Air Force Academy

Falcon Open Fencing Results Update

Falcons Host Two-day Falcon Open -- AFA Fencers Take Top Spots

U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. -- The Air Force Academy fencing team hosted the annual Falcon Open at the Cadet Gymnasium on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 4-5.

On Saturday, the top finisher in women's epee was cadet Caitlin Harris. Air Force team members Elizabeth Enyart and Lydia Bigelow, Elaine Huspeni from Colorado Fencing School, and Falcon fencer Brynn Thoreson followed. Enyart lost the gold medal round to Harris by a close 15-13.

In mixed epee, former AFA fencer and 2004 Olympian Seth Kelsey was the overall champion. Jackson Ranes from Air Force lost, 15-5, to Kelsey in the championship round.

In women's saber championship round, AFA fencer Marisa Romero lost the bout to Erika Erlandson from the Colorado Fencing School. Romero took second followed by teammate Alison Freiman. Two other Falcons finished in the top eight, fifth-place finisher Caitlin Young and in sixth place Katherine Gulczynski.

Air Force fencer Sam Bartron was the mixed saber champion. Bartron won the round, 15-13, over Mario Trimble from the Denver Fencing Club. AFA's Joshua Trice was the fifth-place finisher.

In Sunday's competition, eight Falcons finished in the top eight of the women's foil and mixed foil events. Advancing to the gold medal bout in mixed foil was Air Force fencer Nate Smith and Nathan Anderson from the Denver Fencing Club. Smith lost the bout 15-14. In women's foil, Ebony Cook from Air Force advanced to the championship bout losing, 15-4, to Allison Rush from Northern Colorado Fencing Club. Cook also advanced her rating to the "D" level.

Air Force also hosted the Youth 10 Epee and Youth 12 Epee competitions. In Youth 10, James Salem from Kid Force was the first-place finisher followed by Marcus Holland from the Colorado Fencing School. In the Youth 12 event, Hudson Iowa from CFC was the gold medal winner followed by Justin Ryan from Denver Fencing Club.

The Falcons will travel to Richmond, Va., Dec. 10-12 to compete in the North American Cup Division I tournament.