CF360 2015 Fencer Focus (Q&A) – Men's Foil | Men's Epee | Men's Sabre
(posted below, or being added):
• Nobuo Bravo (Penn State)
• Jason Chang (Penn)
• Ariel DeSmet (Notre Dame)
• David Gomez (Penn State)
• Andrew Holmes (Saced Heart)
• David Kong (NJIT)
• Adam Mathieu (Columbia)
• John Vaiani (Penn)
(beyond those listed above, additional fencers also may be added later in the week)
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NOBUO BRAVO
PENN STATE ... Foil … Jr. … San Francisco, CA
– 3rd at 2015 Mid-Atlantic/South Regional (#1 pre-regional seed)
– Two-Time NCAA Participant
– 2014 NCAA Semifinalist (11–15 vs. ND’s Gerek Meinhardt/champion)
Official Height – 5-11
Birthplace – San Francisco
High School – International High School
High School's Nickname – Jay Nation
College Major – International Politics
What I like most about being a student-athlete at my school
– Great teammates.
FENCING BACKGROUND
How I got started in fencing – My friends were doing it.
Current Coaches – Greg Massialas, Dean Hatanj & Cole Harkness (each with Halberstadt Fencing and/or Massialas Foundation) … Gia Abashidze (PSU)
Three words that best describe my college head coach Wes Glon – “Fear the 'Stache"
MY ATHLETIC CAREER
Notable present/former club teammates
– Alexander Massialas (Stanford), Gerek Meindhardt (Notre Dame) and David Willette (Penn State), all 2014 NCAA semifinalists [as was Bravo]
Other weapons I have fenced on a competitive level – once won a Y-10 national sabre competition
FAVORITES
Favorite Pro Sports Teams – San Francisco 49ers, S.F. Giants, Golden State Warriors and Oakland Raiders
Favorite Movie – a Prophet
photo courtesy Penn State Athletics
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ARIEL DeSMET
NOTRE DAME ... Foil … 5th-Yr.-Sr. … Troutdale, OR
– 2nd at 2015 Midwest Regional (#1 pre-regional seed)
– Three-Time NCAA Participant • Two-Time All-American
– 2011 NCAA Champion • 10th at 2013 NCAAs
(notes: ND’s 2014 NCAA m-foil qualifiers were Gerek Meinhardt & Kristjian Archer … in 2012, it was Enzo Castellani and Reggie Bentley, w/ Meinhardt and DeSmet taking the year off due to Olympic qualification)
Nickname – Sunshine
The title of My Autobiography Would Be – ☯
Official Height – 5’10”
Birthplace – Portland, OR
Anything notable or unusual about my hometown Troutdale, OR? – It’s small
High School: Reynolds (Troutdale, OR)
High School's Nickname and Colors: Raiders
College Major – Business – Entrepreneurship/Management
Favorite College Class – Sociology of War & Existential Philosophy
Why I chose Notre Dame – "Can do anything with a business degree/ want to work for myself."
What I like most about being a student-athlete at Notre Dame – The team
My dream job – Living in the forest
Where I want to be in 10 years – Living in the forest
FENCING BACKGROUND
How I got started in fencing – Movies when young/in grade school; liked combat sports
Current coach – Gia Kvaratskhelia
(ND head coach/foil coach)
Former coach – Michael Marx, until college
Three words that best describe Gia Kvaratskhelia – Amazing, incredible, wonderful
Ariel DeSmet in action at the 2013 NCAAs, vs. Penn State’s
Miles Charley-Watson. (photo by Pete LaFleur/CF360)
MY ATHLETIC CAREER
How I would you describe this college season (for me and my team) – Encouraging
What I like most about college fencing – The team
What I would change about college fencing – The format of NCAA’s
Other sports I have played at a high level – Parkour [editor: a "holistic training discipline using movement that developed from military obstacle course training"]
If I were to play another sport, it would be – Muay thai/judo/jiujitsu
FAVORITES
Favorite/most memorable fencing moment – 2011 NCAA’s (I won, so did our team)
Favorite pro sports teams/athletes – MMA: Ronda Rousey, Royce Gracie
Favorite Food – Thai
Favorite Movies –Pulp Fiction, Gladiator, Count of Monte Cristo, Natural Born Killers
Ariel DeSmet, pictured anove early in his college career, won the NCAAs foil title as a freshman in 2011, besting Penn State’s Miles Chamley-Watson (future U.S. Olympian) in a memorable title bout.
