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End of the Season - Aloha State Games 2009
HFC "Burninates" Epee & Saber!
13 competitors made their way out to the Ala Wai Ballroom on Saturday the 6th to test their skills in Epee, the traditional dueling weapon. The competition was fierce, forcing Roland Pendleton into 5th place and Eric Mueller into 10th. But, Ben Leider fleched his way through the competition and found himself facing John-Rolf Oakley in the semifinals. The pressure was high given that the two combatants had brought the previous year’s games to a 14-14 climax, and even more so for Ben given that he had lost. However, Ben’s tenacity was rewarded when he defeated JR and advanced to the finals. Although lacking the title of a grudge-match, Ben and Henry Chang gave the spectators quite a show. In the end HFC’s philosopher took the Gold, proving that even a foilist can have his day in Epee. Congratulations to the Aloha State Games Epee Champion, Ben Leider.
HFC’s last two competitors had a lot to prove in the open saber after witnessing Ben’s accomplishment. Tim ‘Lucky’ Scanson and Jesse ‘forever Bob’ Payton took to the strip hoping to gain a leg up on the competition by placing well in the pools. Tim accomplished his goal by sweeping his pool, but Jesse got off to a rocky start with a malfunctioning weapon and earned the 6th slot in the field of 11. Timothy continued his winning streak, fencing the D-rated Henry Chang in the Semifinals. Despite giving up some of his lead towards the end, Timothy fought hard and advanced to the finals after beating Henry 15-14. Jesse upset the competition, defeating Tom McClintock who was seeded 3rd. Defying the indicators, Jesse advanced to the semifinals hoping to defeat his fated foe, Tom Miller. The bout began favorably for HFC with Jesse earning a 2-0 lead. Unfortunately Jesse couldn’t hang on, leaving HFC’s hopes with Tim in the finals. The last bout of the season proved Timothy’s worth. After training relentlessly for the rapidly approaching Nationals, Tim dominated the competition and defeated the powerful Tom Miller 15-13 in the finals. After earning his first Gold we can all expect to see Timothy on the Podium again in the near future. And although only placing 3rd, Jesse still managed to earn a bronze medal, bringing HFC’s medal count up to 3 for the Aloha State Games.
Congratulations to HFC’s medalists: Ben Leider, Timothy Scanson, and Jesse Payton.
The Herd Thunders
Good Morning, Fencers and Fencing Fans! Last Saturday at Waikiki's Ala Wai Clubhouse (the only fencing venue in the state that boasts its own Golf Course and Ballroom), those present were treated to a sight rarely seen since the time of Ancient Rome. It was...the Ride Of The War Elephants.
Eric "Hannibal" Mueller led the War Elephants to the strip for the division's annual Team Epee event. It was, as always, a rousing battle.
This particular battle began with a face-off against Salle Honolulu in which Eric "O Captain, My Captain" Mueller and Darrel "Triarii!" Jung made a contest of it against Salle, earning a 1-touch lead going into the third bout of the match. It was then that Chris "The New Bob" Han made his poorly-timed epee debut, and suddenly, the War Elephants found themselves in a 5-point hole. Onlookers winced. Pained expressions soon gave way to jubilation as Darrel "Rally Cap" Jung turned his ever-present bandanna inside-out (figuratively, of course) and brought the War Elephants back into the lead. However, Salle's onslaught of epeeists proved to much for the Elephants in this match; the final score was 45-35 for Salle.
The next match on the War Elephants' dance card was with Kanaka Pahi Kaua, fielded by the OFC. "Tag Team" Tim Scanson subbed in for Chris "That's Harder Than It Looks" Han to revitalize the Elephants, but they were still to face another uphill battle. The team appeared to be in trouble from the beginning, until Eric "Go-Go-Gadget-Epee" Mueller unleashed the long-range artillery to stage a comeback, and Darrell "Chase the Salvoes" Jung took that momentum and propelled the team into the lead. The battle was well-fought, but the Elephants ultimately fell in a narrow defeat, 45-42.
In their final match of the day, the War Elephants faced SwordFightClub's "Locked Out". Seeking to apply their opponents' name to the scoring box as well as their captain's apartment, The Elephants made their final charge of the day. The early stages of the bout saw our Elephants slipping deeper into a hole until "Comeback Kid" Darrell Jung rallied yet again to even up the score. A brief lull saw the HFC backslide ever so slightly until Darrel "MVP" Jung returned to the strip and snatched the lead from the tournament favorites. A rested and wiser Chris "Grasshopper" Han stepped back in to try to hang on to the lead, but was outclassed and outgunned, and Eric "Last Ditch Maneuver" Mueller's Last Ditch Maneuvers could not keep the island's perennial epee champion at bay. It was another 45-35 loss for the Elephants.
