|
|
| Name: |
Bill Oliver |
| Place of Birth: |
Boulder, Colorado |
| Date of birth: |
October 14, 1957 |
| Occupation: |
Computer Consultant |
| Hometown/State: |
Longmont, Colorado |
| Do you coach? |
No |
|
| When/Where did you start fencing? |
As a freshman at the University of Colorado in 1976,
I joined the University fencing club.
|
| What weapon(s) did you fence? |
All |
| Who was a major influence on your fencing career? |
My Coach, Gary Copeland |
| What fencing club did you represent? |
Northern Colorado Fencers |
| What do you consider as your greatest refereeing accomplishment? |
Refereeing the Gold Medal Men's Foil bout at the US nationals, with George Kolombatovich and Ralph Zimmerman as side judges, in 1988. |
| Did you fence in college? |
Yes |
| What college? |
The University of Colorado |
| Do you still fence? |
Only recreationally |
| When did you begin to referee? |
I was empressed into refereeing by my club mates.
I began refereeing Nationally in 1981.
|
| Why do/did you continue to referee? |
I realized that refereeing gave
me a unique perspective into how fencing worked, that and a thorough knowledge
of the rules made me more likely to be succesful as a fencer. As I improved
as a fencer, I improved as a referee. Now, I referee to maintain a relationship
with fencers and fencing. It also gives me a chance to pass along some
of the knowledge and experience that I've gained over the years.
|
| Who was the major influence on your officiating career? |
Andy Shaw, George Kolombatovich and Michael Taracio
|
| What are your thoughts regarding the role of referee? |
The referee has
several roles. The referee is the "translator" of a dialogue
between two fencers. As a translator, the referee shouldn't be the center
of attention. In fact, the referee shouldn't be noticed, except as a conduit
for information. The referee is also present to maintain order and to
ensure that the rules are applied fairly and equitably. Finally, the referee
must be a mentor for other referees. We all have to help each other.
|
| Additional thoughts: |
Refereeing is a skill, just like fencing. Referees
must practice regularly. We have to referee in local tournaments, in the
club, whenever the opportunity presents itself. Referees who only work
at NAC's are soon rusty and out of practice.
|
|
|
| Name: |
Sharon Everson |
| Place of Birth: |
Staten Island, New York |
| Date of birth: |
November 2, 1946 |
| Occupation: |
teacher / administrator |
| Hometown/State: |
Highland Mills, New York |
| Do you coach? |
Yes |
|
| Where do you coach? |
Salle Santelli, New Jersey (on leave) |
| When/Where did you start fencing? |
Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, New York |
| What weapon(s) did you fence? |
Foil |
| Who was a major influence on your fencing career? |
Denise O'Connor, Lajos Csiszar |
| What fencing club did you represent? |
Salle Csiszar |
| What do you consider as your greatest fencing accomplishment? |
3-time National Foil Team Champions |
| Did you fence in college? |
Yes |
| What college? |
Brooklyn College |
| Do you still fence? |
Yes |
| At what level do you participate? |
recreation |
| When did you begin to referee? |
Brooklyn College / National Intercollegiate Women's Fencing Association |
| Why do/did you continue to referee? |
1) Desire to contribute, give back to the sport.
