USFA: World Veterans Championships

Fencers in two different age groups will compete in five weapons at these World Championships: Men’s foil, épée, and saber and women’s foil and épée in two age categories: 50-59 and 60 and older. More than 250 athletes from 24 countries competed in the 2003 Championships in Limoges, France.

The first World Veteran’s Fencing Championships took place in 1998. The Championships are held by the Fédération Internationale d’Escrime, the international fencing federation. A veteran’s men’s épée demonstration event was held at the 1997 World Championships in Capetown, South Africa. Women’s foil was added to the program and the events became an official Championships in 1998. The Championships expanded to five weapons in 1999: men’s foil, women’s foil, men’s épée, women’s épée and men’s saber.

The members of the US Team were selected at the Summer National Championships in July in Charlotte, N.C. based on the two best results at two North American Cup Veterans tournaments and the Summer National Age Category Championships.

Thirty-two US athletes will compete from clubs around the country. Many team members have won medals in previous Championships, including Ed Korfanty, two-time 50-60 Men’s Saber World Champion (2002, 2003). Korfanty also happens to be the coach of Mariel Zagunis — the first US Olympic gold-medallist in 100 years and first ever Women’s Saber Olympic Champion.

ROSTER

Age 50-60 Women’s Foil

Yvonne Walton (53, Londonderry, N.H./Seacoast Fencing)
Judith Offerle (52, Winnetka, Ill./Chicago Ath. Assoc.)
Jann Ream (51, Iowa city, Ia./U. Iowa Fencing)
Candy Torres (51, Houston TX/Clear Lake Fencers Club)
no – Cindy Allen (51, Danbury, Ct./Candlewood Fencing)

Age 50-60 Women’s Epee

Loy Grotts (50, Sylmar, CA/Swords)
Marianne Bosco (52, Madison, Ala./Huntsville F.C.)
Diane Kallus (57, Round Rock, Texas/Austin F.C.)
Jann Ream (51, Iowa city, Ia./U. Iowa Fencing)

Age 50-60 Men’s Foil

Tom Lutton (51, Waltham, Mass/Boston FC)
Heik Hambarzumian (55, Las Vegas, Nev./Las Vegas F.C.)
Joe Biebel (52, Bayside, Wisc./Caliburn)
Joe Streb (52, Columbus, Ohio/Columbus F.C.)

Age 50-60 Men’s Epee

Charlie Schneider (52, Novi, Mich./Fenc. Acad. of Mich.)
Jere Bothelio (53, San Jose, Calif./Salle Santa Cruz)
Bob Cochrane (53, Lake Worth, Fla./Palm Beach F.C.)
Rob Chidel (54, Chicago, Ill./ Chicago Ath. Assoc.)

Age 50-60 Men’s Saber

Ed Korfanty (52, Portland, Ore./Oregon Fencing Alliance)
Wang Yung (54, Bellevue, Wash./ Salle Auriol Seattle)
Larry Pinkus (Washington, D.C.)
Alfred Lara (51, Laguna Niguel, Calif./Falcon Fencing)

Age 60+ Women’s Foil

Pat Bedrosian (62, Malibu, Calif./ Couturier)
Terry Abrahams (67, Tampa, Fla./Tampa F.C.)
Bettie Graham (63, Washington, D.C./Chevy Chase F.C.)
Nadine Obermiller (70, Waynesburg, Pa./W.V.U. F.C.)

Age 60+ Women’s Epee

Pat Bedrosian
Bettie Graham
Nadine Obermiller

Age 60+ Men’s Foil

Ray Sexton (61, Round Rock, Texas/Round Rock Fencing)
Jim Adams (64, Rockville, Md./D.C.F.C.)
Maximo Callao (63, Boise, Id./Salle Boise)
Don Benge (70, Burbank, Calif./Swordplay)

Age 60+ Men’s Epee

Kaz Campe (67, Edgewater, Md./D.C.F.C.)
Ray Sexton
Jonathan Jefferies (60, Alameda, Calif./Golden Gate)
Peter Calderon

Age 60+ Men’s Saber

Ray Sexton
Bill Hall (68, Acton, Mass./Boston F.C.)
Howard Goodman (61, North Caldwell, N.J./Lilov)
Peter Calderon (61, Washington, D.C./DCFC)