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CF366 Guest Columns – NCAA Capsule Previews
• Women's Foil – Dayana Sarkisova (Northwestern '13) | • Women's Epee – Hannah Safford (Princeton '13)
• Women's Sabre – Caroline Vloka (Harvard '12) | • Men's Foil – TBA
• Men's Epee – Jonathan Yergler (Princeton '13) | • Men's Sabre – Aleks Ochocki (Penn State '12)
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CF360 Guest Column – 2014 NCAA Men’s Epee Preview, by Jon. Yergler (Princeton ’13)
Intro from CF360 editor Pete LaFleur – College Fencing 360 was thrilled that former Princeton standout Jonathan Yergler (that's him, pictured at right) shared his keen, well-articulated insights about the 2014 NCAA men’s epee field (see further down this page, after this CF360 intro. section). As many of you know, Jon. fenced in the NCAA men’s epee final bout three times (winning in 2012) and was an All-American all four of his seasons at Princeton (also 9th in 2010). Of course, he and classmate Ed Kelley reached the 2013 NCAA medal round (semifinals) after racking up plenty of wins in the round-robin – helping Princeton ultimately go on to claim the 2013 NCAA Combined Men’s and Women’s Fencing Championship title.
As an aside, if you've never checked out the 1-on-1 video interview that CF360 conducted with Yergler at the 2011 NCAAs, it's worth a look. It's posted in two parts: part-1 & part-2.
(CF360 is lining up a a few other recent fencing alums to provide similar 2014 NCAA previews for the other five weapons – stay tuned!.)
Jonathan Yergler came to Princeton from Winter Park, Fla. – not exactly a traditional fencing hotbed. But as you peruse this list of 24 entrants in the 2014 NCAA men’s epee field, you will notice that trend. For starters, the 24 hail from 16 different home states/countries, and the state represented the most actually is California (3). There are two each from Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Utah and Virginia – plus one each from the following: Arizona, Bulgaria, Colorado, Florida, Maine, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, the Ukraine and Washington. Regionally, there are 11 different fencers – nearly half of the field – from that western/mountain area (CA, TX, UT, AZ, CO, NM, WA).
This is not your father’s NCAA Tournament entrant configuration, at least not when looking at where these lads call home. In fact, there are only four total from the New York/New Jersey area and just the two foreign-based fencers.
Another distinct trend with this 2014 NCAA men’s epee field is all the new faces. Only one-third of the fencers (8) who competed in the 2013 NCAAs are back this year, none of them from the four who reached the 2013 medal round. Two of the top returners – Duke sr. Dylan Nollner (5th at ’13 NCAAs) and MIT’s Joey Rafidi (9th) – are not from the schools that annually compete for the NCAA team title. Of the 12 who earned 2013 All-America status, only four are in the 2014 NCAA field: Nollner, Rafidi, Columbia so. Brian Ro (6th) and Harvard sr. Mike Raynis (11th).
The four others returning from the 2013 NCAA men’s epee qualifiers are: Notre Dame so. Garret McGrath (13th), Penn sr. Clifford Fishler (16th), plus the Stanford duo of sr. Jake Harbour (18th) and Paul Riviere (21st).
It should be noted that Ohio State senior Kristian Boyadzhiev is back in the NCAA field, after not qualifying in 2013 (he reached the NCAA medal round a year earlier, in 2012).
For those of you doing that quick math: 8 + 1 subtracted from 24 = 15. Yes, a whopping 15 of the 24 men’s epee entrants will be fencing at the NCAA Championships for the first time. Of the nine with NCAA tournament experience, Nollner, Raynis (a 2-time All-American) and Fishler are four-time NCAA qualifiers. Harbour is making his third appearance at the NCAAs.
Here’s the breakdown by class year for the 24 entrants:
• 7 seniors
• 3 juniors
• 8 sophomores
• 6 freshmen
All of the seniors have fenced in the NCAAs previously with the exception of Duke’s Alessio Santoro.
