Midwest Championships
Item
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Title
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Midwest Championships
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Date
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June 1941
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volume
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6
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issue
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3
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pages
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1, 8
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content
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en
MIDWEST CHAMPIONSHIPS
Illinois fencers dominated the Midwestern Fencing Championships, held at the Book-Cadillac Hotel, Detroit, on April 20, although not one of last year's champions was able to retain his title. A clean sweep in the foil finals enabled the Chicagoans to run off with the team title with the Michigan division second and St. Louis third.
Frank Righeimer, returning to the foil field for the first time in interdivisional competition since placing second in the national championship in 1938, dominated the field to regain his championship. Following him were his teammates Jerry Mau, Oscar Barab and Tully Friedman.
Saul Karch of the Michigan division registered a decided upset to capture the one-touch epee championship over a strong field. Second was former national champion Loyal Tingley of Illinois, followed by Gafford of the Northern Ohio division and Charles Harbst of Columbus and Ohio State University, second in the Western Conference Championships. Unplaced in the title event were such formidable contenders as the present national titleholder, Capt. Fred Siebert of Illinois and Warren Huguelet, newly crowned Illinois champion.
The Michigan division registered its second triumph when Bill Osis regained his sabre title, with Herbert Straus of Illinois second, Bob Miller of St. Louis third and Joseph J. Malkup, Chicago University's Western Conference champion and N. C. A. A. runner-up, fourth.
Third among the champions to regain titles they have held in the past was Paula Sweeney of the Michigan division, who recaptured her women's foil crown over Mae Brady and Edna Gustavson of St. Louis and Miss Richards of Illinois.
Despite the fact that its members took three of the four individual championships, the Michigan division lost its opportunity to retain the team title by failing to score another place throughout the competition. This may have been because of the strenuous pace that the host division set for itself. On Saturday, April 19, the day previous to the midwestern championships, the Michigan division held its own title round, followed by a ball that lasted into the late hours. The following day bouts for the midwestern titles started at nine a.m. and lasted about twelve hours.
The championships were run off in fine order in the Book-Cadillac's luxurious surroundings. The only difficulty encountered by the hosts lay in the matter of directors. It was found difficult to keep three strips going at once, although the time schedule called for four.
Representatives from the following divisions competed in the championships: Michigan, Miami Valley, St. Louis, Illinois, Columbus, Northern Ohio and Central Illinois.
