More than just our seven at Nationals

In addition to the seven Des Moines Fencing Club fencers participating in Nationals next week, at least two DMFC alumni will also be there. Yuly Suvorov (Division 1A men's epee) and Sarah Timmons (Division II and III women's epee) represent the Iowa State University Fencing Club, and we knew 'em back when!

A recent USFA email reports 6,325 registrations for fencers at this year's Nationals. I don't know how many people are fencing more than one event, but my guess is that between 3,500 and 4,000 individual fencers are participating. Our guy Jack is in the second-largest single event; Y12 (age 12 and under) men's foil has 190 fencers registered. Seven days from now, that event takes the strip. If I can manage an internet connection, I'll write it up here.

- RJL

One week before Nationals, DMFC fencers are on FIRE!

We have one week of practice left, and our doughty competitors looked pretty sharp last night. I'm probably most excited about watching our 12-and-under fencers in their first national competition. Jack kicks us off on the 4th in Y12 men's foil and Reid goes two days later in Y12 men's sabre.

We had a discussion the other night about preparing for a major tournament like this. Fencing on a metal strip in a huge convention hall while sixty other bouts are going on around you can be intimidating first time out. It can also be an exhilarating and educational experience. Last year when Preston and I went, we kept saying how much we'd love to be able to share the experience with folks back at the club. This year we'll have five people experiencing a national tournament for the first time (one has been to a NAC, which helps).

I can't shut up about it. I'll try to post updates here if I can. We will also bring back pictures and video.

The Fencer's Library

During lessons the other night, we got to talking about the fencing books everyone ought to read. Fencing doesn't produce the athlete biographies or sport histories you find on the bookshelves for other sports; most fencing books are about how to fence, or how to coach. Here are several, though, which deal with the history of the sport and the characters who inhabit it.

Any to add?

* By the Sword, Richard Cohen. A good introduction to fencing history, though limited in some respects. Excellent portraits of Helene Meyer, Jerzy Pawlowski and other notable fencers of the twentieth century.

* The Secret History of the Sword: Adventures in Ancient Martial Arts, J. Christopher Amberger. Excellent research into the history of the sport. Amberger debunks a number of myths about fencing history, and tells an intriguing tale about participating in a mensur.

* Harnessing Anger, Peter Westbrook and Tej Hazarika. Autobiography of the six-time Olympian and thirteen-time U.S. national champion.

Press release: Seven Des Moines Fencers to Nationals

A club-record seven members of the Des Moines Fencing Club will compete in the U.S. National Championships Fencing Tournament, to be held in Dallas, Texas, July 3-12, 2009.

All fencers qualified through tournaments held earlier in the season. Leading the charge will be Heartland Circuit champions Preston Kirkpatrick and Bethany Dorin. Kirkpatrick, of Des Moines, will compete in Division II men's sabre on July 8 and and Division III men's sabre on July 10. Dorin, of Pleasant Hill, will compete in Division II women's foil on July 9.

Also representing DMFC:

• Jack Fitzpatrick of Des Moines, 12-and-under men's foil, July 4;
• Reid Wade of Des Moines, 12-and-under men's sabre, July 6;
• Allison Crawford of Granger, Division III women's sabre, July 9, and Division II women's sabre, July 12;
• R. J. Lesch of Adel, veteran's men's sabre, July 12;
• Nile Engelhardt of Waukee, who will join Kirkpatrick and Lesch in the men's sabre team event, July 9.