi (FIA), Devon Verner (Bethel Park) and Brandon Rauch (Bethel Park.)

Josh Grill, Three Rivers, placed 1st in the Y14 Men's Foil at the North East Super Youth Circuit in New Jersey, held April 14,15.

Next up are the U-19 and Division I-A Sectionals.

Ben Jagger Wins $1,000 Arnold Scholarship

Ben Jagger, Three Rivers, was awarded the $1,000 college scholarship presented by the Columbus Rotary and the Arnold Sports Festival at the 2007 Arnold Fencing Classic in March. Ben was awarded the scholarship in honor of his oustanding performance at the Arnold Sports Festival 2007 and his year-round scholastic achievement and good sportsmanship. Ben placed 3^rd place in the Y-14 Foil, a 2^nd in the Open Foil, earning a C rating.

Ben Jagger, next to Arnold Schwarzennegger, is congratulated by Columbus Rotarian Calloway Robertson and Arnold Fencing Classic Event Chair Julia Richey.

Junior Olympic Qualifiers
 

The results are on the Tournament Results page.

Age Restrictions for Competitions
 

The USFA is taking a firmer stand enforcing restrictions for fencers
under 13 years of age competing with fencers aged 13 and up, for
all types of sanctioned fencing events.

The following is a direct quote from the USFA regarding age criteria
for fencing events.  This information can be found in the current edition
of the USFA's Athlete's Handbook. 
                           
Age Criteria for Open Events:

The USFA Board of Directors has ruled that for any USFA competition
that is not specific to an age group, an athlete must be at least 13 years
old as of January 1 of the fencing season (January 1, 2007).

The exemption to this rule applies to any fencer who is younger than
13 on January 1 but who is listed on the latest National Junior Point
standings; then that fencer is allowed to compete in the USFA
competitions not specific to an age group. 

The athlete must meet any other criteria stated for that competition. 
Examples of such non-specific competitions are:  "Open", "Unclassified:,
"A" competitions, "C" or under competitions, Team competitions of any
category unless specified for juniors or similar age restricted category.

What this means is that unless the fencer is listed on the USFA's
latest National Junior Point standings, at the time of a given fencing
competition, he or she will not be permitted to fence in any meet
*unless*:

They are 13 years of age by January 1 of the current fencing
     season (the current fencing season runs from 8/1/06 to 7/31/07)

OR

The meet is restricted to fencers under 12 years of age.

This restriction applies to all non-age-specific events that are rated
as "open", "unclassified", "A", "B", "C", "D" or "E". 

Translated:  if a fencer is 12 years of age, right now, and he/she will
turn 13 years old in Oct., Nov., Dec. 06  (that is, by Jan 1st '07) , then
this young fencer can participate in an open (or unclassified, "E", "D",
etc.) event *today*. 

Kids who will not turn 13 until *after* Dec. 31, 2006 (that is, in Jan,
Feb, March, April, etc. '07), are not eligible to fence in an open, "D",
"E", etc. events *today* or for the *rest* of the 2006-2007 season. 
Until the NEXT fencing season, they can only compete in events
designated for their age group.

Information on Division II Qualifiers

The USFA Board of Directors, in September 2006, enacted a motion that eliminated all automatic paths for the Division II Qualifiers. That means that the only way to qualify for Division II (C and under rating) is at the Division Qualifier. This came up again at the September 2007 meeting and agani was tied at 8-8, with President Nancy Anderson casting the tiebreaker with a No vote.