San Bernardion Division Open 9/19/09
The short of it: I placed 22nd out of 40. Did very well in the beginning and overall satisfied.
http://askfred.net/Results/results.php?tournament_id=8945
You should be able to see three images I took screenshots of below.
This tournament was way out in Palm Desert, over 100 miles one way from here I was at. It was also in the middle of the heat strike California is going through and through it was going to be terrible driving. The drive was actually pleasant with the air conditioner and after getting out of the area. It was fun because I found a nice SUV that was traveling 90 MPH and I ended up drafting behind him at the same speed for like 50 miles, big saving on gas!
The venue was the College of the Desert, once I got out that way, the area is very nice looking aside of the empty deserts that are out there. The college looks small, and the only think notable is that the College has a golf course and putting greens on it. With it, a bunch of old retired looking people. I got there well before time because of the nice drive and I had my golf clubs with me and so I ended up putting a few for 15 minutes. The gym was very small and there were not that many fencing strips set up because the division generally doesn't get that many people out there in all events. However, today was going to be different. Our Epee event alone was bigger than most of their tournaments combined! Everyone decided to show for this tournament and all of a sudden it a high level tournament.
Due to this overload the tournament didn't start until hour and a half later than scheduled. When we did get started there were two pools flighted which is a bad thing. A lot of familiar faces were there and I was hanging out and chatting with them. Chuck Alexander, Frank Hewett, and Johnny North were among them. Johnny and I were joking around most of the day, because there was just so much spare time and were causing chaos among the fencers by playing pranks (like I'm a kid again). Everyone was having a good time. Finally we got our pools.
This pools I feel is one of the most balanced I have fenced in. There's no one who is terrible and no one who is over dominant in the group. Everyone has a shot at being the best. After being shuffled between pools 4 times. I ended up doing well.
Gabriel Lira(B08) - Out of everyone in the pool, I didn't get to know this guy and learn about him. I just remember he seems like a funny nice guy and he like taking the blade down into 8 and was a bit wild. He got an early 1-0 lead that it was double touched to a 5-4 loss.
Johnny North(D09) - Promoted to B09! Finally, Johnny and I got to fence, we ended up warming up a little before we got started and he was beating me badly. Johnny's good fencer that underrated, but we ended coming in second of the tournament to earn his B09 and I'm happy for him, he desert it. Aside, in the bout I was the first that got to Johnny and almost beat him. He was doing very well until he fenced me and I was a dark horse with surprises. I ended up losing 5-4 but he was saying he was scared when it was 4-4 and thought I was going to winning and he underestimated me. It was a good intense bout and we pushed each other hard, he won this time.
Max Barber(B09) - Cool guy who is very nice and polite from the area. He uses a heavy thick glove and a leather French grip. He goes through gloves fast because of the wear he puts on them with his grip. He posts a lot and like staying at a distance. I'm surprised how well he can keep a grip on the blade against beats and still hang on to the weapon. I was doing well when I kept at a distance and waited for him. I also had my greatest touch ever again him at 4-4, where he begun an attack and I countered at him and I dropped my point just over his bellgaurd and hit him on his rising hand at me. It's like you could film it better than that. Great ending to a great bout.
Spencer Smith(U) - A new people to the world of Epee, but is an okay Foilist. He's part of a club near my house and used to be a part of before I decided to move on to higher skilled fencing. He was unfortunate that we made him run through all his bouts back to back so he could finish his foil event. I was the last one and he ended up just bum rushing me to finish it which caught me off gaurd and allowed him to hit me three times, which was the most. Could have been more careful, but won 5-3
Francesco Fraomeni(E09) - Political Science major from Arizona State University. Came with all the other ASU bus that traveled out there that day. Good fencer that was apparently having a weak day. He admitted his timing was off and I was able to take him out of lines and riposte a good amount. Ended up winning 5-3
Tj Brewer(A08) - Promoted to A09! From the club of NoFear. An experienced high level fencer. He was the only one that gave me trouble. A lot of taking me by blade into low lines and beating me up there. Need to work on my low line counters and blade work. Was patient but just because he was able to figure how to lock me out I ended up losing 5-2. This was the only bad bout I had and wasn't too upset about it.
I ended up winning three and losing three and I also scored the same amount as I got hit, which results in a 0 indicator. This is just mean I was dead even, and oddly, Gabriel, Francesco, and I were all 0 indicator which is extremely rare. So only Johnny and TJ were above 0 and Spencer and Max were under. The 3 of us were even. Even is better than negative and the best pools I've had so far. I was seeded 20, middle of the tournament.
I finally got my first bye! Then there was Oscar Flores(A09) from Mexicali. Now before the I got to fence my DE, there were those two pools that were flighted. This resulted in me having to wait over two before fencing again against this guy. He is a good fencer and I think because I wasn't relaxing and walking around that I was tired and cold when it came to fencing again. He ended up rolling over me and attacked to my 6 where I was not able to parry at all. I was shocked and surprised. He ended up coming third in the tournament so I am not all that bummed about it. This just means I needed to be more conditioned if I am going to go far in tournament in the future. I ended up directing a few bout and resolving an argument again non-conforming rules before I left. I didn't get to see Johnny past the round of 16, but saw he placed second. Congrats Johnny on your B09! While I finished 22nd
Overall a good day and good experience.
http://askfred.net/Results/results.php?tournament_id=8945
You should be able to see three images I took screenshots of below.
