The NCAA News - News & Features

Air Force to host fencing championships

The committee made the recommendation at its June 3-6 meeting in Orlando, Florida. It is subject to approval by the NCAA Executive Committee.

The committee also agreed that the four regional qualifying tournaments would be held March 8-9, 1997, and established the following schedule of events for the championships:

* Thursday, March 20 -- men's epee and men's foil, rounds 1-5.

* Friday, March 21 -- men's epee and men's foil, rounds 6-8 and finals; men's sabre, rounds 1-5.

* Saturday, March 22 -- women's epee and women's foil, rounds 1-5; men's sabre, rounds 6-8 and finals.

* Sunday, March 23 -- women's epee and women's foil, rounds 6-8 and finals.

In other action, the committee reaffirmed the scoring system that was used for the first time at the 1996 championships. Under the system, the 24 fencers who qualify in each weapon fence a round-robin competition, and the top four fencers are seeded according to the results. In semifinal matches, the No. 1 seed faces the No. 4 seed and No. 2 faces No. 3. The winners of those matches compete for the individual title.

Previously, the round-robin competition was the final round of each individual weapon event, and the fencer who emerged with the best record was the champion. However, the format made it difficult for all but the most knowledgeable spectators to determine which fencers were in contention for the title and which matches were crucial in determining a champion.

The committee approved the change at its 1995 meeting to make the championships more exciting for fencers and spectators. Committee members also felt it was important for the top competitors to meet again at the end of the event with a clearer understanding of what is at stake.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

Men's and Women's Fencing Committee
June 3-6/Orlando, Florida

* Agreed that only one person may confer with a fencer during a timeout.

* Received a presentation from Walt Disney World about the possibility of holding a future championship at the Walt Disney World Sports Complex, which is scheduled to be completed in May 1997.