CLICK HERE for listing of upcoming video interviews from 2010 NCAAs (courtesy of CF360) ... some already posted.
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CollegeFencing360 has entered the video age, as part of its wall-to-wall coverage at the 2009 NCAAs. Simply click on the links below to begin playing the video (or audio) interviews:
(1) NICK CHINMAN ('09) – The Penn State junior discusses winning the 2009 NCAA men's foil title, his introduction to fencing in his hometown of Boulder, Colo., the benefits of being part of the Nittany Lion fencing tradition – and more (3/21/09).
(2) ALEKSANDER OCHOCKI ('09) – The Penn State freshman reflects on winning the 2009 men's sabre championship.
(3) EMMANUIL KAIDANOV (audio only) – The longtime Penn State coach was gracious enough to take 10 minutes with CollegeFencing360, reflecting on PSU's 2009 NCAA championship. (Note that a typed transcript of this interview will be posted on the CF360 blog ... we also will be archiving all of the NCAA coverage in one place, for easy reference in the future.)
(4) 2009 W-FOIL SEMIFINAL (Cross-Willette) – Relive this classic showdown between a pair of former NCAA women's foil champions – Harvard fifth-year senior Emily Cross ('05 NCAA champ) and Penn State junior Doris Willette ('07 champion) – who also were members of the four-fencer team that comprised the U.S. women's foil contingent at the 2008 Olympic Games, in Beijing. Willette held leads of 3-1, 4-2 and 6-4, but Cross surged to a 7-6 lead before Willette tied the bout late in the third period. Cross had "priority" during the 1:00 overtime (meaning she would be declared the winner, if no touch was scored in OT) – but Willette won in the most thrilling fashion (8-7), scoring her touch with only 0:01 left on the clock (winning touch included in the footage).
(5) TOP-4 TEAMS (2009; on podium) – A quick video of the top-4 team finishers at the 2009 NCAAs. Columbia (4th-place) is shown first, followed by Ohio State (3rd), Notre Dame (runner-up) and Penn State (champion). The 2nd-4th-place teams are shown briefly (you can pause the play to view longer), while the Penn State footage is longer and actually repeats with a zoomed-in version of the fencers and another of the coaches.
(6) SLAVA ZINGERMAN (audio only) – The Wayne State men's epeeist took a few minutes to visit with CF360 editor Pete LaFleur, moments after defeating Princeton's Graham Wicas to secure Zingerman's third straight NCAA title. (Note that a typed transcript of this interview will be placed on the CF360 blog).
(7) 2009 W-SABRE SEMIFINAL (Schneider-Ward)
(8) 2009 W-SABRE FINAL (Vloka-Ward) – Duke freshman Becca Ward (the 2008 Olympic bronze medalist) lost only a handful of bouts throughout the college season, capped by her victory at the NCAAs. Ward went 22-1 in the NCAA round-robin (her only loss came vs. another top freshman, Penn State's Monica Aksamit) and then faced a big challenge in the semifinals, vs. Columbia junior and '07 NCAA champion Daria Schneider (that bout was tied 8-8, but Ward won seven of the final eight points for a 15-9 win). She then faced yet another elite rookie, Harvard's Caroline Vloka, in the title bout – and Ward closed with a dominating 15-4 victory.
(9) 2009 Weapon Award Ceremonies (all weapons)
• WOMEN'S SABRE (still photos only)
(10) Ohio State Men's Fencers (2009 NCAAs)
(11) Bonus Video Interview – IVAN LEE
CLICK HERE for higher-res/slower-load version
CLICK HERE for lower-res/faster-load version
Sunday at the NCAAs was a crazy day filled with multi-tasking – but CF360 still was able to record video interviews with two Ohio State men's fencers (Mike Momtselidze and Jason Pryor), along with a bonus interview with former St. John's sabre standout Ivan Lee (who served as a "director," a.k.a. referee/official, for many of the top men's and women's sabre bouts). CF360 had hoped to record more video interviews, but there simply was not enough time or availability – we promise to provide plenty more next year for you college fencing fans who are starving for more coverage!! (CF360 editor Pete LaFleur resides in Colorado and still may try to conduct some video interviews with the Air Force fencers, plus head coach Abdel Salem, who is president of the U.S. Fencing Coaches Association ... there also may be the chance, at some point in the next few months, to conduct video interviews with some of the many great college fencers who are Colorado natives).