Topic: 2008-2009 Season

 As far as the opinions of the two coaches, I will have to respectfully disagree but I also acknowledge that blame cannot be shouldered solely by a director.  Fencers need to learn how a director is calling and adjust accordingly, something the Commack fencers failed to do.  

 In regards to the overturned touch, it happened too quickly to have allowed for a response.  Reiterating what I said in my last post, Freiss was simply pointing out a mistake in procedure as a fencer might point out a head-clip had come off or a lame had become unzipped, without knowing what the outcome would be.  Coach Salmon, to the extent of my knowledge, was unaware of this procedural error until the director had made the call, as was also the case with Coach Wallach.  An argument was made by Coach Wallach but without a rule book on hand, there was no definitive way to prove that the call was in fact incorrect at the time.  Naturally, an outcry was heard from the Commack fencers upon learning what had happened.  It is also only natural that this outcry meant nothing but a release of frustration and anger and was ignored.  If this had been at a national event, it would stand to reason that the situation would have been brought to the bout committee.  However, with no higher authority at a high school meet than the director, the director's call must stand.  In spite of the mistakes I believe the director made, this was perhaps his strongest moment, doing what a director must.  He reached a decision, made his call, and despite the pressure coming from fencers, coaches, and fans, stood strong behind his call.  

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Please take a moment to review our High School Fencing Site.  High School Fencing is growing in the United States and we feel the time is right to launch a starter site followed by a web site.  Also, we welcome feedback.

http://highschoolfencing.blogspot.com/

The purpose of this site is the advancement of High School Fencing in the United States. Coaches and High School Administrators are invited to post results and commentary. Fencers and Parents are invited post commentary, not results. We have received positive feedback from several college coaches saying they will be checking this site.  This shall become a web site during 2009. 

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umhum! Guess what's coming up in the next week or so?

Let's make healthy predictions.

U mean next weeks counties and individuals?  I can guess Nassau:

Oyster Bay Boys and GNN Girls

Epee- Cliff Fishler -, J. Phillippou, Eric Basile and Jack Greenfield

Foil - Kenji Horiuchi, David Zehng

Sabre - D. Leung, M. Joe, Bonderman

okay, those are decent predictions. David Zheng is an okay foilist but I'm not sure if he'd come up in those first two places. David Leung will most likely be the best, and Cliff Fishler would beast counties no problem.

But then again, it would be a pretty cool if there was an upset in all three weapons.

What about girls?

This is interesting.  I personally know Srey, Sari and April and have seen Courtney fence. Any one of them can win the championship, but I am going to guess April Xiong from Jericho. She beat Srey twice, split both with Courtney and Sari. Thats it for Epee.

Foil and Sabre I have no idea......anyone?

[QUOTE: Epee- Cliff Fishler -, J. Phillippou, Eric Basile and Jack Greenfield]

While Fishler clearly leads the pack, with Jonathon Phillipou, Danny Qiao and Jack Greenfield in contention.  While Eric Basile will likely be a strong contender in the future, he's not yet ready for inclusion in this group. 

On the girls side, April, Srey, Sari and Courtney are in contention, but the edge goes to April and Sari.  Of course, the best women's epees in Nassau, Olivia Adragna and Diana Tsinis, aren't in the field.

[[QUOTE:[QUOTE: Epee- Cliff Fishler -, J. Phillippou, Eric Basile and Jack Greenfield]While Fishler clearly leads the pack, with Jonathon Phillipou, Danny Qiao and Jack Greenfield in contention.  While Eric Basile will likely be a strong contender in the future, he's not yet ready for inclusion in this group.  On the girls side, April, Srey, Sari and Courtney are in contention, but the edge goes to April and Sari.  Of course, the best women's epees in Nassau, Olivia Adragna and Diana Tsinis, aren't in the field.]]

You know, I've actually heard Jack Greenfield used to be terrible, but he's actually pretty good. No, Collins is not part of the league. Really if there was a 'second' league, I might place her there. Replace Collins with Appelman, and there you have it. But overall, to be honest, there's new fencers I've never fenced before until this season, and people who I have fenced that I used to be able to beat have seriously gotten better. Maybe it's just me, but this years going to be good. And I've never heard of Diana Tsinis or Olivia Adragna. What schools do they go to?..

[[QUOTE:[[QUOTE:[QUOTE: Epee- Cliff Fishler -, J. Phillippou, Eric Basile and Jack Greenfield]While Fishler clearly leads the pack, with Jonathon Phillipou, Danny Qiao and Jack Greenfield in contention.  While Eric Basile will likely be a strong contender in the future, he's not yet ready for inclusion in this group.  On the girls side, April, Srey, Sari and Courtney are in contention, but the edge goes to April and Sari.  Of course, the best women's epees in Nassau, Olivia Adragna and Diana Tsinis, aren't in the field.]]You know, I've actually heard Jack Greenfield used to be terrible, but he's actually pretty good. No, Collins is not part of the league. Really if there was a 'second' league, I might place her there. Replace Collins with Appelman, and there you have it. But overall, to be honest, there's new fencers I've never fenced before until this season, and people who I have fenced that I used to be able to beat have seriously gotten better. Maybe it's just me, but this years going to be good. And I've never heard of Diana Tsinis or Olivia Adragna. What schools do they go to?..]]

I actually know Jack and have watched him develop into a very VERY good fencer.  A bit unorthodox in style, but VERY effective. Olivia goes to the Waldorf School in GC, and I think Diania goes to a city school.  I am not 100% sure but I don't think she is in Nassau.  They are both probably the TOP two women in the area, but not in the HS circuit.