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ADAM MATHIEU
COLUMBIA ... Foil … Jr. … Union City, NJ
* team replacement/option *
– 7th at 2015 Northeast Regional (#4 pre-regional seed)
– Three-Time NCAA Participant
– 16th at 2013 NCAAs • 13th at 2014 NCAAs
What would be the title of my autobiography? – “Tall and Angry"
Birthplace – New York City
Current Hometown – Jersey City, NJ
High School – Packer Collegiate Institute
FENCING BACKGROUND
Current coaches – Sean McClain Alex Martin (both w/ Empire United Fencing)
Former coaches – Mitro Valsamis and Steve Kaplan
MY ATHLETIC CAREER
Fencers at the 2015 NCAAs (from other teams) that I am closest to
– David Kong (NJIT) & Brian Kaneshige (Harvard)
Favorite national-team fencer – Race Imboden
FAVORITES
Favorite college fencing roadtrip – Ive League Championships
Favorite city where I have fenced – Paris
photo courtesy Columbia Athletics
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JOHN VAIANI
PENN ... Foil … Fr. … Wall, NJ
– 2nd at 2015 Mid-Atlantic/South Regional (#2 pre-regional seed)
– First-Time NCAA Participant
What would be the title of my autobiography
– Thanks, Mom - An Autobiography
Official Height – 6-1
Birthplace – Wall, NJ
High School – Christian Brothers Academy (Lincroft, NJ)
High School’s Colors – Blue and White
Favorite College Class – Modern Japanese History
Why I chose Penn – I really liked the campus, coach Ma and [fellow foilist] Jason Chang, who played a major role in convincing me.
What I like most about being a student-athlete at Penn – It teaches me important time management.
My dream job – Soccer announcer for the BPL
Where I want to be doing in 10 years – Be working as a lawyer at a major firm.
FENCING BACKGROUND
How I got started in fencing – My mom [JoAnn Vaiani] used to fence and she introduced me to the sport.
Family members who have been fencers – Mother JoAnn Vaiani was first “C’ rated women’s fencer in New Jersey (foil) … sister Nicole Vaiani took 3rd place at a 2013–14 Cadet World Cup in Pisa, Italy (also foil)
Current coach – Andy Ma (Penn)
Former coach – Istvan Marton (Atlantic Fencing Club) “five days a week"
Key influences on my fencing career – My parents. They have always been there supporting me.
Three words that best describe Penn coach Andy Ma – Brilliant, Strong and Supportive
YOUR ATHLETIC CAREER
Areas where I feel I have improved most this season – Better attach in preparation.
Key areas of improvement that remain for me – Any defensive actions.
How I would describe this college season (for me and the team)
– Excellent. We all have fenced very well and I am proud of myself and my team.
Former teammate who fences for rival school
– Columbia’s Drew Johnston. We have been friends since I started. We always go backand forth.
Favorite national-team fencer – Lee Kiefer
Fencing other weapons on a competitive level – I got my C rating in epee
What I like most about college fencing – The team bonding
What I would change about college fencing – The Regionals should not count as much.
If I were to participate in another sport on the collegiate level, it would be – Crew, because it takes a lot of work.
How long I would like to continue fencing on a competitive level – I want to make the 2020 Olympic Team.
FAVORITES
Favorite college fencing roadtrip – Ivy League Championships because everyone is so amped.
Favorite cities where I have fenced at an event – Pisa, Italy, and Aix, France - both have awesome food.
Favorite/most memorable fencing moment – Getting third at the Aix Junior World Cup
Most embarrassing moment on the fencing strip
– Losing 15-0 to [current Penn teammate] Sarah Parmacek when I firs started fencing
Favorite pro sports team – Chelsea FC [soccer]
Favorite Food - Beef Fried Rice from China House
Favorite TV Show, Movie, Actor and Actress – Archer, all the Star Wars moviies, Will Smith and Mila Kunis
photo courtesy Penn athletics