(Amman, Jordan) – The U.S. women’s saber team placed sixth on Tuesday while the men’s epee squad finished 11th in team competition at the Junior World Championships.With two first-time Junior World Team members, the U.S. women opened with a bout against Canada in the table of 16.Skyla Powers (Atlanta, Ga.), Celina Merza (Wayne, N.J.), Lian Osier (Battle Ground, Wash.) and Francesca Russo (Wayne, N.J.) won the bout, 45-17. In the quarter-finals, Team USA faced Ukraine and Osier started the bout well, earning a 5-0 lead for the Americans. The team didn’t look back from the early lead and all four women contributed to a six-touch lead of 40-34 going into the final bout between Osier and 2010 Cadet World Champion Alina Komashuk (UKR).Although Osier scored the first two touches, Komashuk responded with nine unanswered touches. Osier scored again, but Ukraine won the bout, 45-43, and went on to a fourth-place finish while Team USA finished sixth.On the men’s side, the U.S. epee team included two-time Junior World Team members James Kaull (Washington, D.C.) and Michael Raynis (Chatsworth, Calif.) as well as first-time fencers Edward Kelley (San Antonio, Texas) and Alexander Eldeib (Burke, Va.)As the seventh seed in the tournament, the United States drew Cyprus in the table of 32 and won the bout, 45-12.In the table of 16, Team USA faced Great Britain and led for most of the bout with Kelley brining the score to 35-32 in the seventh match. Raynis earned five quick touches while only giving up only two to give Kaull a six-touch lead going into the final match.Just three days before, Kaull’s opponent, Philip Marsh (GBR), won the individual competition for Great Britain in what may be talked about as one of the most impressive victories at the Junior Worlds in recent history. The 15-year-old proved himself on the finals strip individually and came prepared to help his team place in Jordan as well. Marsh and Kaull had a fierce battle, but Marsh earned the comeback for his team as Great Britain won the bout, 45-42, and Team USA finished 11th overall. Junior World competition concludes on Wednesday with the men’s team foil and women’s team epee events in which the men’s foil team comes into the event as the reigning Junior World Champions and the U.S. women’s epee team is returning to this event after winning a silver medal in 2010.Top eight and U.S. results are as follows:Junior Men’s Team Epee1. Italy2. Hungary3. France4. Switzerland5. Poland6. Canada7. Great Britain8. Germany11. USA Junior Women’s Team Saber1. Italy2. Poland3. Russia4. Ukraine5. Hungary6. USA7. France8. Germany
