National tourney coming to IU

This Saturday at 9 a.m., Wildermuth gymnasium will be invaded. \nSchools from all over the country will storm in with three different types of swords in hand ready to do battle with the finest fencers IU has to offer. \nThe stakes: a chance to be crowned the United States Association of Collegiate Fencing Clubs champions.\nIU will host more than 30 club teams from all over the country, in a two-day tournament this weekend for the national tournament. \n“Everyone’s really excited,” senior fencer Brian Wilson said. “Everyone’s really been gearing up for this.”\nThe teams split up by gender and then by one of the three weapons which they use to joust: epees, foils, or sabers. On Saturday the teams will play in a round-robin pool, which will determine their seeding for Sunday. On Sunday the teams will come to blows once again, but this time in an elimination tournament.\n“There was a change in the format, last year there only was the round robin play,” senior epeeist Robert Gradeless explained. “I think the elimination format adds more excitement to it.”\nThere are different rules for each weapon, which provides a unique set of strategies depending on which is used. Some swords allow for a bigger target area, while for others there is a right of way the jousting needs to follow.\nWilson said that those using the foil and epee are only allowed points if they strike their opponent with the tip of the sword, as opposed to the saber where any part of the blade can be used. This makes the saber matches the most fast paced of the three.\n“They say the weapon you choose fits your personality,” sophomore saber specialist Drew Tharp said. “The saber happens to suit me. It’s faster paced, more aggressive.” \n Those using the saber and foil swords also must follow a right of way rule; meaning the person that moves first is able to attack, and the opposition must wait until the attack is over before they can conduct an offensive move of their own. \n“If someone attacks you in a sword fight, you need to defend yourself,” faculty advisor Steve Andrews said, “if you attack right back you would both die. It wouldn’t be a good strategy.” \nThe epee sword doesn’t have the right away rule; in addition, those using an epee to joust also can strike any portion of their opponent’s body to obtain points. This is different from the saber and foil, where points are only awarded if one strikes the opponent in the chest. \nThe Hoosiers are confident heading into the weekend tournament.\n “The men’s epee and women’s saber are strong for us,” Wilson said. “Both squads should do really well in the competition.”\nWhile it might appear to be a brutish sport, those who compete will be quick to point out that it takes just as much mentally as it does physically. \n“It combines thinking with athleticism,” Wilson said. “Fencing is physical chess, you can be really skilled but if your opponent has a good strategy you can lose the bout.”