1941: Fencing

Never before did the country show such interest in fencing as this year. The National Championship events, held in June 1941, in New York, saw the entry of numerous fencers from all sections of the United States. New divisions were organized in Dayton, Ohio, Miami City, Fla., and Seattle, Wash., as well as in Colorado and Washington. Not only did fencing gain new, active adherents, but the number of spectators increased also. Never before were the competitions so well attended.

The following gained the National Championship titles for 1940-1941: Three-weapon, Miguel A. de Capriles; Foil, Dean Cetrullo; Epee, Captain Gustave Heiss, U.S.A.; Sabre, Dr. Norman C. Armitage; and Women's Foil, Miss Helene Mayer. The National Three-Weapon Team and the National Sabre Team Championships were won by the Salle Santelli; the National Foil Team Championship by the New York Athletic Club; the National Epee Team and the National Women's Foil Team Championships by the Fencers Club. The Connecticut Trophy, presented every year to the Division showing the greatest progress, was again given to Northern California.

At the yearly meeting of the Amateur Fencers League of America Dr. John R. Huffman, President, George Cochrane, Treasurer, and Dr. Ervin S. Acel, Secretary, were re-elected.

1940: Fencing

The game made further progress this year. More competitions were held with more contestants than ever before. New Divisions were set up in Texas, Oregon and Hawaii. The Amateur Fencers League of America published a new, revised and enlarged Rules Book of fencing.

Internationally, the American fencing team met the Cuban national team in Havana. The United States won the match, with a very small margin. There was also selected a 'theoretical' Olympic Team chosen in the same manner as an actual Olympic team would be chosen.

The National Championships — both individual and team — drew a growing number of spectators. The following are the National Champions for 1939-1940: Three-weapon, Dr. John R. Huffman; Foil, Dernell Every; Epee, Fred Siebert, Chicago, Ill.; Sabre, Dr. Norman C. Armitage; Women's Foil, Miss Helena Mroczkowska. The National Foil Team, Epee Team and Women's Foil Team Championships were carried away by the Salle Santelli Fencers, New York, while the National Sabre and Three-weapon Team championships went to the New York Athletic Club.

At the yearly meeting of the Amateur Fencers League of America Dr. John R. Huffman was elected new President, Dr. Ervin S. Acel, new Secretary and George Cochrane re-elected Treasurer. The Connecticut Trophy, presented every year to the Division showing the greatest progress, was awarded to Northern California.

1939: Fencing

The year was a strenuous one in fencing circles what with a stream of events, such as the Gala Week of the All-Eastern Championships in New York City, the Mid-West Championships in Columbus, the Pacific Coast Championships in San Francisco, the Mardi Gras Tournaments in New Orleans, and the National Championship Week at the San Francisco Exposition. The last-named was probably the most far-reaching event of the year in fencing, it being the first time in League history that the event was held outside New York City. In it a total of 168 entries competed, and 25,000 spectators attended during the week. National rankings, as recommended by the Bout Committee and approved by the Board of Governors of the Amateur Fencers League of America at its annual meeting, were as follows: Foil, (1) Norman Lewis, (2) Edward Carfagno; Épée; (1) Loyal Tingley, (2) Andrew Boyd; Sabre; (1) Norman C. Armitage, (2) John R. Huffman; Women's Foil; (1) Miss Helene Mayer, (2) Miss Madeline Dalton. The Champion National Foil Team which won the Batista Trophy consisted of Jose R. de Capriles, M. A. de Capriles, Warren A. Dow, and Norman Lewis. The Connecticut Trophy, presented annually to the Division showing the greatest progress, went to Southern California.

Prior to the outbreak of war in Europe, plans for the XIIth Olympiad in Helsinki, Finland, July 20-Aug. 4, 1940, were completed, and approved by international sports authorities. Control of fencing matters in this country was delegated by the American Olympic Committee to the Olympic Games Fencing Committee, composed of representatives from the Amateur Fencers League of America and the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

1938: Fencing

The Amateur Fencers League of America, founded in 1892, is the National Sports governing body for fencing in the United States. It is allied with the Amateur Athletic Union and is a member of the American Olympic Association and the Federation Internationale d'Escrime. This national body delegates to approximately twenty divisions jurisdiction over the sport in local sections of the country, giving them power to conduct local tournaments and to select by preliminary rounds the best fencers to compete in interdivisional and national championships.

National Champions.

(1938). Individual: Foil, Dernell Every, New York Athletic Club; Epee, Jose R. de Capriles, Salle Santelli, New York City; Sabre, John R. Huffman, New York Athletic Club; Three Weapon, John R Huffman, New York Athletic Club; Outdoor Epee, Miguel A. de Capriles, Salle Santelli, New York City, Outdoor Sabre, John R. Huffman, New York Athletic Club; Women's Foil, Miss Helene Mayer, Los Angeles Athletic Club.

Team.

Foil, Salle Santelli (Jose R. de Capriles, Miguel A. de Capriles, Warren A. Dow); Epee, New York Athletic Club (Jean V. Grombach, Leo C. Nunes, Lt. F. R. Weber, U. S. A.); Sabre; New York Athletic Club (John R. Huffman, Samuel T. Stewart, Jr., Ralph E. Marson); Three Weapon, New York Athletic Club (Dernell Every, Nicholas Muray, John R. Huffman); Women's Foil, Salle d'Armes Vince (Miss Maria Cerra, Miss Madeline Dalton, Miss Geisha Fernandez).

Midwestern Champions

(1938). Individual: Foil, Frank S. Righeimer, Jr., Lake Shore Athletic Club, Chicago; Epee, Frank S. Righeimer, Jr.; Sabre, Alexander Solomon, St. Louis; Women's Foil, Mrs. Gerda Michaels, Detroit.

Pacific Coast Champions

(1938). Individual: Foil, Edward Carfagno, Los Angeles Athletic Club; Epee, Edward Carfagno; Sabre, DeLoss McGraw, Unattached, Los Angeles; Women's Foil, Miss Helene Mayer, Los Angeles Athletic Club.

Important Matches.

Important matches for 1939 include:

Midwest Championships.

Columbus, Ohio, April 9.

Pacific Coast Championships.

Golden Gate International Exposition, San Francisco, Calif., April 14, 15, 16.

All Eastern Championships.

New York Fencers Club and New York Athletic Club, New York City, May 19 through May 26.

National Championships.

Golden Gate International Exposition, San Francisco, Calif., June 26 through July 1.