NORTH AMERICAN CUP JANUARY

PORTLAND, OREGON (01/13-16/2012)

The United States Fencing Association hosted it’s North American Cup in Portland, Oregon last weekend.  In addition to the Junior event which is the second to last qualifying event for World Championship Teams in April, the USFA also held its second Domestic Olympic Qualification Event.  Sabre Outreach Network was represented by only a few athletes in each competition at this extremely high level tournament.  On Saturday, In the Division 1 Men’s Sabre event Dan Berliner and Sebastian Bruno-Harris were set to compete for SON in a field of almost 160.  Berliner was able to advance in to the final 16 fencers by beating Max Stearns, a frontrunner for Canada’s Olympic Team in 2012.  He was defeated by current NCAA Championship runner-up, and London 2012 hopeful Avery Zuck.  Bruno-Harris advanced past the preliminary round into the direct elimination round.  Bruno-Harris was defeated by Etropolski of New York City, his final result was inside the top 100 fencers in the country.  Set to take the strip for SON in the junior event were siblings Robby and Joey Mitrani.  With nearly 130 competitors in the event it would make for a very difficult day.  Elder brother, Robby, had a solid day advancing past the preliminary round with ease and into the direct eliminations where he was defeated by Salko of NYC.