Byzantines Trounce Titans, 45-18

On Friday, March 17th, the Salem Homeschool Byzantines faced the West Salem High School Titans in their second match of the season. The Byzantines were represented by Charles Allen (captain and reserve fencer), Joshua Keatley, Gary Girod, ad Alex Kohan. Fencing for the Titans were Benjamin Bond (captain), Teague Watson, and Andrew Carlson.

In the 45-point relay match (score is cumulative), the results were as
follows:

1. Bond vs. Kohan: 1-3 bout, 1-3 match
2. Carlson vs. Girod: 0-7 bout, 1-10 match
3. Watson vs. Keatley: 4-5 bout, 5-15 match
4. Carlson vs. Kohan: 0-2 bout, 5-17 match
5. Bond vs. Keatley: 9-0 bout, 14-17 match
6. Watson vs. Girod: 2-13 bout, 16-30 match
Charles Allen substituted in for Joshua Keatley
7. Carlson vs. Allen: 1-5 bout, 17-35 match
8. Watson vs. Kohan: 0-5 bout, 17-40 match
9. Bond vs. Girod: 1-5 bout, 18-45 match

Final score, 18-45, victory for the Salem Homeschool Byzantines.

This was the second time that the Titans and the Byzantines had met. But the results were much different than the previous 44-45 victory for the Titans. West Salem had two inexperienced competitors on their team instead of a full slate of veterans. The more experienced Homeschool team definitely had the advantage, but Bond's experience might have saved the day -- especially if the Byzantines blundered. It was not to be, however.

At no point did the Titans ever lead. Ben Bond made a valiant effort with his 9-0 rout of Joshua Keatley in the fifth bout, when he brought the Titans within three points of the Byzantines. But Gary Girod all but ended any hope of a win for the Titans in the very next bout when he overwhelmed the inexperienced Teague Watson 13-2, putting the Homeschoolers 14 points ahead.

Byzantines captain Charles Allen read the handwriting on the wall regarding the upcoming bout between Joshua Keatley and Andrew Carlson, correctly determining that Keatley's defense was probably not up to Carlson's aggressive fencing tonight. Allen substituted himself in for Keatley -- a wise choice.

Bouts seven and eight just cemented the Byzantine lead, with scores of 1-5 and 0-5. Bond, in the final bout against Girod, was clearly discouraged, knowing there was no way he was going to make up a 23-point deficit. And that realization certainly affected his fencing, resulting in a 1-5 defeat for Bond.

Offensively, Gary Girod scored an impressive 25 points for the Byzantines, followed by Alex Kohan with 10, and Joshua Keatley and Charles Allen with 5 apiece. Kohan and Girod both had a perfect bout each.

Benjamin Bond delivered 11 touches for the Titans, with assistance from Teague Watson (6 points) and Andrew Carlson (1 point). Watson fenced cleanly, and Carlson was determined and aggressive.

On the defense for the Titans, Benjamin Bond tried to hold the line, giving up 8 touched. But the inexperience of Carlson (14 touches received) and Watson (23 touches received) more than offset his defensive efforts. It should be noted that inexperienced fencers are almost always very weak on defense, by the way.

On the face of it, it looks like Charles Allen and Alex Kohan tied for best defensive honors for the Byzantines, with each fencer only getting hit once. However, Allen only fenced one bout. Alex Kohan, on the other hand, fenced three bouts. Kohan's nearly perfect defense ties the record set by Gary Girod on November 18, 2005 when Girod was only touched once in three bouts in the Byzantines' match against North Salem.

Girod's defense in this match was also good, as he only gave up three points. Joshua Keatley's defense was not up to Ben Bond's offense, which resulted in most of the 13 hits scored against Keatley.

Their victory puts the Byzantines in first position for the season so far at 3-1. In second position are the West Salem High School Titans, also at 3-1, but with less favorable indicators breaking the tie with the Homeschoolers. The Blanchet Cavalliers are in third position at 2-2, with the North Salem Vikings in fourth at 0-4.