Nearly one-third of the entries (7) are left-handed: McGrath, Harbour, Cooper Schumacher (St. John's), Paul Duchow (Cleveland State), Inaki de Guzman (Ohio State), and the Penn State duo of Conor Shepard and Yasser Mahmoud (we have to check on a couple more as to RH/LH).
Without further ado, we hand you off to Jonathan Yergler’s tremendous 2014 NCAA men’s epee capsule preview, with some preliminary comments from him about the unique event that is the NCAA Fencing Championships. (note that CF360 added the bio bits at the end of each fencer’s info., but all the rest is all Jon!) – PL …
Note that we hope to add some more photos to this page later in the week, so be sure to check back.
2014 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS – Men’s Epee (capsule preview)
By Jonathan Yergler (Princeton ’13)
There is no fencing competition in the world quite like the NCAA Championships.
It’s hard enough to even get invited to the dance. Frequently, a few of the top fencers are eliminated at Regionals either by the cutthroat competition from other schools or by the relative success of their teammates (each school is allowed to send only two fencers per weapon, per gender). I narrowly snagged a spot from a few of my good friends and teammates each year I was at Princeton and even had to qualify through our region’s at-large spot in my 2012 individual championship run.
The NCAAs places all of the pressure of a team event onto the shoulders of a select few competitors in each weapon, with the title aspirations for some schools hinging on every single bout. It cuts the margin for error down to contentious five-touch bouts and forces the fencers up against the steepest competition they face on the college circuit all year. Just to make sure that a fencer can’t just get on a roll and ride one good day to victory, the competition is split across two days.
All it takes is one loss, one bad bout, to dash any competitor’s chances of competing in the final rounds. Every year, great fencers break under that pressure, losing their composure and falling apart over the course of the grueling 23 bout round-robin.
It’s not always the best fencer who wins this competition. NCAA tests fencers in ways that no other tournament does tactically, mentally and emotionally. My former teammate, Gram Wicas wrote an excellent piece for TheFencingCoach on some of the keys to success in this tournament that is worth a read.
Today I’m here to provide a little background on the fencers in this year’s NCAA Men’s Epee event. Let me start by saying that these are not my predictions. Almost any one of these guys could win the competition under the right circumstances and it will be fun to see how this all plays out in the always hotly contested men’s epee event. But I’ll leave such predictions to bolder and more foolhardy fencing writers than me. ;)
You never know, this information might be helpful when you are ranking the competitors for your Fantasy Fencing roster on fantasyfencing.net. If you haven’t already, you should check it out. It’s looking like it’s going to be a ton of fun!
Best of luck to all the fencers competing in the Championships this weekend! You earned your chance to become an NCAA champion. Take advantage of that opportunity!
Here we go ...
• SIMON JONES – Brown ... From what I’ve been told, Simon enjoys long walks on the beach and quality literature. That, and being a thorn in the side of anyone who fenced against Brown’s epee team this year. He’s always been a very challenging bout, especially to five points. He’s definitely capable of racking up some quality wins in this competition and ruining more than a few of the other competitors’ days.
CF360 Bio Bits – initial #2 seed at 2014 NCAA Northeast Regional (placed 8th)
... placed 10th at the 2013 Regional (did not fence in ’13 NCAAs) ... So. from Louisville, CO
• PAUL DUCHOW – Cleveland State ... I don’t know much about him but the fact that he was able to steal one of the regional spots from Notre Dame should be enough of a sign that he won’t be that easy of a bout.
CF360 Bio Bits – initial #9 seed at 2014 NCAA Midwest Regional (placed 4th)
... placed 9th at the 2013 Regional ... So. from Spokane, WA
• JAKE HOYLE – Columbia ... The sophomore is making his NCAA championships debut this year for the Lions. He has been more than holding his own on the Junior US circuit over the past few years and brings a lot of general fencing experience to the table. He has an uncanny ability to put his tip on the target from anywhere with an array of flicks and solid timing instincts.
