2003-04 Fencing Outlook – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/12/2004 12:00:00 AM | Fencing
THE ULTIMATE GOAL
Vladimir Nazlymov is entering his fifth season at the helm of the Buckeye program. For Nazlymov, the goals are simple. He wants a national championship title.
“We are strong and we are ready to be No. 1,” Nazlymov said. “It is quite possible for a team like ours to reach that level at the NCAA Championship.”
After four seasons as head coach, Nazlymov has the Buckeyes headed in the right direction. Last season proved to be Nazlymov’s best yet. Freshman Adam Cropmton captured the national championship in men’s sabre, the first Ohio State national championship since Yelena Kalkina in 1997 and just the third for the Buckeyes in program history. The Buckeyes, 42-4 overall, placed fourth at the NCAA Championships for the second-consecutive year after qualifying the maximum number of competitors (12). They fell just 15 points shy of the crown and are back this season to accomplish what they sought to achieve.
“It is important that we qualify the maximum number of competitors for the NCAA Championship,” Nazlymov said. “We did this last year and we should be able to do so again this season.”
Sophomore Jason Rogers and junior Alexandra Shklar each won their bronze medal matches in men’s sabre and women’s epee, respectively. Sophomores Louise Bond-Williams (fourth/women’s sabre) and Metta Thompson (fifth/women’s foil) rounded out the Top 5 finishers.
A GLANCE AT THE SCHEDULE
The Buckeyes begin the season as they play host to the OSU Duals Nov. 1 in Columbus. The squad will see action at the Northwestern Duals Nov. 14-15 and are then back in action January through March. The Buckeyes travel to the New York Duals and Notre Dame Duals before competing at the Midwest Conference Championships. The Regional Qualifier is scheduled for March 13 in Evanston, Ill. Followed by the 2004 NCAA Championships March 25-28 in Waltham, Mass.
RETURNING FOR THE BUCKEYES
Buckeye sophomore Adam Crompton, Ohio State’s first national title winner since 1997, returns to the team. He captured the national championship in men’s sabre at the 2003 NCAA Fencing Championships in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Also retuning on the men’s squad this season are seniors Colin Parker, Spencer Jones and Kitz Siebert, junior Brian Gross and sophomore Matt Carbone. Parker is one of the top men competitors on the Buckeye squad. He went 16-0 in dual meet competition and qualified for the NCAA Championship for the third-consecutive year. Jones posted a 43-6 individual record on the 2003 season and advanced to the NCAA Championship where he finished 15th in epee. Siebert went 27-5 in men’s sabre in dual meet action and finished fourth at the NCAA Regional Qualifier. Gross finished 11th at the NCAA Championship, earning honorable mention All-America honors. Gross combined for 50 wins in dual meet competition, the most of any men’s team member. Carbone placed fifth at the NCAA Regional Qualifier and 22nd at the NCAA Championship and tied Gross for the most dual meet wins.
On the women’s side the key returnees include senior Alexandra Shklar and juniors Louise Bond-Williams, Hanna Thompson and Metta Thompson and sophomore Marguerite Plekhanov. At the NCAA Championship Shklar won the bronze medal in epee, while Bond-Williams took fourth in sabre and Metta Thompson placed fifth in foil. Plekhanov was an NCAA qualifier, placing 16th at the event and second at the NCAA Regional Qualifier.
“We have very strong kids who can compete against any opponent,” Nazlymov said. “I always push for our kids to be the best, because they are capable of doing just that.”
FRESHMEN CLASS AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL
Buckeyes Boaz Ellis and Denis Tolkachev head up the freshmen class. Ellis, a native of Zapora, Israel, is a five-time Israel national champion and has experience competing at the international level. Tolkachev, hailing from St. Petersburg, Russia, also has had experience at the international level. Other newcomers include, 2002 Junior Foil Team Gold medallist Richard Spicer (foil), 2003 Junior Olympic Qualifier Kevin Stuart (foil), Christian Rivera (epee), Jason Paul (sabre), Jonathan Whedbee (foil), Kaela Brendler (epee), Kelly Lone (sabre), and hometown girls Syvenna Siebert (sabre) and Caitlain O’Sullivan from Upper Arlington, Ohio.
THE COACHING STAFF
In the shadows of Nazlymov are assistant coaches Gia Abashidze and Terrence Lasker. Abashidze enters his third season as assistant coach of the Ohio State fencing team. Originally from Georgia, he has coached fencing and lived in the U.S. for more than eight years. He brings valuable skills and experience to share with Nazylmov’s fast improving squad. The last two season he was very instrumental in helping the team to its consecutive fourth place finish at the NCAA championships. Abashidze was a Russian national foil champion numerous times throughout his career. During his tenure in the U.S. he was responsible for creating many successful members of the U.S. National Team. Lasker is in his second year as an asistant coach for the Buckeye fencing program. He spent his first two years as the team armorer during the 2000-01 and 01-02 seasons.
Lasker has a long standing relationship with Nazlymov. Lasker began fencing under Nazlymov when Nazlymov moved to the United States in 1991 in Kansas City, Mo. Lasker is a 10-time member of the U.S. National Team and is a five-time national champion. Lasker, a native of Kansas City, Mo., captured a bronze medal at the 1994 Cadet World Championships and was a volunteer assistant coach for the Buckeyes during the 1999-00 season. He also was a finalist at the 1999 Senior World Cup in Moscow.
