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Bobcat Open
San Marcos, TX
September 16-17, 2006
Congratulations to our medalists!!!
Sorensen, Nathan - Gold Medal, Men's
Epee
Bazarbayeva, Dina - Gold Medal, Women's
Epee
SanFilippo, Pietro - Bronze Medal,
Men's Epee
Trapani, Daniel - 6 place, Men's Epee
10 Alliance fencers have participated in 4
different events scheduled at Bobcat Open tournament in San Marcos.
Nathan Sorensen (16) finally earned his "A"
ranking by winning the Men's Open event. On his way to the gold Nathan
defeated his teammate Pietro SanFilippo (15)who got Bronze Medal.
Our third finalist in this event Daniel Trapani (17) lost his
bout to the top 4 to the Silver Medalists Christopher Rogers 14:15.
Max Ferguson (14), John Bone (16), and Ben Freiman
(14) took 26th, 37th and 39th respectively.
Dina Bazarbayeva won the Women's Epee
event. She was undefeated all the way to her well deserved Gold Medal.
Our female foil fencers LeeAne Loveless
(15) and Nicola Horscroft (16) made top 16.
Robert Wooley (15) who represented Alliance
at Men's foil event took 28th place in the field of 55 fencers.
Excellent work everybody!!!
However the most important part of this tournament
was our team spirit. The best way to discribe it is to present the
Pietro's mom letter she sent to Alliance:
"What a beautiful day it was yesterday!
At the end we all partied, grownups, kids at dinner all together.
A trio of Indians (parents and son) joined our group. I did not know
them probably because they are not in our club but Max and Nathan's
parents did know them. This young Indian boy is just like Pietro and
Skopic (son), not a big guy so we all rooted for him while he fenced
against Parker and since afterwards it was Pietro's turn to fence
against Parker everyone was then rooting for Pietro who "returned the
favor" by really teaching the tall guy a lesson. There was some rivalry
there and Parker finished 8th...
It was almost touching seeing our kids all at the end of each bout
giving each other pointers and sharing the experience (good or bad) with
their opponents (even though fencing is not a team sport it provides an
excellent human glue between individuals). It was also very nice towards
the end when only the top fencers are still hanging around and all
friends stick together to the end...and then they call the names of our
kids, even mispronunciation a few (SanFelipe for Sanfilippo)and people
get even closer...
Andrey ought to be really proud: another "A" this one finally and well
deserved for Nathan. Pietro finished third. Daniel did OK also and
finished 6th but I must tell you it was a tough competition. Did you
notice how our kids when they win they say it was easy (after not
before) and when they lose they say it was hard or that they were not
into it?
Truth is that there were a lot of "sacred cows" at the tournament and
our kids were all very good and ready to fight with honor. A BIG THANK
YOU TO ANDREY! Pietro capitalized on a move Andrey taught him and had
practiced with him in his lessons, namely touch while going back and the
opponent comes against you. This is something only Andrey taught Pietro!
I'm grateful to Andrey for insisting that the kids go to this tournament
because (maybe he could "see" this with his clinical eye) they all
acquitted themselves beautifully and he's charging them for the upcoming
NAC. BRAVO ANDREY.
I need to ask you one more favor: please explain to Andrey that I want
to personally thank him for the excellent work he's doing with Pietro.
You know that I'd have some difficulties to explain this to him clearly.
THANK YOU!
Dinner was exquisite thanks to Nathan's father. You know, for someone
not familiar with local uses and costumes, going out to eat presents
more than one question mark and there is always some "suspense" between
ordering and receiving the food you ordered. Mr. Sorensen took the
responsibility to order my food (you might thing this not a big deal,
but it isn't so) and he is now my hero also, because, company aside, the
food was delicious...
Mrs. Freiman couldn't join us because (we found the reason later) she
had locked herself out of her car with the keys inside! I felt sorry she
couldn't be with us because she is such a nice and wonderful lady.
We missed you... All I wanted to do was to tell you what happened and I
got carried away... (might it be the effect living in the US has on
me?). No problem, this is how I write to my friends!
Love,
Giuseppina"
Final results
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