This tournament was way out in Palm Desert, over 100 miles one way from here I was at. It was also in the middle of the heat strike California is going through and through it was going to be terrible driving. The drive was actually pleasant with the air conditioner and after getting out of the area. It was fun because I found a nice SUV that was traveling 90 MPH and I ended up drafting behind him at the same speed for like 50 miles, big saving on gas!
The venue was the College of the Desert, once I got out that way, the area is very nice looking aside of the empty deserts that are out there. The college looks small, and the only think notable is that the College has a golf course and putting greens on it. With it, a bunch of old retired looking people. I got there well before time because of the nice drive and I had my golf clubs with me and so I ended up putting a few for 15 minutes. The gym was very small and there were not that many fencing strips set up because the division generally doesn't get that many people out there in all events. However, today was going to be different. Our Epee event alone was bigger than most of their tournaments combined! Everyone decided to show for this tournament and all of a sudden it a high level tournament.
Due to this overload the tournament didn't start until hour and a half later than scheduled. When we did get started there were two pools flighted which is a bad thing. A lot of familiar faces were there and I was hanging out and chatting with them. Chuck Alexander, Frank Hewett, and Johnny North were among them. Johnny and I were joking around most of the day, because there was just so much spare time and were causing chaos among the fencers by playing pranks (like I'm a kid again). Everyone was having a good time. Finally we got our pools.
This pools I feel is one of the most balanced I have fenced in. There's no one who is terrible and no one who is over dominant in the group. Everyone has a shot at being the best. After being shuffled between pools 4 times. I ended up doing well.
Gabriel Lira(B08) - Out of everyone in the pool, I didn't get to know this guy and learn about him. I just remember he seems like a funny nice guy and he like taking the blade down into 8 and was a bit wild. He got an early 1-0 lead that it was double touched to a 5-4 loss.
Johnny North(D09) - Promoted to B09! Finally, Johnny and I got to fence, we ended up warming up a little before we got started and he was beating me badly. Johnny's good fencer that underrated, but we ended coming in second of the tournament to earn his B09 and I'm happy for him, he desert it. Aside, in the bout I was the first that got to Johnny and almost beat him. He was doing very well until he fenced me and I was a dark horse with surprises. I ended up losing 5-4 but he was saying he was scared when it was 4-4 and thought I was going to winning and he underestimated me. It was a good intense bout and we pushed each other hard, he won this time.
Max Barber(B09) - Cool guy who is very nice and polite from the area. He uses a heavy thick glove and a leather French grip. He goes through gloves fast because of the wear he puts on them with his grip. He posts a lot and like staying at a distance. I'm surprised how well he can keep a grip on the blade against beats and still hang on to the weapon. I was doing well when I kept at a distance and waited for him. I also had my greatest touch ever again him at 4-4, where he begun an attack and I countered at him and I dropped my point just over his bellgaurd and hit him on his rising hand at me. It's like you could film it better than that. Great ending to a great bout.
Spencer Smith(U) - A new people to the world of Epee, but is an okay Foilist. He's part of a club near my house and used to be a part of before I decided to move on to higher skilled fencing. He was unfortunate that we made him run through all his bouts back to back so he could finish his foil event. I was the last one and he ended up just bum rushing me to finish it which caught me off gaurd and allowed him to hit me three times, which was the most. Could have been more careful, but won 5-3
Francesco Fraomeni(E09) - Political Science major from Arizona State University. Came with all the other ASU bus that traveled out there that day. Good fencer that was apparently having a weak day. He admitted his timing was off and I was able to take him out of lines and riposte a good amount. Ended up winning 5-3
Tj Brewer(A08) - Promoted to A09! From the club of NoFear. An experienced high level fencer. He was the only one that gave me trouble. A lot of taking me by blade into low lines and beating me up there. Need to work on my low line counters and blade work. Was patient but just because he was able to figure how to lock me out I ended up losing 5-2. This was the only bad bout I had and wasn't too upset about it.
I ended up winning three and losing three and I also scored the same amount as I got hit, which results in a 0 indicator. This is just mean I was dead even, and oddly, Gabriel, Francesco, and I were all 0 indicator which is extremely rare. So only Johnny and TJ were above 0 and Spencer and Max were under. The 3 of us were even. Even is better than negative and the best pools I've had so far. I was seeded 20, middle of the tournament.
I finally got my first bye! Then there was Oscar Flores(A09) from Mexicali. Now before the I got to fence my DE, there were those two pools that were flighted. This resulted in me having to wait over two before fencing again against this guy. He is a good fencer and I think because I wasn't relaxing and walking around that I was tired and cold when it came to fencing again. He ended up rolling over me and attacked to my 6 where I was not able to parry at all. I was shocked and surprised. He ended up coming third in the tournament so I am not all that bummed about it. This just means I needed to be more conditioned if I am going to go far in tournament in the future. I ended up directing a few bout and resolving an argument again non-conforming rules before I left. I didn't get to see Johnny past the round of 16, but saw he placed second. Congrats Johnny on your B09! While I finished 22nd
Overall a good day and good experience.