CF360 Bio Bits – initial #3 seed at 2014 NCAA Northeast Regional (placed 3rd)
... placed 9th at the 2013 Regional (did not fence in ’13 NCAAs) ... So. from Philadelphia, PA
• BRIAN RO – Columbia ... The cool-headed French grip fencer finished near the top of the event in 2013, after getting off to a blistering start on day-1. He fell off towards the end of day-2 and just barely fell out of the top-4. He followed up his performance with a strong regular season and an Ivy League title this year. With a year of experience in the tournament under his belt, I would expect him to be a contender this year too.
CF360 Bio Bits – initial #1 seed at 2014 NCAA Northeast Regional (placed 10th)
... placed 6th at the 2013 NCAAs (after winning Regional) ... So. from Scarsdale, NY
• DYLAN NOLLNER – Duke ... He’s been a regular in this completion for a few years and brings a substantial amount of experience to the completion. He is great at finishing actions with his impeccable sense of timing and has just the right kind of mental composure to roll with whatever is thrown his way in this event.
CF360 Bio Bits – initial #4 seed at 2014 NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional (placed 2nd)
... placed 5th at the 2013 NCAAs (15th in ’12; 22nd in ’11) ... Sr. from Ogden, UT
• ALESSIO SANTORO – Duke ... The senior “Italian Stallion” is a mercurial talent capable of going toe-to-toe with just about anyone in this competition. This is the first year he’s been able to put it all that talent together to make it to the tourney. If he can stay calm under the NCAA pressure, he could surprise a lot of people. Having Nollner as a “travel partner” (bouting in same group) and listening to his advice could really help him adjust to the atmosphere quickly.
CF360 Bio Bits – initial #7 seed at 2014 NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional (placed 3rd)
... placed 21at at the 2013 Regional ... Sr. from Delray Beach, FL
• ALEXANDER “Ace” ELDEIB – Harvard ... The freshman Harvard big man has been putting up results on the national and international circuits for the past few years now. He’s had a strong season for the Crimson so far and certainly has enough talent to contend this year. His general fencing experience and disgustingly long reach should serve him well. And my sources inform me that he is still growing …
CF360 Bio Bits – initial #5 seed at 2014 NCAA Northeast Regional (placed 7th)
... Freshman from Burke, VA
• MIKE RAYNIS – Harvard ... The heart-and-hustle leader of the Crimson’s Ivy League title team this year has everything in place to make a real run at a ring. He has NCAA and U.S. circuit experience, incredible speed and strength and the will to fight for take those “ugly touches.” This could be the year he puts all together to make a real run, you never know.
CF360 Bio Bits – initial #13 seed at 2014 NCAA Northeast Regional (placed 6th)
... placed 11th at the 2013 NCAAs (20th in ’12; 6th in’11) ... Sr. from Chatsworth, CA
- JOSEPH (Joey) RAFIDI – MIT ... He is unpredictable and tough to read. His herky-jerky style makes him very difficult to fence your game against. But he’s not just unorthodox, he’s very experienced and talented in his own right. If a fencer does not respect his game going into the bout, that fencer will lose in frustrating fashion. These are the types of loses that can easily make a fencer lose their emotional stability and start a cascade of losses that forces them out of contention.
CF360 Bio Bits – initial #6 seed at 2014 NCAA Northeast Regional (placed 2nd)
... placed 9th at the 2013 NCAAs ... Sr. from Los Angeles, CA - GARRET McGRATH – Notre Dame ... I always had trouble with Garret back in the day. The tall, lefty French grip fencer has the ability to potentially beat any one of the other competitors this year. It takes a lot of patience to beat a fencer like that, and under the NCAA conditions, using that strategy can be easier said than done.
