"Now the Seats are All Empty ..."

Now the seats are all empty
Let the roadies take the stage
Pack it up and tear it down
They're the first to come and last to leave
Working for that minimum wage
They'll set it up in another town...
- Jackson Browne, "The Load Out"

Day Four of the NAC A has followed the first three days into the history books. Congratulations to Sarah Timmons (pictured) of Iowa State University Fencing Club, who took seventh in Division III Women's Epee. The Iowa Division had two fencers on the podium this NAC. Gotta love it.

Will Des Moines host another NAC, ever? Word on the street is positive. We asked a lot of people point-blank what they thought of Des Moines as a venue. Everything said nice things to us. They might have been trying to spare our feelings, though. Whenever I was wandering through the crowd, though, on those occasions when I heard anyone say anything about the venue or the city, it was positive. (Steve overheard one person say, over the phone, "Well, I never thought I'd say this, but I'm in Iowa." As a transplant to this fine state, I've sometimes said similar things.)

Some of the online discussion (see fencing.net, for example) notes the decline in the number of fencers participating from last year to this year. Various culprits are named, but few seems to think it has anything to do with Des Moines; more people cite the economy, or the changes in the cadet event formats. Many people noted the difficulty of flying to and from Des Moines, since it's hard to get a direct flight unless you live in a hub city like Chicago or Denver. Common problem. Those of us who live here and have to do business travel feel your pain.

The event was blessed with a phenomenal corps of volunteers, headed by Local Organizing Committee chair Kevin Fitzpatrick. We delighted many of the USFA regulars by helping them get out of the venue by dinnertime on Thursday night, despite many of us having never set up metal strips before. We seemed to please on Monday afternoon as well, when it was time to load out; our fencers, parents and friends joined in and got everyone out in short order.

But the only time that seems too short

Is the time that we get to play ...

Some of us will see some of you next month in Kansas City. Peace.

- RJL

(Photo of Sarah Timmons by Kevin Powell.)

Purple on the Podium!

Yep, that's a fencer in a DMFC jacket, accepting a medal at a NAC for the first time ever. Jim Musgrave took third place in the Division II Men's Epee competition at the North American Cup in Des Moines today! Jim did the home team proud. He becomes the first member of our club to medal at a NAC. Way to go, Jim!

Preston Kirkpatrick cracked the top 16 in Division III Men's Sabre as well, so today was a good day, results-wise, for DMFC.

The fourth and final day of competition, tomorrow, will feature Jim once again, this time in Division II Men's Foil. Five of his teammates will also participate in various events.

Some photos from the NAC are available on our photo site. Enjoy! We hope to post more in the next day or so.

- RJL

Day Two an artistic success

We heard good things from our guests around the continent yesterday, as Day Two of the North American Cup A wrapped up. Our six fencers (three in their first NAC) handled themselves well. One fencer, a veteran of the youth circuit but fencing in a senior-level event for the first time, won her first bout! That was wonderful to see. Four of our more experienced fencers take the strip today for Day Three, and hoping one of them will crack the ceiling and win at least one direct elimination bout.

Words cannot express our gratitude to the dozens of volunteers who have chipped in to make this event run smoothly and brilliantly! DMFC is a wonderful club, and our friends and family members have done a wonderful job.

The Des Moines Register printed two photos in its Saturday edition, and featured additional photos in an online gallery (follow this link to view).

Children of the Corn?

It was inevitable that one of the T-shirt designs for the North America Cup tournament in Des Moines would feature a sketch of a fencer in a cornfield. But then, what are the other choices? Des Moines is known for agriculture, insurance and state government. I suppose it could have featured a fencer slashing through stacks of insurance claim forms... Actually, it's a very nice design, and I'll certainly be wearing one soon.

Day One of the NAC today featured three men's events (Div II sabre, Div III foil and Cadet men's epee) and one women's event (Div II epee). DMFC's army of volunteers helped the USFA keep everything running smoothly, and we heard favorable comments about Hy-Vee Hall and downtown Des Moines in general. Two of our fencers participated in their first NAC today, and though both exited after their first direct elimination bout, they both handled themselves well.

Tomorrow, six DMFC fencers take the strip, in all three weapons. One will fence not only her first NAC, but her first senior-level tournament (though she's a three-year veteran of the youth circuit). Kicking it all off will be the mother of two DMFC fencers, who will perform the National Anthem.

More soon! -- RJL

On the eve of the NAC

For the first time ever, a North America Cup tournament is taking place in Des Moines. About twenty DMFC members spent the afternoon helping set up the venue for what promises to be a lively little shindig. Eleven of our members will be among the 900-plus athletes converging on Hy-Vee Hall, downtown, for four days of fencing.

Two years ago, when Scott of the Convention and Visitors Bureau first approached Steve with the idea of hosting a NAC, it was at once a thrilling and frightening prospect. We liked the idea of not having to drive twelve hours to get to a NAC, but we wondered whether we were capable of sustaining the effort of hosting such an event. Right now, it's hard to believe that the big day is almost upon us!

Steve and I also had the opportunity to demonstrate fencing today to a group of over 150 children at the Boys and Girls Club in Des Moines. I wish I'd had the sense to get a picture, but I didn't. It was a fun experience. Steve and I bouted foil, epee and sabre in succession; oddly, though we didn't keep score, I think I outpointed him in epee while he trounced me in sabre. The kids seemed to get into it, and were full of questions after the demonstration. It was a delight!

Tomorrow, four DMFC fencers will take the strip: two in Division II women's epee, and two in Division II men's sabre. Also in the works are Cadet men's epee and Division III men's foil. Stay tuned! -- RJL