So, the Elephants turned and marched back across the Alps from whence they came. Their necks were, regrettably, unadorned; however, their spirit remained strong. After all, a War Elephant never forgets that a bad day on the strip still beats a good day at work!
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Better Late than Never, Right?
The 08-09 Season has already seen two exciting events, though you wouldn't know it from our website...time to remedy that.
September's first event was an Open Epee tournament, but HFC's fencers wisely saw that as the mere distraction that it was, and went straight on into the sabre, so let's do the same, shall we?
Jesse 'The Producer' Payton (U) warmed up slowly, going 50-50 in the pools and breaking even on his indicator to garner a #7 seed and going up against SFCH's Mikaela Louie in the first round. Jesse's quickness and tactical acumen scored him a win in round one, but could not overcome OFC's Henry Chang in the quarterfinals. Jesse placed 6th overall.
Tom 'Victory Lap' Delewski (D08) arrived ready to do business; he reeled off six straight victories in the pool round to take the #1 seed and with it a bye into the quarterfinal round. He then reprised two pool performances to defeat Kelly Borukhovich and JR Oakley in the tables of 8 and 4, but could not pull out a victory against OFC's perpetual sabre contender, Tom Miller. HFC's Tom took home the siver medal.
A month or so later...(yes, I KNOW. I'm WAY behind. Keep your pants on.)...The HFC once again took to the strip, this time at the Kailua Rec Center
Jesse 'The Pride of Punahou' Payton (U) had another on-and-off day in the pools, again winning half to get the #10 seed. He drew Salle's Cornelia Jolitz in the quarterfinals, and dispatched her handily only to be dispatched himself in the semis by SFCH's JR Oakley. Jesse placed 7th.
Darrell 'The Prospective PT' Jung (D06) returned to the division with authority. He was unstoppable in the pools, going undefeated and scoring a +24 indicator to easily take the number one seed. He made short work of Jason Akiyama and Jesse Miyamoto in the DEs, but met the same end as Jesse when he faced JR in the finals. Welcome back, Darrel, and congrats on the silver!
There was some real fencing done that weekend, as well; HFC fielded 4 sabrists out of a field of 13.
Darrell 'Difficult to Nickname' Jung (E07) has clearly been suffering from sabre withdrawal, with a rocky start in the pools en route to a #11 seed and a first-round DE bout with SFCH's Kyle Louie. Regrettably, this was Darrell's last sabre bout of the day; He finished 11th.
HFC's Jesse 'Down the Middle' Payton (U) won half and lost half of his pool bouts (is anyone else seeing a trend here?) to get the #8 seed and a first round match against HFC's reigning Veteran Tim 'Semi-Retired' Scanson. As usual, youth and enthusiasm were eventually vanquished by old age and experience in a narrow victory; Jesse took 9th place.
Speaking of Tim, HFC's Ironman (U)(E08) went 2-3 in the pools for the number 9 seed and, after squeaking by Jesse, faced OFC's Henry Chang. Shortly into a dramatic bout, Tim tumbled to the floor to the alarm of onlookers, who rushed to his side with ice and wraps. In the face of advice to cede the bout, Tim 'Damn the Torpedoes!' Scanson regained his feet within his allotted time and, in front of an amazed crowd, pressed the attack. Tim went on to a victory in courage and spirit, but alas, not one on the scoreboard. He finished 8th.
In what appears to be his final individual competition in the division, Tom 'So Long, and Thanks For All the Fish' Delewski (D08) clawed through a heavy pool to a #2 seed. Fortunately, this earned him a bye in the quarterfinals and some needed rest before facing SFCH's Wayne Miyamoto. Tom got by Wayne to reach the semifinals, but couldn't steal tempo from Kyle Louie, and so went home with a bronze.
Darrell 'Three-Weapon' Jung (E07) was the only HFC competitor in that day's Epee event, where a pool performance reminiscent of Jesse won him a #6 seed. This, in turn, got him a bout against JR Oakley. Despite his best efforts, he could not pull off the upset against SFCH's B08-rated epeeist and took 6th place.
Phew...that's a lot of fencing for one article. We'll see everyone on the strip for November's Unclassified Event!