Flaming Blades Get Hot in Columbus

Fifth-year Catie Bull nets a win in the women's epee

The Flaming Blades journeyed to Columbus in January and had yet another outstanding showing. Despite the absence of many senior team members due to Winter Term, the Blades stood 10-strong, with brand new fencers out of this past fall's ExCo comprising most of the squad.

Women's epee was Oberlin's strong point, with fifth-year Catie Bull winning and first-year Chloe Hawkins placing third. This was Bull's first tournament victory and Hawkins' first-ever competition. Columbus highlighted the tremendous advances the women's team has made this year in their level of competitiveness, and the trip offers promise for a very strong showing over the course of the semester.

In men's epee, senior captain Jay Gates took second place. In addition, two new epeeists, senior Josiah Wagener and recent ExCo grad and first-year Matt Iorio, fared well, placing in the top half of a difficult pool.

In women's foil, Bull placed fifth. The Men's foil competition was very large, with 46 tough competitors. Gates placed well into the top half of the pool. All four recent ExCo students made it into the direct elimination round, with Iorio advancing to the second round.

All the recent additions to the club look to be progressing more rapidly than any other new group within the past five years. With the addition of this fall's ExCoers, the team has nearly doubled in size. Upcoming events for the Flaming Blades include National Team Qualifiers for Women's foil on Feb. 23, and a Mixed Open in Hales Gym on Mar. 5.

Senior Jay Gates is the captain of the Flaming Blades.