Race Imboden picks up gold medal on his birthday in Division 1 National Championship: Fencing Recap
The day four of USA Division 1 and Wheelchair National Championship featured the first gold medal victory for Race Imboden. He took his first Men’s Foil Individual event in Portland on May 18, on the fourth day of DWNC. Men’s Foil Individual and Women’s
Team Epee events were conducted in Division 1 category on that day as well.
While entering as number 12 seed, Imboden took the all six bouts victories in the pool matches. The victories in pool matches gave the champion an automatic bye into the table-32. Imboden faced Sherif Farrag in the table-32 and defeated him with the
score of 15-7. The next bout victory was taken by Imboden against Brendan Meyers of New York. He took over the Meyers with 15-8 touches and advanced to the quarter-final round.
In the quarter-final, Imboden faced the NCAA Champion of March season, Ariel DeSmet of Oregon. A very excited match took place between the both. Imboden took the victory with 15-12 scores and advanced to the semi-final. DeSmet and Imboden, both are
the Foil team-mates and they will play in the Notre Dames competitions. Imboden admired DeSmet for his fencing and said that he is an enormous fencer and he did not take his fight lightly in quarter-final.
Imboden said that it was very difficult bout that he played against DeSmet. Imboden also explained that DeSmet gave him a very tough time in all the bouts, but he did that as he needed to do so.
Imboden faced Alexander Massialas in the semi-final, who was also his team-mate in the Junior and Cadet World Fencing Championship, Jordan. Massialas took the 4-2 scores victory first. Soon the momentum was turned and Imboden hit 10 consecutive touches
and took the score at 12-4 points. The second bout ended with 13-6 and the final bout claimed the victory for Imboden with an amazing 15-9 scores. Imboden was now ready to face Californian Gerek Meinhardt in the play-off round.
The both players kept equal touches throughout the competition and tied the score at 13 at the end of the game. The final game had become more interesting and created the thrills within the crowed. An additional one minute was given that took the huge
victory for Imboden.
It was a big day for Imboden because he took the gold medal on his birthday. In this way he gave himself a gold medal as a birthday gift. Imboden already had won the gold medal in Foil Team event at Junior and Cadet World Championship at Jordan. He
said on his achievement, “Finally achieving the highest level you can in the United States is a great feeling. I always go out there trying to win and today was my day.”
New York fencers took the final event of Women’s Epee Team event and were honoured with gold medals.
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