Air Force Academy

Sept. 19, 2009

On the first day of the Nick Toth Open at the Air Force Academy it was all about the men's and women's saber teams and their quest to fly high in the first competition of the 2009-10 season. Air Force saber fencer Michael O'Connor won the senior mixed saber competition, and freshman Heather Nelson was the senior women's saber champion, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009. After advancing through the direct elimination rounds, O'Connor won the championship round 15-7 versus teammate Geoffrey Pamerleau, a sophomore, who finished in second place among the 20 competitors. Also in senior mixed saber, freshmen Scott Pippin and Nelson tied for third place, while sophomore Edward Wong and senior Brent Lavey finished seventh and eighth, respectively.

In direct elimination of mixed saber, O'Connor won 15-8, 15-10 and 15-10. Pamerleau won his bouts, 15-10, 15-7 and 15-11 before advancing to the championship round with O'Connor. Nelson scored 15-11, 15-4 and 10-15, while Pippin was 15-1, 15-12 and 11-15 in direct elimination.

"Our saber team is starting to show a lot of strength," said Head Coach Abdel Salem. "I am very proud of their accomplishments in the Nick Toth Open. The team has strong leaders in O'Connor and Pamerleau."

In senior mixed epee, freshman Nathan Sorensen took second place among 72 fencers. Sophomore Samuel McKinnon tied for third place. Junior Daniel Trapani finished in fifth place, while senior Peter French placed sixth and sophomore Phil Choy finished 13th. In the senior women's epee competition, senior Jennifer Nolta finished in eighth place among 20 competitors.

Saturday's results will be availabe on Askfred.net, complete results will be posted after Sunday's competiton.

2009 Nick Toth Open Saturday, Sept. 19

Open Senior Mixed Saber

1. Michael O'Connor Air Force Academy 2. Geoffrey Pamerleau Air Force Academy 3T Scott Pippin Air Force Academy 3T Heather Nelson Air Force Academy 5. Nicholas Gianoutsos Mile High Fencing Club 6. Billy Meckling Denver Fencing Center 7 Edward Wong Air Force Academy 8. Brent Lavey Air Force Academy

Open Senior Women's Saber

1. Heather Nelson Air Force Academy 2. Eva Heinrich Denver Fencing Center 3T Danielle Doyle Denver Fencing Center 3T Laura Desimone Reno Silver Blades 5. Lexi Francavilla Fencing Academy of Denver

Open Senior Mixed Epee

1. Michael Raynis LA International Fencing Center 2. Nathan Sorensen Air Force Academy 3T Samuel McKinnon Falcon Fencing 3T Will Brady US Modern Pentathlon 5. Daniel Trapani Air Force Academy 6. Peter French Air Force Academy 7 Daniel Rees Bucks County Academy of Fencing 8. Simon Jones Northern Colorado Fencers

Open Senior Women's Epee

1. Christine Dominick Northern Colorado Fencers 2. Juleah Nusz Amarillo College Fencing Assoc. 3T Paige Fox Northwest Fencing Center 3T Marquax Isaksen US Modern Pentathlon 5. Katherine Fulghum New Mexico Fencing Foundation 6. Olivia Prosseda Front Range Fencing 7 Nina Van Loon Northern Colorado Fencers 8. Jennifer Nolta Air Force Academy