Waterford Novice Fencing Team Competes at Tournament

Saturday February 4, 2012. The Waterford Novice Fencing team traveled to Guilford High School to compete in a novice tournament encompassing participants from over 20 high schools throughout Connecticut. There were 92 boys and 81 girls competing in foil in an event focusing on first year fencers. The annual Novice Tournament is geared toward giving the novice fencer a chance to compete in a large tournament setting and to face competitors from other parts of the state.

This year the Waterford Fencing Team sent seven athletes to the competition. Among the boys the participants were Matthew Macesker 24^th, Lorenzo Enderle 30^th, Alex Comfort 43^rd and Chris Pedersen 45^th. Participants for the girls were Bella Richard 21^st, Kirsten Staller 24^th and Ashley Thibeau.

“This year’s novice fencers all made a determined effort which showed in how well they all placed at the end of the tournament," said Coach Cathy Mason. “I am really looking forward to seeing them advance to the varsity squad in the coming seasons."

Fencing tournaments begin with a round of pools followed by direct elimination rounds. Each participant is assigned to a pool of six to seven fencers who they compete with to determine the seeding into the direct elimination rounds. The pool bouts are each 3 minutes or to five touches (points). Direct elimination rounds are fenced for 9 minutes or to 15 touches. In the direct elimination the competitor continues to the next round as long as they have won.  All seven Waterford fencers won at least one direct elimination bout to move to the next elimination round.