Our Record

For University of St. Thomas fencers, the 2006-2007 Fencing season began with the 4th annual Call to Arms tournament hosted by the University of Houston over the Labor Day weekend. Jacob Stern finished in 6th place in a field of 28 competitors in their mixed foil event.

Four St. Thomas fencers traveled to San Marcos on September 16 for the Bobcat Open, hosted by Texas State University. Karl Schroder and Jacob Stern finished in 31st and 32nd places, respectively, in the mixed foil event. Patrick Hildebrand finished in 38th and Jorge Novo 48th.

On October 7, Jacob Stern traveled to Texas A&M University for their annual Heavy Metal tournament. He finished in 7th place from a field of 20 competitors in the mixed foil event.

A half dozen St. Thomas fencers competed in the Sword of Troy hosted by South Houston High School on November 11. Jacob Stern finished in third place in the mixed epee event. He also took the gold in the mixed foil competition. Other St. Thomas Fencing Club members fencing in the mixed foil event were Michael Leang (12th), Jorge Novo (16th), Patrick Hildebrand (29th), Rob MacArthur (30th) and Jeffrey Yurcak (31st).

On December 16 St. Thomas fencers competed in the Bayou City Fencing Academy's D & Under tournament. All competed in mixed foil. The final results were: Jacob Stern (1st); Karl Schroder (3rd); Jeffrey Yurcak (16th); Patrick Hildebrand (20th); and, Jorge Novo (30th).

The new year began with another local tournament, the Academy of Fencing's D & Under tournament on January 13. Jeffrey Yurcak, Jorge Novo and Patrick Hildebrand finished 6th, 23rd and 25th, respectively, in the mixed foil event. Additionally, St. Thomas put together a team for the mixed team foil competition. Dubbed the "Guitar Heroes," the team consisted of Jeffrey, Jorge and Patrick, plus Holly Reuter.

On January 27th the group competed in Seabrook at the Clear Lake Fencing Club's somewhat delayed Fall 2006 tournament. In the mixed foil competition Patrick Hildebrand finished 14th. Laura Laidlaw, Jeffrey Yurcak, Rob MacArthur and Jorge Novo finished in 17th-20th places, respectively.  

At the spring 2007 Battle on the Bayou hosted by Young Elites of Houston at the Houston Athletic Fencing Center, Jacob Stern took home the silver from a field of 34 competitorsin the mixed foil event. Karl Schroder placed 14th in the same event, followed by Jeffrey Yurcak in 21st, Laura Laidlaw in 26th and Patrick Hildebrand in 29th and Rob MacArthur in 33rd place, respectively.

At the same tournament, the University of St. Thomas fencers competed in the team foil event. They tied for third place with a team composed of Karl Schroder, Jacob Stern, Patrick Hildebrand, and Jeffrey Yurcak. It should be noted that this team, named Huh? tied with a team titled What?

The Gulf Coast Division Championships and National Championship Qualifying Competition was held March 24-25, 2007. Jacob Stern placed 5th out of 19 competitors in the Division II/III Men's Foil event. Michael Leang placed 9th in the same event. He was immediately followed by Karl Schroder in 10th place. Patrick Hildebrand finished in 16th place. Jeffrey Yurcak placed 19th.

Once again, the St. Thomas foilists organized a team for men's foil. This team, manned by Karl Schroder, Jacob Stern, Mike Leang and Patrick Hildebrand called itself simply, Da Bears. As one of only two teams in the senior men's team foil competition, both they and their adversaries (from South Houston HS) qualified to send teams to the 2007summer nationals.