LYCOMING COLLEGE

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - The Lycoming College Fencing Club and Guild of Swordsman held their second annual Classical Fencing Tournament on April 5 in the College’s Recreation Center. The competition, which featured more than 25 participants, included both sabre and foil pools.

While electric tournaments are more common today, classical fencing requires competitors to be more fundamentally sound and precise in their footwork and touches. The judging in non-electric fencing is performed by a master judge and four additional judges who monitor touches, right of ways and parries.

In the sabre competition, Deitrick Lamade, a high school senior from Williamsport, placed first, followed by Lycoming students Kirstin Rose, a freshman, and Susan Curtis, a senior. In the foil, senior Scott Boyles placed first, Rose placed second and Jerome Ludwig, a senior, placed third. The tournament judges awarded junior Michael Hughes with the Most Improved Fencer award.

Cohen, a two-time NCAA National Champion and several-time AFLA Champion, was the former coach of New York University and a master Tai Chi student of Da Liu. He was a member of multiple Olympic teams and participated in the U.S. Pan American and Maccabiah games. On April 4, Cohen also led a Tai Chi workshop for Lycoming students in kendo, the modern Japanese art of sword-fighting based on traditional Japanese swordsmanship.

Gaylor, a part-time instructor in combat choreography at the College, was a national team and individual fencing champion, as well as a member of two Olympic squads. He has studied classical fencing in New York, Paris and Budapest. Gaylor was recently inducted into the Ramapo High School Hall of Fame for fencing and in 2002, was named as one of the top 10 fencers of the Century by the New Jersey Star Ledger newspaper. He serves as the Sword Master to the Lycoming Fencing Club and Guild of Swordsman.

Ross, a junior at Lycoming, was the 2008 Lycoming Classical Fencing Tournament champion.

In addition to instruction and competition offered through the Fencing Club and Guild of Swordsman, Lycoming students may earn credit in physical education in fencing, advanced fencing and kendo courses. A stage combat course is also offered through the College’s Theatre Department.


Jerome Ludwig, Michael Hughes, Kirstin Rose and Scott Boyles	Susan Curtis, Kirstin Rose and Deitrick Lamade