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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 23, 1984)
Lack of practice time severely hampers the University club sport fencing team, according to coach Norm Campbell, who fenced on the U.S. National Team. Three Oregon fencers qualify for nationals By Tom Mann The University fencing club will be represented at the national championships by not one, but by three members of the team. Jeanine Tucker, David Wichner and Peter Harmer have qualified in their styles of fencing and will com pete in the national fencing tournament in the first week of June. In order for a fencer to qualify for the nationals, they must be the best in their geographical area. The smallest geographical area is called a division, then there are sections and finally nationals. As a team, Oregon is the three-time Northwest Col legiate champion. However, Wichner feels “for a col lege on the West Coast it’s unusual” to have three members of one team going to nationals. There are thre type's of weapons used in fencing, the foil, the epee and the aber. Wichner and Tucker will compete in the foil competition while Harmer uses the epee. The difference between the weapons is in the usage of them. The foil is a stabbing type weapon. The target area is limited to the torso — the arms, legs and head do not count as a point if hit. Points are scrored when the tip of the foil, which is connnected to an electrical source, touches the metallic vest that the competitor wears. A point is registered by a colored light that turns on when the target is hit. If the tip hits a “grounded” target, one which is not metallic, a different colored light flashes, announc ing that the tip of the weapon did not score on the target. The first competitor to reach five points wins the match and moves on. The loser is either eliminated or fights to improve his or her record depending on the tournament. i ne second rype ot weapon used in tournaments is the epee. The only difference between the foil and the epee fighting is that epee is full contact fighting. Since the whole body is a target, the tip of the epee registers any contact that is made. A director, who is more or less a referee, watches the action and set tles any differences pertaining to the surface that the epee hits. Sabre fighting uses more of a slashing and cutting stroke than a stabbing thrust. The target is above the waist and sabre fights are also scored electronically. Wichner describes his sport as being an “intense 'mental chess game.” “At first it’s just reaction,” adds Tucker, who says that the more experienced a person gets the more skillfull they become. Although there is a lot of stabbing, slashing and cutting involved, the injury rate is remarkably low. Every weapon has a guard over the tip to help pro tect the athlete against injury. “Scrapes and bruises” are the most common injuries, says Wichner, who pulled down his collar to display a recent wound. The way to avoid injuries is to be calm and relaxed when fighting, says Wichner. There is also an em phasis put on peripheral vision, and most of all mobility. Fencing coach Norm Campbell stresses mobility over technique because the fighter is more of a threat if he’s mobile and technique come naturally after the fighter has learned mobility. Campbell describes fencing as “ego-centered domination” of an opponent. Ten years ago Camp bell was on the United States National team and has coached professionally for six years, three of them at Oregon. Oregon’s coach has a bleak view of the chances of his three pupils at nationals. It is Tucker and Wichner’s first national competition and only Harmer’s second. Photos by Travis Johnson Three members of the fencing team will attend nationals in the first week in June. “They’re going to get killed,” says Campbell, “but it will be a good experience.” Campbell believes the three competitors could do better if they had the time to put into training. Both Wichner and Tucker go to school and Harmer is working on his master’s thesis. They only have time to put in six to eight hours of training per week. “It’s a question of desire,” says Campbell. “Harmer is a superb athlete and David and Jeanine are hungry.” With this coupon you can buy a set of GUITAR STRINGS for Vi PRICE Coupon expires May 26, 1984 — Limited to stock 345-8289 M-F 10-7 (Closed noon hour) Sat. until 4 LTD “Fox Hollow” Bus Park at our front door 380 E. 40th, Eugene McKay’s Open Pantry Delicatessen Broasted Chicken - by the bucket or the piece • Party trays made to order Fresh home-made pizza • Fresh bagels and pocket bread • San Francisco style sourdough bread 31 varieties Imported and Domestic Cheese • 35 varieties lunch meat and sausages Full line salad bar • Hot food to go • Fresh sandwiches made daily Hot or cold, Imported or Domestic foods with old-fashioned service 1960 Franklin Blvd. S&H Green Stamps’ t0° 655 W. Centennial Blvd. 343MS418 0pen 8 am to 8 Pm daiIy 747-3023