USA Fencing

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – Team USA won three medals at the Budapest Junior World Cup in Hungary this weekend at a tournament that included events in both men’s saber and foil.

On Saturday, three-time Junior World saber medalist Eli Dershwitz (Sherborn, Mass.) won his third Junior World Cup title in less than a year and stood on the podium with bronze medalist Andrew Mackiewicz (Westwood, Mass.) – who also took bronze in the team competition with Dershwitz at the Junior Worlds in April.

Seeded fourth after the pools, Dershwitz defeated Viktor Habony (HUN), 15-3, in the table of 128 and Daniil Bubenchikov (RUS), 15-11, in the 64.

Dershwitz qualified for the quarter-finals after a 15-9 win over Benjamin Roger (FRA) and a 15-10 victory against Rouven Redwanz (GER).

Mackiewicz opened with a 15-8 win against William Deary (GBR) in the table of 128. He defeated a pair of Ukrainians – Yevgeniy Kapustyan and Oleksandr Karakai by 15-11 and 15-8 scores, respectively, in the next two rounds.

After a table of 16 win against Iliy Andreev (RUS), 15-9, in the table of 16, Mackiewicz defeated Jesus Carvajal (VEN), 15-9, to set up a semifinal between Mackiewicz and Dershwitz who was coming off a 15-8 quarter-final defeat of Charles Colleau (FRA).

Not only have Mackiewicz and Dershwitz been teammates on the national squad for the last three seasons, but the two train together at Zeta Fencing Studio and have fenced each other five times internationally and dozens of times on the domestic circuit.

As always, the bout would be close, but Dershwitz pulled out a 15-10 win.

In the final round, Dershwitz fenced 2014 Junior World team silver medalist Artem Buchkovskiy (RUS) and controlled the bout for a 15-6 victory.

On Sunday, Matthew Branman (Villanova, Pa.) won his first international medal with a bronze in the individual foil competition.

Branman earned a bye into the table of 64 where he defeated Samuel Insperger (GER), 15-5.

After a 15-9 win over Yaroslav Stepura (UKR), Branman defeated Alexandre Sido (FRA) in the table of 16.

Branman was one of two Americans in the quarter-finals where he was joined by Sam Moelis (Hewlett, N.Y.) – a cadet fencer who advanced to the quarters for the first time at a Junior World Cup.

Branman upset Junior World No. 1 Francesco Ingargiola (ITA), 15-12, but Moelis lost to Daniel Dosa (HUN), 15-13, and finished in seventh place.

In the semifinals, it was Branman’s turn to face Dosa in front of the home Hungarian crowd. Dosa won the bout, 15-12, and Branman took home the bronze.

Sunday’s events also included a team competition for men’s saber.

The U.S. squad of 2014 Cadet World silver medalist Karol Metryka (Linden, N.J.), 2014 Cadet World Team member Ben Natanzon (Manalapan, N.J.) and 2012 Junior World Team member Michael Costin (Culver City, Calif.) finished fourth in the team competition.

Team USA defeated Egypt, 45-40, in the table of 16 and France, 45-43, in the quarter-finals.

After a 45-32 loss to Ukraine in the semis, Team USA lost to Italy, 45-34, for bronze.

Top eight and U.S. results are as follows:

Budapest Saber Individual Junior World Cup
1. Eli Dershwitz (Sherborn, Mass.)
2. Artem Buckovskiy (RUS)
3. Andrew Mackiewicz (Westwood, Mass.)
3. Kostiantyn Voronov (UKR)
5. Edern Annic (FRA)
6. Jesus Carvajal (VEN)
7. Charles Colleau (FRA)
8. Iacopo Rinaldi (ITA)

18. Jonah Shainberg (Rye. N.Y.)
34. Michael Costin (Culver City, Calif.)
40. Andrew Sun (Alpharetta, Ga.)
41. Edward Chin (Livingston, N.J.)
47. Karol Metryka (Linden, N.J.)
53. Ben Natanzon (Manalapan, N.J.)
65. Ameen Borojerdi (Plantation, Fla.)
67. Jonathan Fitzgerald (East Brunsick, N.J.)
67. Julian Merchant (New Rochelle, N.Y.)
81. Peter Pak (Roslyn, N.Y.)

Budapest Saber Team Junior World Cup
1. Russia
2. Ukraine
3. Italy
4. USA
5. Great Britain
6. Germany
7. France
8. Japan

Budapest Foil Junior World Cup
1. Tommaso Ciuti (ITA)
2. Daniel Dosa (HUN)
3. Matthew Branman (Villanova, Pa.)
3. Enguerand Roger (FRA)
5. Francesco Ingargiola (ITA)
6. Uladzislau Lahunou (BLR)
7. Sam Moelis (Hewlett, N.Y.)
8. Enguerrand Colin Andrez (FRA)

10. George Haglund (Califon, N.J.)
10. Drew Johnston (New York, N.Y.)
16. Nolen Scruggs (Ozone Park, N.Y.)
31. James Sands (New York City, N.Y.)
33. Stephen Mageras (Darien, Conn.)
35. Axel Kiefer (Lexington, Ky.)
41. William Upbin (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
51. Raymond Chen (Dallas, Texas)
71. Aaron Ahn (Los Angeles, Calif.)
87. David Hadler (San Francisco, Calif.)