Fencing fans here are going to be on a very meager diet this year, for Rene Peroy's swordsmen will play only three out of their ten meets at the Indoor Athletic Building.
As is usual with his pre-season forecasts, Coach Peroy declares that the Crimson fencers are a "well-balanced team," with no individual stars. However, he feels confident that this year's team will have a better record than that of last year's squad. Four times during the 1940 season the opposing team won by a one-point margin.
Four seniors graduated last year, which is about the average number. This less is more than offset by a fairly good crop of Sophomores and by the return of two of the best fencers, Amos Murphy and Tom Wright, who were unable to play last year.
Although, figuratively speaking, no man stands head and shoulders over his teammates, according to Peroy, there is no doubt that Captain Murphy actually does so. A six foot seven inch giant, Murphy has the advantage of a very long reach, which, coupled with an aggressive style of play, makes him one of the most formidable members of the squad. With the graduation of Bill Croach (a 77-inch midget), Murphy now stands uncontested in the height department.
Tom Wright will also be one of the major links in the Crimson offense if he is able to compete this year. Last year he starred in the University fencing tournament, and performed the unusual feat of placing in all three divisions-first in epee, second in sabre, and third in foil.
The foil department this year will be handled by Joe Koch, Art Jaros, Ben Johnson, and Johnny Vaughan, who are rated in that order by Coach Peroy. Koch is only a Junior, despite the fact that he rates the top in his division, with the result that Peroy hopes to get two years of good services from him. Jaros and Johnson are closely pressing him for the top bracket, and Vaughan, last year's Yardling captain, is improving steadily.
Captain Murphy, Lynn Brua, George White, and Paul Littlefield will combine to make the epee division one of the strongest. Brua, former New England junior champion in epee, will back up Murphy, while White, a promising Sophomore, and Littlefield, a converted manager, round out the group.
Bob Batt is rated first in the sabre division, and his three years' of Varsity experience should make him a formidable member of the team. Win Alberts, another clever Senior, Martin Johnson, one of the best point-winners for last year's Freshmen, and Bob Moovs, an agile tactician, complete the lineup.
The Yardling squad, which Coach Peroy says is decidedly above average, had its first meet against Exeter Saturday, winning 5 to 4. Since the Exonians are generally better than most of the other '44 opponents, Peroy hopes for an excellent season, with Worcester and Yale as the strongest foes.
Read more in News
Jim Thorpe Back to Stadium To Relive Memories of Glory