Forge Fencing kicked off the 2024-2025 fencing season with the 14th annual Big Blue tournament. The 2024 Forge BIG BLUE Tournament is the perennial NC fencing "season starter" competition. We came together as a community to celebrate the new season and compete for a chance to have the winner’s name added to the perpetual trophy. Historically, the "blues" honor North Carolina's NCAA teams: Duke and UNC.
Congrats Alvin So on winning a very strong Mixed Saber event.
This year Forge hosted Senior Mixed Open events and dedicated women's events for foil, epee', and saber. Youth events are Y12 Mixed in all three weapons, and we added a Division 3 (Rating "D" and under) saber event for this year.
And the events were BIG! Of ten events, two of the Senior Opens were A2s (Open Mixed Epee and Open Mixed Saber), and the other was a C2 (Open Mixed Foil) and had 45 competitors. Fencers came from North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, and as far away as California, bringing old friends back to the club. Shout out to Forge Fencers Lynn Harris and Ned Eyster for increasing the count by fencing multiple events in multiple weapons. Respect to new Forge competitors Summer Tieben and Alina Balaguero, and applause to Forge fencer Felix Doyle and Charlotte Fencing Academy’s Carolina Marrelli for competing for their first tournaments in 20 years.
Medals for the top 3 finishers in each event (with a tie for 3rd) were awarded along with gift cards. The winner of each event's name will be added to the Big Blue perpetual trophy for the named event. The Division 3 Mixed saber was a bonus event this season (medals were awarded but there is no trophy). There were gift cards bonus winners for each of the senior events.
Foil fencers from across our region gathered at Forge to compete.
Forge Fencers finished strong: Franklin Chou won GOLD in Y12 Mixed Saber while Blaise Moore earned SILVER, and Simone Sirota and Malcolm Goldstein BRONZE; Isabella Cabrera achieved SILVER and Silas Greenwald and Indraa Soman BRONZE in Y12 Mixed Foil; Julia Balin took home a BRONZE in Senior Women’s Foil; Tristan Shim, Ava Ellis-Furlong, Cadel Henry and Solomon Slep swept Div 3 Mixed Saber with a GOLD, SILVER, and BRONZE respectively; Senior Women’s Saber Emma Ming and Neila Huang earned BRONZE; and, Lauren Dunseath finished with a GOLD in Senior Women’s Epee.
Full results can be found on FencingTimeLive at this link.
Congrats Simone on winning the Youth Women’s Saber!
Overall 17 ratings were earned or increased at the Big Blue, including new ratings for Forge fencers Andrew Davis (D24), Ned Eyster (D24), Cadel Henry (E24), and Solomon Slep (E24). Tristan Shim upgraded his rating (D24) as well.
The Big Blue also serves as a regional referee development event. Certified Referee Observers (CRO) Stephen Pashby and Chris Cheney mentored the next generation of referees during this tournament and logged a total of 16 referee observations! In addition, head armorer Dennis Crumpler’s assistants Katya Wilfret and Aiden Cohlmeyer continued their professional development while repairing a lot of equipment at this start-of-season event.
The refereeing was spot-on, the catering excellent, the facility enjoyed, the weather gorgeous, and the company of fencers and families had a great time at the 2024 Forge Big Blue. We’re looking forward to next year!
Check out our Facebook page for more photos, too!
Y12 Mixed Saber
Franklin Chou GOLD
Blaise Moore SILVER
Simone Sirota BRONZE
Malcolm Goldstein BRONZE
Y12 Mixed Foil
Isabella Cabrera SILVER
Silas Greenwald BRONZE
Indraa Soman BRONZE
Div 3 Mixed Saber
Tristan Shim GOLD
Ava Ellis-Furlong SILVER
Cadel Henry BRONZE
Solomon Slep BRONZE
Senior Women’s Epee
Lauren Dunseath GOLD
Senior Women’s Foil
Julia Balin BRONZE
Senior Women’s Saber
Emma Ming BRONZE
Neila Huang BRONZE