OUR RECORD

South Houston fencers have already made their presence felt at various tournaments this season.

At the Labor Day weekend Call to Arms tournament at the University of Houston, in the mixed foil event, Steven Villarreal finished in 8th place and Juan Castillo in 12th place. Francesca Berntsen and Anthony Tierney placed 21st and 23rd, respectively. In 25th place was Jorge Avila. Francesca Berntsen was particularly busy, finishing 26th in mixed epee, second in women's epee and taking the gold in women's foil.

A number of South Houston fencers participated in the school's Sword of Troy tournament on November 11, 2006. In the E & Under Mixed Epee competition, Jesus Nino and Francesca Berntsen finished 7th and 8th, respectively.

In the E & Under Women's Foil event Crystal Cervantes took the silver medalfor second place. South Houston swordswomen Bianca Muniz and Francesca Berntsen also captured both third place bronze medals. Other South Houston finishers included: Karina Gonzalez (5th), Belinda Araiza (7th), Evelyn Guajardo (8th) and Jamie Pineda (10th).

The E & Under Mixed Foil competition was the largest Sword of Troy event, drawing 39 competitors from six different fencing clubs. South Houston's results were: Gerardo Lopez (6th); Juan Castillo (7th); Francesca Berntsen (8th); Jesus Nino (10th); Martin Rodriguez (11th); Jeremy Tienda (14th); George Bauer (17th); Edwin Fuentes (19th); Jose Aguilar (21st); Carlos Andrade Jr. (23rd); Ernesto Beliz (24th); Leonardo Barragan (27th); Jorge Avila (28th); Anthony Tierney (31st); Jose Rodriguez (34th); Reynol Macias (37th); and, Jonathan Ramos (38th).

Anthony Tierney competed in his first Regional Youth Circuit, finishing 16th in Youth-14 men's foil.

Francesca Berntsen placed third in the women's epee competition at the Gobbler's Revenge tournament in Lake Jackson on November 25th.

At the first Naomi Abbott Memorial, in December, Karina Gonzalez took first place in Women's Foil earning her E2006 and claiming the Abbott Cup as her prize. She became the first person to win a fencing tournament on Galveston Island in 30 years. In the same event, Evelyn Guajardo took the silver medal and Crystal Cervantes tied for the bronze. Cassandra Verrett placed 5th, Jamie Pineda 6th and Bianca Muniz was 7th.

In the Women's Epee event at the same tournament, Evelyn Guajardo took another silver medal for second place. Cassandra Verrett placed 5th in the same event. Additionally, South Houston fencer Francesca Berntsen served as the primary referee for the tournament.

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