West Salem vs. Blanchet, 45-11

We had our second high school fencing club meet on Friday, October 21.

Competing were the West Salem High School Titans and the Blanchet Cavaliers. The Titans were represented by juniors Benjamin
Bond (captain), Christopher Marsaglia, and Alex Grasley. The Cavaliers fielded sophomores Lindsay Pirelli (captain) and Scott Mendzer (reserve fencer), along with freshmen Sarah Olfason and Ethan Syron.

In the 45-point relay match (score is cumulative), the results were as
follows:

1. Syron vs. Marsaglia: 3-4 bout, 3-4 match
2. Pirelli vs. Bond: 2-6 bout, 5-10 match
3. Olafson vs. Phillips: 0-5 bout, 5-15 match
4. Pirelli vs. Marsaglia: 0-5 bout, 5-20 match
5. Syron vs. Phillips: 3-5 bout, 8-25 match
6. Olafson vs. Bond: 0-5 bout, 8-30 match
7. Pirelli vs. Phillips: 3-1 bout, 11-31 match
8. Olafson vs. Marsaglia: 0-7 bout, 11-38 match
9. Syron vs. Bond: 0-7 bout, 11-45 match

Final score, 11-45, victory for WSHS.

The inexperienced Blanchet Cavaliers were outmatched by the West Salem Titans, who have three years of team experience behind their foils. That said, the Cavaliers tried hard and gained valuable experience in the process. This was the Cavaliers second team event, and the first time they had run up against the Titans.

By the end of the match, the Cavaliers were starting to relax a little bit, and they had two bouts in which Olafson and Pirelli took their opponents to the time limit for the bout. Freshman Ethan Syron scored six points for the Cavaliers, followed by sophomore Lindsay Pirelli with five. Pirelli led the defense for the Cavaliers, giving up 12 points to the Titans in three bouts.

The Titans fenced cleanly, using their experience to stay relaxed for the most part. Team captain Benjamin Bond led the offense with 18 points, followed by Marsaglia and Phillips, with 16 and 11 points respectively. Bond also led the defensive efforts for the Titans, only giving up 2 touches in three bouts. Marsaglia and Phillips were touches three and six times, respectively.