Golds for Italy in Women’s Sabre, Men’s Epee

Italy earned double-gold, claiming the Team World Championship titles in the Men’s Epee and Women’s Sabre competitions at the 2011 Junior World Championships.  The team victories have Italy at 2nd place in the Nations Ranking, only 20 points behind Russia with one more day of team events to go.  The United States is in 3rd place, 80 points behind Russia.

Women’s Team Sabre

Caterina Navarria (ITA) used a 7-0 bout against Magdalena Pasternak (POL) to secure Italy’s come-from-behind victory with a 45-40 win against Poland to hand Italy the Junior Women’s Sabre Team World Championship.  Russia bested the Ukraine 45-37 for the bronze medal.

In the quarter-finals, the Ukrainian team knocked the US out of medal contention with a 45-43 win over Team USA.  They placed 6th.

The US team of Francesca Russo, Celina Merza, Skyla Powers, and Lian Osier started off with a 45-17 victory over Canada in the round of 16.  In the round of 8 they faced off with the Ukraine.  During the match with the Ukraine Team USA went with the line up of Merza, Russo, and Osier.

Team USA held the lead for the entire match, but in the final two bouts Olena Kravatska went 9-5 with Russo to bring the score to 40-34 for the US.  Alina Komashuk then went 11-3 against Osier to claim the come from behind victory for the Ukraine.

Junior Women’s Sabre – Team – Final Results

1. Italy
2. Poland
3. Russia
4. Ukraine
5. Hungary
6. United States
7. France
8. Germany

Team Men’s Epee

Italy swept the gold today by adding the Junior Men’s Epee Team title to the Women’s Sabre title.  The Italian team defeated Hungary 45-29 in a lopsided finals match.

France won the bronze medal 45-31 over Switzerland.  The Swiss had knocked out top seeded Russia 34-31 in the round of 16.

The United States, seeded 7th, defeated Cyprus 45-12 and then met Great Britain in the round of 16.  The US team of Edward Kelley, James Kaull, Michael Raynis and alternate Alexander Eldeib fought a pitched match against the British epeeists, which included a 17-12 bout between Kelley (USA) and Ben White (GBR) that kept the US lead at 3 points.

In the final encounter of the match Junior World Champion Philip Marsh (GBR) went 9-2 against Kaull (USA) to eke out the 43-42 win for Great Britain.  The US placed 11th.

Junior Team Men’s Epee – Final Results

1. Italy
2. Hungary
3. France
4. Switzerland
5. Poland
6. Canada
7. Great Britain
8. Germany
11. USA