The WPI Fencing Team has had an active last month and a half. In February, the male to female ratio was boosted at WPI when the Smith College came to compete with the team as a warm up for the annual New England Intercollegiate Fencing Championships, held at Brown University. After fencing was completed the Smith team was taken to the Higgins Armory for a tour, as with every fencer, the Smith team was in ecstasy. The new Tortilla Sam's Iguana Room, was then broken in, as was a "green" waiter, by the group of twenty fencers.
On February 22nd, at New England's the WPI team faired well, in the three weapons (foil, epee, and sabre). Besting fencers from schools such as Boston College, Boston University, MIT, Hampshire College, Tufts, UNH, and UMASS,
The team was composed of Isaac Rutel (treasurer, epee-A), Matthew Erickson (Co-Captain, epee-B), Stefan Caporale (secretary, foil-A), Mark Hodos (foil-B), William Mahoney (sabre-A) and Ralph Tillinghast (Co-Captain, sabre-B). Isaac Rutel showing his stuff bested other Epee fencers from powerhouse fencing colleges such as Boston College (who has won New England's the last four years.) Mark Hodos, a freshman at WPI, was introduced to the world of collegiate fencing and put on a fair display, especially in his five to two point victory over BU. Matthew Erickson put up strong bouts, but had to contend with several weapon difficulties. An easy victory was clinched by Stefan Caporale against Dartmouth. And finally, the Sabre team (Mahoney and Tillinghast) held there own, as they demolished the UMASS, Dartmouth and Hampshire College squads with two to three point margins.
Smith College attended the Men's competition and cheered on the WPI team in their matches. Their support was said by some of the WPI fencers to have given them that little extra edge! The day was ended by having a few sabre bouts between Smith's coach, Scott Thunderman, and WPI's William Mahoney, an annual tradition (4 years) for the two. The team members later went to the Boynton to celebrate the highlights of the day.
Coming back from spring break, a contingent of the team planned to head to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvannia for the annual Carnegie Mellon Holy Grail Fencing Tournament, on March 14th. The team was composed of Matthew Erickson (epee), George Campbell (epee), Sean Price (foil), Mark Hodos (foil), William Mahoney (sabre) and friends Scott Thunderman (sabre) and Don Tyler from Smith College. After piling into two cars the trip was undertaken. William Mahoney's car of four people made the trip there in eight hours, while George Campbell's decided to take a "short cut" and arrived in Pittsburgh five hours later. With only a few hours of sleep the team hit the fencing strips. The team was supplemented with alternates from other schools. In the end after eight hours of fencing, the Foil squad came in 7th, the Epee squad came in 3rd and the Sabre squad came in 2nd, missing first by a combination of agreed poor judging, and 2 points out of 45. The group dined out afterwards before driving the nine hours back. If going to Pittsburgh, the "WPI Fencing Diners Guide," recommends the Union Grill, highly (5 stars.) The team arrived back in Worcester after a relay of driving at seven in the morning on Sunday. The team and the rest of the club have shown excellent growth and potential for the next few years. Members of the collegiate fencing community have increasingly recognized WPI in the last few years. The next few years look promising, as hope for more and more talent will continue to come into the club.
As a season closer, WPI has been invited to Smith College on March 28th. Some members are also planning on attending an "ironman" competition in Connecticut on the 29th.