I also disagree with you on Basile.  He has beaten Fishler and Phillippou in the past, but not recently.  He beat Danny Qiao at Mission 15-7 at an OPEN Epee event just 3 weeks ago and he beat him again tonight 5-4.  I asked him tonight what his record is, and he told me so far this year he is 35-12. I am not sure where that puts him with others, but I would have to guess top 6 in Nassau. He also placed 9th overall last year at individuals when he was only in 7th grade. Lets see what next week brings.  Should be exciting.

[[QUOTE:[[QUOTE:[QUOTE: Epee- Cliff Fishler -, J. Phillippou, Eric Basile and Jack Greenfield]While Fishler clearly leads the pack, with Jonathon Phillipou, Danny Qiao and Jack Greenfield in contention.  While Eric Basile will likely be a strong contender in the future, he's not yet ready for inclusion in this group.  On the girls side, April, Srey, Sari and Courtney are in contention, but the edge goes to April and Sari.  Of course, the best women's epees in Nassau, Olivia Adragna and Diana Tsinis, aren't in the field.]]

You know, I've actually heard Jack Greenfield used to be terrible, but he's actually pretty good. No, Collins is not part of the league. Really if there was a 'second' league, I might place her there. Replace Collins with Appelman, and there you have it. But overall, to be honest, there's new fencers I've never fenced before until this season, and people who I have fenced that I used to be able to beat have seriously gotten better. Maybe it's just me, but this years going to be good. And I've never heard of Diana Tsinis or Olivia Adragna. What schools do they go to?..]]

Ya know I'm not really sure, but, didn't Collins beat Appelman the first time they fenced?  And as I recall the four girl barrage at the Indy's last year was Srey, Sari, Appelman and guess who, Collins.  But, hey that's why they fence the meets. 

And with a completely new playoff and individual format things will be real interesting the next couple of weeks.  Theoretically, the team that has the best season record may not even go to the LI Championship.  In fact with the the new points system a team can finish second in the season and second at the county tournament and have the highest cumulative point total and go to the LI Championship.  Should be fun. 

 Note:  Not good with names, sorry for misspells.

Nassau girls sabre I'd say:  Curry(CSH), Tringa((GC)(not sure of spelling)), Kenn(OB) and look for Cyrana(OB) to play spoiler by ruining someone's day early.

Goils(short for Girls fOILS):  Szlyiagal(CSH/spellcheck please), DeJospeh and Jong?(GC), Bloom(GNN), and I don't know.  The OB girls run hot and cold, but, when firing on all the cylinders they can play with anyone. 

Epee:  Levy and Appelman(GNN), Beaulac(GC), Collins(OB), Xiong(JER). 

Again gotta leave Collins in this group she can compete with this group.  Not bad considering, as far as I know, she doesn't even belong to a club or get private lessons.  Fences during the season and maybe a camp over the summer...if she's bored. 

Those OB coaches gotta be doing something right over there.  I bet it's the fat guy.  The one that looks like Peter Griffin from Family Guy.  Not the yeller and screamer, but, the quiet one.  He crouches there in the end of the strip, plotting and thinking, anaylizing.  Hmmm....

Okay, whoa whoa whoa. I think your mistaking the sabres slightly. You completely forget Klepner there, and she's not bad at all. And for the foils what about Scricco? For the epees I still am unsure. But considering on how you're probably on the OB team, I wouldn't blame you for supporting Collins.

To be honest, this years epees completely wack (meaning surprisingly different). A lot of matches have been won and lost because of the epees and it seems so much more different this year. I mean, sabre and foil have maintained somewhat the same balance with slight ups and downs--but come on! It's almost impossible to miss the improvements--especially with the boys too.

Forgots about Klepner.  I'm actually an alumni of OB and try to follow as best i can.  No disrespectmeant to anyone.  Klepner's good so yeah, ya got me on that one.  Scricco is good too, but, from what I've seenshe can read easily,but, that's my 2 cents worth. 

Oh and Collins beat Appelman, again, and Srey today.  And almost beat Sari.  So, not an OB thing there.  I still think Collins  belongs in that group. 

Completely agreed on the boys side. This year, Patcha, Perierra, Garvey are all gone, as well as Eric phillippou (by choice). The new kids on the block are Greenfield, Basile, Baily and Oshofski (both on the independent team) Miller, Lui, Hong and of course Fishler are still around. There are also one or two suprises, but I think Fishler, J. Phillippou, Greenfield, Basile, Miller, Lui and Baily will all be in top 10.  Probably some combination will be top 6.  Can't wait.

well i believe that all of the GNN girls like: levy(who took 1st last year, with a injury for most of the season), appelman(who took second last year and beat titan, who was 1st in the county before that), srey(who took 3rd last year, and during the last round injured herself too), not collins(who didnt even place top 3!), and lai(who has been doing really well this season) will definitely be in the top for 2009 Individuals on Saturday Feb 7th... 

But i think those girls definitely have it, there is not that much competition this year compared to last year.  

Keep in mind however, during the quad-meet, Great Neck North was missing most of their starters. Fencing is such fickle sport: doing well in pools won't guarantee you'll do well later; a person may beat the best fencer but that doesn't meant they're actually skillfull; and even though some people may have been incredible one year, it does not mean those people will be incredible the next.

That in mind, I agree with 123fencing with the girls epee line-up considering the way things have been progressing.