2) Satisfaction in developing new referees
3) Fun
4) Comraderie
|
| Who was the major influence on your officiating career? |
Denise O'Connor, Ralph Goldstein |
|
|
| Name: |
Greg Dilworth |
| Place of Birth: |
Big Spring, TX |
| Date of birth: |
October 14, 1969 |
| Occupation: |
Financial Services |
| Hometown/State: |
Philadelphia, PA (for now) |
| Do you coach? |
No |
|
| When/Where did you start fencing? |
Marine Military Academy in Harlingen, TX. January of 1989 |
| What weapon(s) did you fence? |
Foil and Sabre mostly |
| Who was a major influence on your fencing career? |
Ken Hogan, Gerard Poujardieu |
| What fencing club did you represent? |
Varied over time, including the Marine Military Academy, Texas A&M University, Lone Star Fencing Club, Seacoast Fencing Club and now the Fencing Academy of Philadelphia. |
| What do you consider as your greatest refereeing accomplishment? |
Refereed the gold medal of the US National Championships between Dan Kellner and Cliff Bayer in 1995 or so (whichever one was in CO Springs). It was my first foil gold. |
| Did you fence in college? |
Yes. Club level |
| What college? |
Texas A&M |
| Do you still fence? |
A little... very little. |
| When did you begin to referee? |
1992 or so |
| Why do/did you continue to referee? |
I enjoy the challenge of it. It also gives me an opportunity to see a lot of my friends as I travel to tournaments. |
| Who was the major influence on your officiating career? |
Andy Shaw, George Kolombatovich, Jon Moss. |
| What are your thoughts regarding the role of referee? |
Referees should strive to create an atmosphere where the best of our sport comes through. The actions are interpreted correctly and the rules are enforced evenly. Everyone; competitors, spectators, and officials, are treated with respect. Generally, everyone has a good time.
|
| Additional thoughts: |
In addition to the above, remember 1) It is a race. 2) Be nice
|
|
|
| Name: |
Gerrie Baumgart |
| Place of Birth: |
Chicago, IL |
| Date of birth: |
September 16 |
| Occupation: |
Real Estate Broker |
| Hometown/State: |
Northglen, Colorado |
| Do you coach? |
No |
|
| When/Where did you start fencing? |
|
| What weapon(s) did you fence? |
Foil because I had to, Epee because I loved to |
| Who was a major influence on your fencing career? |
Fencing - Uriah Jones, Mel North, Skip Shirtz. Now isn't that a mixed bag! |
| What fencing club did you represent? |
Amistad, Salle du Nord, Cheyenne Fencing Society and CU |
| Refereeing Accomplishments |
Gold medal - team 1996 Olympic Games and just being a referee at the Atlanta Paraolympics |
| Did you fence in college? |
No - I was however the first woman on the rifle team |
| Do you still fence? |
NO, but am seriously considering starting again |
| When did you begin to referee? |
Locally, as most of us did as there are never enough referees at local competitions. Nationally, in the early 80's Internationally in the late 80's and early 90's. |
| Why do/did you continue to referee? |
Because I enjoy it, and and it gives great satisfaction to help other become superior referees |
| Who was the major influence on your officiating career? |
Refereeing - Ralph Goldstein and Ralph Zimmerman |
| What are your thoughts regarding the role of referee? |
Personally - to reach the highest level possible and to provide a secure atmosphere for the fencers.
|
| Additional thoughts: |
A referees role is to be non intrusive to allow the fencers to compete at their highest level, to create a fair playing field by making sure the rules are followed and allow the competition to proceed in an orderly and correct fashion.
|
|
|
| Name: |
Jeffrey Bukantz |
| Place of Birth: |
New York City |
| Date of birth: |
September 17, 1957 |
| Occupation: |
Investment trader |
| Hometown/State: |
Livingston, New Jersey |
| Do you coach? |
No |
|
| When/Where did you start fencing? |
1972 - New York Fencers' Club |
| What weapon(s) did you fence? |
Foil & Epee |
| Who was a major influence on your fencing career? |
Father - Dr. Daniel Bukantz |
| What fencing club did you represent? |
NYFC |
| Did you fence in college? |
Yes |
| What college? |
Penn State |
| Do you still fence? |
Yes |
| At what level do you participate? |
Veterans' Events, club level |
| When did you begin to referee? |
1974-'75 |
| Why do/did you continue to referee? |
Enjoyment & helping the sport |
| Who was the major influence on your officiating career? |
Dr. Daniel Bukantz |
| What are your thoughts regarding the role of referee? |
The referee's role is to consistently and properly enforce
the rules while providing the fencers with the best possible
environment in which to compete.
