The United States Fencing Association announced members of the 2004 Veteran’s World Championships team. 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).
The US Fencing Association is pleased to announce the team to the 2004 World Veterans Championships, to take place in Krems, Austria, Sept. 3-5.
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)