CF360 Bio Bits – initial #2 seed at 2014 NCAA Midwest Regional (placed 3rd)
... placed 13th at the 2013 NCAAs ... So. from Mesa, AZ
• KRISTIAN “The Brute” BOYADZHIEV– Ohio State ... He’s the only one of the medal-round fencers from the past couple years (2012) who remains. He has shown consistency every year and is showing no sign up dropping off. Kristian should only be better with the home crowd behind him. If there is one fencer that is a “safe” pick to finish near the top, this is it.
CF360 Bio Bits – initial #1 seed at 2014 NCAA Midwest Regional (placed 1st)
... semifinalist at the ’12 NCAAs (4th at ‘13 Reg./did not make NCAAs) ... Sr.; Sofia, Bulgaria
- INAKI de GUZMAN – Ohio State ... Yet another good fencer who is making his tournament debut in Columbus. Having the home crown behind him could inspire his fencing and drive him to a whole different level. On the other hand, having the home crowd there can sometimes just increase the amount of pressure. Which way Inaki responds will determine how successful he can be in the competition.
CF360 Bio Bits – initial #6 seed at 2014 NCAA Midwest Regional (placed 2nd)
... Freshman from Fairfax, VA
• (R.J.) ROYCE SHIPP – U Penn ... Royce is looking to follow up his second team all-Ivy League finish this year by making waves in the NCAA tournament. I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do.
CF360 Bio Bits – initial #2 seed at 2014 NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional (placed 5th)
... placed 14th at the 2012 Regional (did not fence in 2012-13) ... So. from Orem, UT
• CLIFFORD FISHLER – U Penn ... Cliff has put up some great wins over the past few years on the circuit. He has the experience and skill to really push for a top result. No one looks forward to a matchup against his unique French grip style, especially with the years of experience he has under his belt.
CF360 Bio Bits – initial #10 seed at 2014 NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional (placed 7th)
... placed 16th at the 2013 NCAAs (14th in ’12; 20th in ’11) ... Sr. from Great Neck, NY
• CONOR SHEPARD – Penn State ... This freshman is one of several incredibly talented freshmen this year. Not many of the competitors can boast winning a senior NAC over a former NCAA champion before even walking on campus (yeah, that one still stings a little). If he’s feeling good that day, watch out. The southpaw will still have to prove that he can roll with the unique mental and emotional pressures of the tournament – but if he can do that, all of the talent is there.
CF360 Bio Bits – initial #1 seed at 2014 NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional (placed 4th)
... Fr. from Colleyville, TX
• YASSER MAHMOUD – Penn State ... Love this guy. The lefty has one of the strongest competitive motors on anyone in this competition and I have never seen this guy give less than 200% effort. The trick will be whether he can control that fire and use it to leverage his tactical strengths.
CF360 Bio Bits – initial #8 seed at 2014 NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional (placed 8th)
... placed 7th at 2013 Regional (did not fence at ’13 NCAAs) ... So. from Quincy, MA
• JACK HUDSON – Princeton ... Jack’s yet another top-tier imported talent. When everything is clicking, the sarcastic Brit will make an opponent feel hopeless by riddling their arm with his insane tip control. Injuries kept him from having a breakout freshman season last year but if he is feeling healthy come game day, I wouldn’t be surprised if he breaks out a dominant performance despite this being his first year in the competition. At the end of last year’s Senior World Cup season, Jack dominated former world #1 Silvio Fernandez in an early round of the 2013 Buenos Aires World Cup. so we know he’s got the necessary talent to do something special for the Tigers.
CF360 Bio Bits – initial #5 seed at 2014 NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional (placed 1st)
... Sophomore from Houston, TX
• ALEX HOUSE – Princeton ... Princeton’s own super freshman is always the consummate professional. Bringing him on board to pair with Hudson continued Princeton’s long tradition of having a powerhouse men’s epee squad. He runs a fairly simple game with devastating efficiency. If any of the first-time competitors have the mental composure to survive the mental and emotional trials of the competition, it’s this guy.
