DETROIT -- The Wayne State University men's fencing program hosted its annual Danosi Open on Saturday, January 11. With competition taking place in the Matthaei Building, the event hosted over 100 athletes. Due to it being an open event, there was no team scoring.
MIXED EPEE
In Mixed Epee, four members of the men's fencing squad competed, those being
Shuayb Dinkins (Kissimmee, Fla. / Lincoln Park / Celebration),
Bryce Heim (Oconomowoc, Wis.),
Cameron King (Laurel, Md. / DeMatha Catholic), and
Lance Miller (Freeport, Mich. / Lowell).
In pool play, Dinkins finished 4-1 and entered the Round of 32 ranked sixth. The junior won three bouts, including a meeting with fellow Warrior
Bryce Heim, in which Dinkins won 15-10. The WSU student-athlete fell in the Final Four Round to the eventual champion , Arturo Rangel, 15 touches to 12.
Heim entered the direct elimination stage with a 5-0 record in pool play. The junior collected two more wins, defeating Annabel Zhuang and Reka Galfalvy (Budapest, Hungary / Vörösmarty Mihály), a member of the WSU women's fencing squad. As mentioned before, Heim was defeated by
Shuayb Dinkins in the Top Eight Round.
Cameron King compiled a 5-1 when competing in pool play, and began the Round of 16 ranked fourth. King was very successful in his first bout, defeating Tina L VanOchten Dezerne 15-2, followed by a 15-12 victory over Doruk Golcu. The junior was unable to continue his winning ways, as he was defeated by the eventual runner-up, Zachary Brooks.
Lance Miller finished pool competition with two victories and three losses. In the Round of 32, Miller prevailed against Tyler Peckens 15-5, before being defeated by Arturo Rangel 15-8.
MIXED SABRE
When looking at the Mixed Sabre event,
Zeyad Nofal (Cairo, Egypt / Newcastle International School),
Eyad Marouf (Alexandria, Egypt / European International School of Alexandria),
Hunter Battisfore (Hancock, Mich. / Houghton [Michigan State]), and
Brendan Goeddeke (Sterling Heights, Mich. / Warren De La Salle) all competed this weekend.
Nofal began the day perfectly, going 6-0 in the pool competition. The redshirt freshman began the next round ranked second, and received a bye in the Round of 32. The Warrior collected three wins, before his meeting with
Eyad Marouf in the Gold Medal Bout. Nofal prevailed 15-9.
Eyad Marouf saw success as well, going 5-0 in pool play, and being ranked first ahead of the tournament play. Following a bye, Marouf battled through each round, with a +10 touch differential or better, 15-3, 15-5, and 15-5, before his previously mentioned Gold Medal Bout with
Zeyad Nofal. As said before, Nofal came out victorious in the meeting.
In pool play,
Hunter Battisfore won three of five bouts, entering the Round of 32 ranked 12th. Battisfore tallied three wins, defeating Sophia Miller 15-5 in the opening round, and upsetting both Oleg Lukibanov 15-11, and Lukas Parkila 15-4, who were ranked fifth and fourth respectively. The junior fell to
Eyad Marouf in the Final Four Round 15-12.
Brendan Geoddeke garnered a 5-0 record in his bouts in pool play and received a bye in the Round of 32. Goeddeke fell in the Round of 16 to Hunter Barrows 15-1.
MIXED FOIL
Ethan Leung (Hong Kong / Yew Chung International School of Shanghai [YCIS]),
Jakub Oronowicz (Clarkston, Mich.),
Sam Gneuhs (Mason, Ohio / William Mason), and
Carlos Santos (Grand Rapids, Mich. / East Grand Rapids) all saw action this weekend, in the foil weapon.
Leung started the day going 5-1 in pool play, and earned a bye in the Round of 32, as he was ranked ninth. The sophomore continued his success, winning three bouts, including an 11-9 triumph over Lucas Senic, who was ranked first after pool play to push him through to the Final Four Round. Leung was defeated by Luao Yang 15-5, the eventual runner-up of the weapon.
Oronowicz collected a 5-0 record ahead of the Round of 32, with a +17 touch differential. After having a bye in the Round of 32, the freshman collected a 15-8 win over Haoyu Fang, but was eventually defeated by Kostiantyn Shevchenko, 15-13.
In pool play, Gneuhs finished 3-3 with a +1 touch differential. The sophomore won his Round of 32 bout against Catherine Dirkes 15-12, but fell in the following round 15-6 to Maxon Edwards.
Santos earned one win in pool play, finishing 1-4. Entering the Round of 32, Santos was ranked 34th, and set to face Jeremy Diepstra, but the two would not compete, with Diepstra moving on to the Round of 16.
UP NEXT
The Wayne State University men's fencing squad will travel to South Bend, Ind. to compete in the DeCicco Duals hosted by the University of Notre Dame. The competition is scheduled for January 25, and will be an all-day event.
