A.F.L.A. 1939-1940 National Rankings
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A.F.L.A. 1939-1940 National Rankings
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October 1940
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5
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5
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A. F. L. A. 1939-1940 NATIONAL RANKINGS
The Amateur Fencers League of America has just published its Annual Rankings as determined from the fencing results of its members throughout the 1938-1939 fencing season. This annual list is of service for the seeding of entries in competitions next season and also shall stand as a permanent record of the relative results of A.F.L.A. members during the fencing season just terminated.
The A.F.L.A. follows only one inviolate rule in determining its ratings, that the National Senior Individual Champion in each weapon shall receive premier rating. Its remaining decisions are dependent upon a point system related to the number of competitions entered, the results in those competitions and also the relative strength of those competitions, which last is determined by the number of last season’s ranking fencers competing. These computations are prepared by a special Ranking Committee chosen from fencers who attend competitions regularly and are most familiar with the competing fencers, their aptitudes and records. No ranking recommendations are purely the result of mathematical computation. A fencer who entered all competitions and consistently averaged around sixth place to acquire a point score of, let us say, 50 points could not conceivably be rated higher than another fencer who entered four strong competitions and won two 4th places, one 3rd place and another 3rd place on points after tieing for 2nd, whose point score added up only to 45. These variations within a season’s accumulated record must be subject to the critical opinion of the committee. The Ranking Committee’s job is not an easy one.
The Ranking Committee submits its recommendations before the first meeting of the Board of Governors. Each place must be approved by the Board. Where rankings are questioned, the Committee presents the reasons for its decisions and a vote is taken after the necessary discussion. All decisions of the Board of Governors are final although the Board does temper this authority by permitting a review and re-vote of any decisions which meet objections. The Board of Governors has received few such objections in the past and has never felt these few objections sufficiently justified to warrant any change.
The list of Rankings renders a specific service to the sport. However, the Board of Governors realizes that the soundness and proof of its ratings diminish as you pass the first half of the list. The difference between an 8th and a 9th ranking may be infinitesimal. Hence the Board, feeling that its rankings carry an athletic honor to its readers, prepares a complete list of 10 in each weapon but does not place much particular significance upon its relative placements beyond the first half of each list.
For purposes of comparison we have indicated the 1938-1939 rankings of persons appearing in the two lists in consecutive years. The 1938-1939 rankings are indicated by the small bracketed figures following the names. Another interesting comparison may be made between this list and the 1940 American Olympic Fencing Committee ratings published in our July issue. Variations between these two lists are due to the fact that the A.F.L.A. ratings refer only to the last fencing season and are judged upon the results of all competitions whereas the Olympic Committee tabulations are based upon a four-year period and the results of only certain stipulated Olympic trial competitions.
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1939-1940 National Rankings
Foil
1. Dernell Every (8)
2. Warren A. Dow (4)
3. Jose R. de Capriles
4. Norman L. Lewis (1)
5. John R. Huffman (3)
6. Edward Carfagno (2)
7. Silvio Giolito
8. Lt. Richard Steere (10)
9. Nathaniel Lubell (9)
10. Hugh V. Alessandroni (5)
Sabre
1. Norman C. Armitage (1)
2. Jose R. de Capriles (5)
3. John R. Huffman (2)
4. Miguel A. de Capriles (3)
5. Ralph E. Marson (7)
6. Diaz Cetulo
7. Peter Bruder
8. Nickolas Muray (9)
9. Ervin S. Acel (10)
10. Edward Carfagno (6)
Epee
1. Fred W. Siebert
2. Alfred Skrobisch
3. Loyal Tingley (1)
4. Jose R. de Capriles (5)
5. Robert Driscoll
6. Leo G. Nunes
7. Commdr. Leonard Doughty (8)
8. Pieter Mijer
9. Lt. Gustave M. Heiss (3)
10. Miguel A. de Capriles
Women’s Foil
1. Miss Helene Mroczkowska (8)
2. Miss Mildred I. Stewart (4)
3. Mrs. Marion Lloyd Vince (6)
4. Mrs. Jarmila C. Vokral (3)
5. Miss Barbara L. Cochrane (5)
6. Miss Madeline Dalton (2)
7. Miss Maria Cerra (9)
8. Mrs. Lisel Oppenheim (10)
9. Miss Carolyn Githens
10. Mrs. Doby Funke