|
| Additional thoughts: |
I want the fencers to feel as comfortable as I wanted to feel
when I was competing
|
|
|
| Name: |
Peter W. Burchard |
| Place of Birth: |
Kentfield, California |
| Date of birth: |
November 1, 1951 |
| Occupation: |
teacher / librarian |
| Hometown/State: |
Oakland, California |
| Do you coach? |
Yes |
|
| Where do you coach? |
Halberstadt Fencers' Club |
| When/Where did you start fencing? |
University of California, Santa Cruz |
| What weapon(s) did you fence? |
All three |
| Who was a major influence on your fencing career? |
Michael D'Asaro, Ion Drimba, Emil Beck |
| What fencing club did you represent? |
Halberstadt, Pannonia, NOBA |
| What do you consider as your greatest fencing accomplishment? |
US World Championship Team (foil) '78, '83 |
| Did you fence in college? |
Yes |
| What college? |
UC Santa Cruz |
| Do you still fence? |
Yes |
| At what level do you participate? |
recreationally |
| When did you begin to referee? |
In college |
| Why do/did you continue to referee? |
To give back to the sport |
| Who was the major influence on your officiating career? |
Thierry Brouquier |
| What are your thoughts regarding the role of referee? |
I believe that the fair, skilled and unprejudicial arbitration
of competition is one of the most important factors in our sport
|
|
|
| Name: |
Samuel David Cheris |
| Place of Birth: |
Brooklyn, New York |
| Date of birth: |
November 14, 1945 |
| Occupation: |
Attorney |
| Hometown/State: |
Denver, Colorado |
| Do you coach? |
No |
|
| When/Where did you start fencing? |
1960, Brooklyn Technical High School |
| What weapon(s) did you fence? |
Foil, Epee. Saber |
| Who was a major influence on your fencing career? |
Craig Bell, Jean Helliwell |
| What fencing club did you represent? |
Stanford Fencing, Cheyenne Fencing |
| What do you consider as your greatest fencing accomplishment? |
Election as member of the FIE Executive Committee |
| Did you fence in college? |
Yes |
| What college? |
Brooklyn College |
| Do you still fence? |
No |
| When did you begin to referee? |
1967 |
| Why do/did you continue to referee? |
A place where I could give back to the sport |
| Who was the major influence on your officiating career? |
George Kolombotovich |
| What are your thoughts regarding the role of referee? |
The referee should
be a part of the flow of the bout, almost invisible. Decisions should
be made without emotion and with total objectivity. Ensure rules are enforced
evenly.
|
|
|
| Name: |
Iana Dakova |
| Place of Birth: |
Sofia, Bulgaria |
| Date of birth: |
December 11, 1967 |
| Occupation: |
Physical Education teacher and Fencing Coach |
| Hometown/State: |
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Do you coach? |
Yes |
|
| Where do you Coach? |
Three Rivers Fencing Center |
| When/Where did you start fencing? |
1979 |
| What weapon(s) did you fence? |
Foil |
| Who was a major influence on your fencing career? |
Traian Dimitrov, Violeta Katerinska |
| What fencing club did you represent? |
Slavia Sofia |
| What do you consider as your greatest fencing accomplishment? |
Top 24 World Cup. Team Bolkan Champion |
| Did you fence in college? |
Yes |
| What college? |
National Sport Academy, Sofia |
| Do you still fence? |
No |
| When did you begin to referee? |
1990 |
| Why do/did you continue to referee? |
To explore different side of the sport |
| Who was the major influence on your officiating career? |
Violetta Katerinska, Nikolai Marincheshki |
| What are your thoughts regarding the role of referee? |
The role of the
referee as I see it is to be competent, to have sense of honor, to set
a spirit of respect and dignity on and off the strip
|
|
|
| Name: |
Mary P. Frye |
| Place of Birth: |
Pontiac, Michigan |
| Date of birth: |
August 12, 1959 |
| Occupation: |
Programmer/Analyst |
| Hometown/State: |
King of Prussia, Pennsylvania |
| Do you coach? |
No |
|
| When/Where did you start fencing? |
I started fencing in February, 1983, with the fencing club at Oakland
University, in Rochester, Michigan |
| What weapon(s) did you fence? |
I started out fencing foil. I started playing with an epee in the spring of 1986, mostly so I would have more events to fence at the National Championships. There weren't many women's epeeists at the time in Michigan, so it was relatively easy to qualify for the Nationals. I fenced both weapons for three years, then switched to epee full-time in the summer of 1989. |
