LOCAL ROUNDUP
Fencers say they liked Miami so much they want to return in '10
Fort Lauderdale's Bill Becker didn't capture the title during the final day of the 2007 United State Fencing Association Summer Nationals at the Miami Beach Convention Center on Sunday.
But to everyone involved, he's still a big winner.
A veteran fencer, Becker helped bring the event to Miami. Once it got here, he enlisted the help of his South Florida Fencing Club and his family to help set up and operate the 10-day tourney.
Always the competitor, Becker was not pleased with his fifth-place finish in the men's Veteran 40-plus Sabre. But he was elated with the reaction of the competitors and fans.
''It went incredibly well,'' Becker said. ``It made it tougher trying to run things and compete at the same time, but everyone was very happy with the event.''
The tournament was so successful that Christine Simpson, USFA's associate executive director, has already asked the Miami-Dade Sports Commission to bid for the 2010 event. Next year's tournament is scheduled for San Jose, Calif.
''We had a lot of people during the 10 days tell us they really want to bring another national tournament back here,'' she said. ``We had an overwhelmingly positive response from the attendees. We had 3,380 athletes and probably brought in close to 20,000 people for the event, so it has a big local impact.''
The tournament featured competition in 84 events from youth and adults to wheelchair, veterans and team competition.
Sunday's 40-plus Sabre championship match saw a rally from Steven Heck of Washington, who overtook San Diego's Josh Runyan for the title 10-9.
In the women's Veteran 40-plus Epee, Houston's Suzanne Simpson won her third title of the year, defeating Louise Leighton of Indiana.
In the women's 60-plus Epee, another Texan, Dianne Kallus of Austin, won her third medal of the tournament and second gold.
Kallus also earned a spot on the U.S. world championship team, which will compete this September in Sydney, Australia.
-- BRANT LONG
Fencers say they liked Miami so much they want to return in '10
Fort Lauderdale's Bill Becker didn't capture the title during the final day of the 2007 United State Fencing Association Summer Nationals at the Miami Beach Convention Center on Sunday.
But to everyone involved, he's still a big winner.
A veteran fencer, Becker helped bring the event to Miami. Once it got here, he enlisted the help of his South Florida Fencing Club and his family to help set up and operate the 10-day tourney.
Always the competitor, Becker was not pleased with his fifth-place finish in the men's Veteran 40-plus Sabre. But he was elated with the reaction of the competitors and fans.
''It went incredibly well,'' Becker said. ``It made it tougher trying to run things and compete at the same time, but everyone was very happy with the event.''
The tournament was so successful that Christine Simpson, USFA's associate executive director, has already asked the Miami-Dade Sports Commission to bid for the 2010 event. Next year's tournament is scheduled for San Jose, Calif.
''We had a lot of people during the 10 days tell us they really want to bring another national tournament back here,'' she said. ``We had an overwhelmingly positive response from the attendees. We had 3,380 athletes and probably brought in close to 20,000 people for the event, so it has a big local impact.''
The tournament featured competition in 84 events from youth and adults to wheelchair, veterans and team competition.
Sunday's 40-plus Sabre championship match saw a rally from Steven Heck of Washington, who overtook San Diego's Josh Runyan for the title 10-9.
In the women's Veteran 40-plus Epee, Houston's Suzanne Simpson won her third title of the year, defeating Louise Leighton of Indiana.
In the women's 60-plus Epee, another Texan, Dianne Kallus of Austin, won her third medal of the tournament and second gold.
Kallus also earned a spot on the U.S. world championship team, which will compete this September in Sydney, Australia.
-- BRANT LONG
