CF360 2015 Fencer Focus (Q&A) – Men's Foil | Men's Epee | Men's Sabre
(posted below, or being added):
• Jonathan Fitzgerald (Notre Dame)
• Shaul Gordon (Penn)
• Andrew Mackiewicz (Penn State)
• Chris Monti (Duke)
• Kaito Streets (Penn State)
SHAUL GORDON
PENN ... Sabre ... Jr. … Richmond, British Columbia
– 4th at 2015 Mid-Atlantic/South Regional (#2 pre-regional seed)
– Three-Time NCAA Participant • Two-Time All-American
– Runner-Up at 2013 NCAAs (w. Penn St.) • Semifinalist at ’14 NCAAs (w/ Penn)
Nickname – Ice Daddy
Official Height – 6-1
Birthplace – Tel Aviv, Israel
Other noteworthy places my family has lived – Tonho, Italy
High School – Richmond High Secondary
High School's Nickname – The Colts
College Majors – French and Political Science
Favorite College Class – A geology introductory class, everything was new to me and very interesting
Why I chose to attend Penn – I loved the campus, excellent academics and very strong sabre program.
My dream job – Lawyer
Where I want to be in 10 years – On my own private island, relaxing
FENCING BACKGROUND
How I got started in fencing – I watched when I was young Disney’s Zorro. After learing you could ‘fight’ in a sport, I tried it out in a local club in Italy.
Family ancestry from a traditional fencing country – My mother’s family lives in Italy, that’s where I started the sport.
My current coaches – Andy Ma (Penn) and Victor Gontsevich (Dynamo Fencing club, in Vancouver)
My former coaches – Gilbert Gelinas (2010–11) and Wes Glon (Penn State, 2012–13)
Three words that best describe coach Andy Ma – hard-working, passionate and patient
YOUR ATHLETIC CAREER
Pre-bout rituals or superstitions – I usually get really nervous and sometimes even throw up
Areas where I feel I have improved most this season – physical conditioning, strategic choices and experience
Key areas of improvement that remain for me – physical conditioning, mental strength and overall technique
How I would you describe this college season (for me and the team) – somewhat disappponging, due to Ivies.
Present/former teammates who will be fencing in the 2015 NCAAs for other teams:
– Kaito Streets (Penn State) and Fares Arfa (Canadian National Team). Fares and I have been together on the cadet, junior and senior-level national teams.
Favorite international/national-team fencer – Aaron Szilagyi (Hungary), he has great footwork and technique
What I would you change about college fencing – More video replay.
If I were to play another sport on the collegiate level, it would be – Tennis, some of the movements are similar
I would you like to continue fencing on a competitive level – for at least a few more years
FAVORITES
Favorite college fencing roadtrip – NCAA Regional at Duke: long bus ride but the weather is very nice
Favorite cities where you have fenced at an event – Dead Sea Resort in Jordan Porec, Croatia (Jr. World Champ.)
Favorite/most memorable fencing moment – 2013 Junior World Championships, I was fencing very well
Most embarrassing moment on the fencing strip – I don’t like losing by one touch
Strangest/rarest thing ever seen in a fencing event my college team was competing in
– Two teams almost getting into a fight at the Ivy League meet
Favorite pro sports teams/athletes – The Sacramento Kings and Omri Casspi
Favorite food – Lasagna
Favorite TV show – Modern Family
Current U-Penn junior Shaul Gordon (above) was part of an epic sabre medal round at the 2013 NCAAs (in San Antonio), while fencing for Penn State during his freshman season. After going 16–7 in the round-robin (4th), Gordon stunningly edged two-time NCAA champion and 2012 U.S. Olympic team member Daryl Homer (St. John’s) in a 15–14 semifinal – while PSU teammate Adrian Bak lost his own 15–14 bout, vs. Michael Mills (from rival Penn). Mills then topped Gordon, 15–9, in the title bout (the two became college teammates a year later, at Penn).
– photo courtesy Penn Athletics
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ANDREW MACKIEWICZ
PENN STATE ... Sabre ... Fr. … Westwood, MA
– 1st at 2015 Mid-Atlantic/South Regional (#1 pre-regional seed)
– First-Time NCAA Participant
Official Height – 6-0
Birthplace – New York City
Other noteworthy places where my family has lived – Canada
High School – Westwood
High School’s Colors – Green and White
College Major – Entrepreneurship
What I like most about being a student-athlete at Penn State
– Being on a team that are your friends as well.
My dream job – Profressional soccer player
FENCING BACKGROUND
How I got started in fencing – I liked Star Wars when I was 8. Still do
Current coaches – Wes Glon (PSU) and Zoran Tulum (club and youth national team)
Key influence on my fencing career – My club coach Zoran Tulum. He has taught me more than just fencing.
MY ATHLETIC CAREER
Present/former teammates who are fencing in the 2015 NCAAs for other teams
– Eli Dershwitz (Harvard), Geoffrey Loss (Columbia) and Kaito Streets (Penn State)
Of the fencers listed above, I am you closest to – Eli Dershwitz (Harvard)
If I were to play another sport on the collegiate level, it would be – soccer, I just love the sport
FAVORITES
Favorite city where I have fenced at an event
– Madrid. Went to a Real Madrid soccer game and placed second at the senior team event.
Favorite pro sports athlete – Christiano Ronaldo [soccer], because he’s a machine.
photo by Pete LaFleur (CF360) – all rights reserved