CF360 Bio Bits – initial #6 seed at 2014 NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional (placed 10th)
... Freshman from Upton, MA
• JONATHAN JACOVINO – Sacred Heart ... We seem to have one of these every year, a former foilist converted to fence epee, who shocks a bunch of the regular epee contenders. Maybe it’s the foil mindset that the traditional epeeists struggle to adjust to or maybe it’s the more relaxed expectations that come with fencing your second weapon – but we know this type of fencer can definitely crank out more than a few quality wins. Jacovino posted some especially eye-opening results at his regional event a few weeks ago, so I’d expect him to still be hot in Columbus.
CF360 Bio Bits – initial #10 seed at 2014 NCAA Northeast Regional (placed 1st)
... Jr. from Brownfield, ME
• DEVON (Charles) CLARK – Sacred Heart ... I don’t know much about Charles honestly. But Sacred Heart has built a few solid men’s epeeists over the years. Former Sacred Heart fencer Justin Dion put up some great results back in my day and is now training at the Olympic Training center – so it seems like the program is doing something very right in terms of developing surprise talents. The smart play would be to not sleep on any of these fencers and approach every bout with caution.
CF360 Bio Bits – initial #7 seed at 2014 NCAA Northeast Regional (placed 9th)
... Jr. from Teaneck, NJ
• COOPER “Fine Wine” SHUMACHER – St. John’s ... A budding talent from the NY/NJ fencing scene, Cooper is part of a very strong foundation for the St. John’s epee program. The lefty has surprising speed and quickness that should serve him well in the competition. He still has to overcome the same obstacles facing all of the other first-time participants – but he has a lot of the tools needed to do something special on the NCAA circuit. I expect Cooper to be a regular in the competition over the next few years and to improve each time. (with age… like a fine wine, get it?)
CF360 Bio Bits – initial #4 seed at 2014 NCAA Northeast Regional (placed 5th)
... Freshman from Pompton Lakes, NJ
• YEVGENIY KARYUCHENKO – St. John’s ... Genya might be the most talented fencer in the competition this year and continues a rich tradition of quality Eastern European imports at St. John’s. He boasts a prestigious fencing pedigree (he’s related to the decorated, older Karyuchenko on the Ukranian senior team) and international experience. The only question marks in my mind are how he responds in the NCAA pressure cooker.
CF360 Bio Bits – initial #9 seed at 2014 NCAA Northeast Regional (placed 4th)
... Freshman from Kharkiv, Ukraine
• JAKE HARBOUR – Stanford ... Jake is a tournament veteran at this point. The crafty lefty has been able to hold his own every year and traditionally has given many of the other top fencers fits. With the amount of youth in the competition this year, I wouldn’t be surprised if his experience pays off for him in a big way.
CF360 Bio Bits – initial #2 seed at 2014 NCAA West Regional (placed 4Th)
... placed 18th at the 2013 NCAAs (13th in ’11) ... Sr. from Santa Fe, NM
• PAUL RIVIERE – Stanford ... Paul is lightning quick and has the composure to make the bold move when he needs to. With so many of the other fencers becoming overly cautious due to the competition pressure, his bold decisions to just go for the touch could pay large dividends for him. If he can walk the fine line of being bold but not reckless, he might just surprise a lot of people this year.
CF360 Bio Bits – initial #1 seed at 2014 NCAA West Regional (placed 3rd)
... placed 21st at the 2013 NCAAs ... Jr. from San Diego, CA
Again, best of luck to all of the competitors in this year’s championship! If you want to have some more fun with NCAAs this year, you should sign up for FantasyFencing at fantasyfencing.net. If you sign up, you can draft a team of your favorite fencers from the tournament and watch them compete in the live championship this weekend! Check it out (no money or gambling, of course – it’s just for fun, and bragging rights).
If you liked my writeup, you should check out my blog, TheFencingAthlete.com and like my Facebook page.
– JY