February 10, 2012

OUA MEN'S FENCING CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

HAMILTON, Ont. – Nine schools are ready to compete at the 2011-2012 OUA Men’s Fencing championships, hosted by Queen’s University, from February 11-12. Over the past four years there have been four different team champions, demonstrating the competition around the league. The host Queen’s Gaels enter the championship looking to defend their title and become the first repeat champion since RMC did so in 2006-07 and 2007-08.

The Queen’s fencers have had success both individually and as a team so far this season. Last year’s most proficient fencer and sabre champion, Francois Beaucage-Gauvreau, is back to defend his title. He won the sabre event at the Queen’s Invitational and Brock Open earlier this year. The rest of the sabre team, consisting of Will Tran and Jimmy Wintle, has been strong and are a favourite for the team gold. Last year’s epee winner, Karl Gardner, is also back for the Gaels.

Toronto will lean on two-time all-star Kyle Chan (Hong Kong, China), a bronze medalist in foil at last year’s championship. The Varsity Blues will challenge in sabre with Akash Toprani (Vancouver, B.C.) leading the team after taking home a bronze medal at the Queen’s Invitational.

This year’s version of the Carleton Ravens is a little different without the likes of three-time all-stars Scott McNeil and Ben Riley. The Ravens will look to veterans Mike Ivankovic (Kitchener, Ont.), Evan Heyes (St. Catharines, Ont.) and their foil team to lead the way after capturing silver at the Carleton Invitational.

The McMaster Marauders are looking to better their seventh place finish a season ago and will look to the sabre team for success. The quartet of Samir Ksara (Mississauga, Ont.), Mike Irvine (Georgetown, Ont.), Ali Mahdavi Rad, and Brendan McNulty hope to carry their gold medal winning performance at the Carleton Invitational into this weekend’s championship.

The lone medal winner for Ryerson last year is no longer with the squad so this year Daylin Boyce (Edmonton, Alta.) will lead the Rams. The rookie picked up a bronze medal in the foil division at the Brock Open.

Other teams competing at this year’s championship include the Brock Badgers, RMC Paladins, Trent Excalibur, and Western Mustangs.

Competition gets under way on Saturday, February 11 with all the individual events, beginning at 9:30 am with the individual epee. Sunday will host the team events and competition will wrap up with the team banner presentation which is scheduled between 3 and 4 pm on Sunday, February 12.

Stay tuned to oua.ca for full championship results.

CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

February 11, 2012

9:30am Men's Individual Epee starts

10:00am Equipment control for Men's Sabre

10:30am Men's Individual Foil starts

11:30am Men's Individual Sabre starts

Individual medal presentation between 4:30pm 5:30pm

February 12, 2012

9:00am Men's team Epee starts

9:30am Equipment control for Men's Sabre

10:00am Men's Team Foil starts