Good but long day yesterday.
Our first HIGH SCHOOL fencing tournament of the season.
We had a modest size fencing tournament, about 250 fencers, divided into the 3 different weapons. Epee. Foil. Saber.
I have had a frustrating several weeks leading up to this event with, what I thought, we bad practices. Apparently I was wrong. I had 11 of my saber fencers finish in the TOP 16 in the saber event. 2 of my girls earned medals. Picked up a Bronze and a 5th place medal. Medals are awarded to the TOP 8 in typical fencing tournaments. It was the first time that either of the medal winners had ever won a medal.
My girls were amazing, way exceeding my expectations.
My guys did about as well as I expected. They think they know what they are doing so they don't listen, don't think the rules matter, etc. I've actually had some ask me what if I don't do what you say ... to which I respond YOU WILL LOSE.
The girls know they don't know what to do so they actually listen and do what I say. Clearly several of them learned and understood and implemented. I was really happy with that!
Dominic the Epee fencer who I don't coach, but who calls me coach and who I do work with on non-fencing issues for college won the gold in his event. It was fun to watch him because he is so much better than the other kids its actually funny to watch his bouts.
One of my former Marian Catholic girls invited me to come back and coach at Marian ... and she did that in front of the head coach that doesn't like me. One of the other Marian coaches took photos of me with the Marian kids that I used to coach for their annual fencing yearbook. I'm sure the head coach is just loving all this
-------------
After the high school event I drove over to the Northwestern University dual meet. They had teams from Lawrence U, U of Wisconsin, Indiana U, Purdue U and U of Chicago. I have kids on the Lawrence, Indiana and Purdue teams so I wanted to stop buy and offer a bit of moral support.
My friend, international competitor and coach Charlie Rohrlack was there as a bout director so I chatted with him at the end of the event.
Overall a great day.
Our first HIGH SCHOOL fencing tournament of the season.
We had a modest size fencing tournament, about 250 fencers, divided into the 3 different weapons. Epee. Foil. Saber.
I have had a frustrating several weeks leading up to this event with, what I thought, we bad practices. Apparently I was wrong. I had 11 of my saber fencers finish in the TOP 16 in the saber event. 2 of my girls earned medals. Picked up a Bronze and a 5th place medal. Medals are awarded to the TOP 8 in typical fencing tournaments. It was the first time that either of the medal winners had ever won a medal.
My girls were amazing, way exceeding my expectations.
My guys did about as well as I expected. They think they know what they are doing so they don't listen, don't think the rules matter, etc. I've actually had some ask me what if I don't do what you say ... to which I respond YOU WILL LOSE.
The girls know they don't know what to do so they actually listen and do what I say. Clearly several of them learned and understood and implemented. I was really happy with that!
Dominic the Epee fencer who I don't coach, but who calls me coach and who I do work with on non-fencing issues for college won the gold in his event. It was fun to watch him because he is so much better than the other kids its actually funny to watch his bouts.
One of my former Marian Catholic girls invited me to come back and coach at Marian ... and she did that in front of the head coach that doesn't like me. One of the other Marian coaches took photos of me with the Marian kids that I used to coach for their annual fencing yearbook. I'm sure the head coach is just loving all this

-------------
After the high school event I drove over to the Northwestern University dual meet. They had teams from Lawrence U, U of Wisconsin, Indiana U, Purdue U and U of Chicago. I have kids on the Lawrence, Indiana and Purdue teams so I wanted to stop buy and offer a bit of moral support.
My friend, international competitor and coach Charlie Rohrlack was there as a bout director so I chatted with him at the end of the event.
Overall a great day.