| Who was a major influence on your fencing career? |
Ann Ezzell. She got me started fencing epee, pushed me into becoming a referee, and introduced me to the national-level fencing community. |
| What fencing club did you represent? |
I started out representing Oakland University. After a couple of years, I switched clubs, and began representing the Fencing Academy of Michigan. When I moved to Pennsylvania in 1993, I joined the club I currently represent, the Fencing Academy of Philadelphia. |
| What do you consider as your greatest fencing accomplishment? |
My third place finish at the 2004 Division 1 National Championships. |
| Did you fence in college? |
No, I started fencing after I graduated from college. |
| Do you still fence? |
Yes, I am still an active fencer, at both the Senior and the Veteran's levels. |
| When did you begin to referee? |
I was first rated as a referee at the National Championships in 1990 |
| Why do/did you continue to referee? |
I enjoy fencing tournaments; the camaraderie of the referee corps, the diverse personalities of the competitors, coaches and spectators, and the excitement of the competition. |
| Who was the major influence on your officiating career? |
Ann Ezzell got me started working as a referee. Since then, I've been influenced in any number of ways by so many people, they are too numerous to mention. I think that everyone can always work to improve some facet of their skills, and this is best done by watching and talking to fellow referees, and learning from their experiences. |
| What are your thoughts regarding the role of referee? |
The job of a referee is to facilitate the smooth functioning of each bout. This means doing what you can, to the best of your ability, to ensure a fair competitive environment for both fencers, by applying the rules appropriately and making correct decisions.
|
|
|
| Name: |
George Kolombatovich |
| Place of Birth: |
New York, New Yor |
| Date of birth: |
August 29, 1946 |
| Occupation: |
Fencing Coach |
| Hometown/State: |
New York, New York |
| Do you coach? |
Yes |
|
| Where do you coach? |
Columbia University |
| When/Where did you start fencing? |
1950 / With father, Oscar F. Kolombatovich,
at home and, starting in 1951 with Giorgio Santelli at Salle Santelli
on Spring Street in New York City
|
| What weapon(s) did you fence? |
All |
| Who was a major influence on your fencing career? |
My father, Oscar F. Kolombatovich |
| What fencing club did you represent? |
At various times, Salle Santelli, NYAC, Huntington Fencing Academy |
| What do you consider as your greatest fencing accomplishment? |
Captain of US Army Team, National Masters Champion |
| Did you fence in college? |
Yes |
| What college? |
NYU |
| Do you still fence? |
No |
| When did you begin to referee? |
I was taught that it was very important
to know what a referee saw so I was encouraged by my father to referee
from an early age in the club. My first experience as a referee in a competition
occurred at a Long Island Division competition when I was 13.
|
| Why do/did you continue to referee? |
The main reason I started refereeing
was an excessive hatred of inadequate referees. As I gained more experience,
I realized that I had no right to complain about inadequate referees if
I did not work to improve the situation.
|
| Who was the major influence on your officiating career? |
I really started
high level refereeing at Salle Santelli on Sixth Avenue in New York City.
There was one strip that where we fenced with the winner staying up. If
you lost a bout, you became the referee. This strip regularly had the
following top-level fencers - and friends - on it: Ed Ballinger, Marty
Lang, Bobby Russell, and Ed Wright. When I made an incorrect call, many
of them would provide a few choice words and then explain why I was wrong.
Sometimes the fencers and the others who were watching would disagree
so we got to discuss all sorts of actions.
|
| What are your thoughts regarding the role of referee? |
The referee is at
her or his best when no one remembers who was the referee. A good referee
simply acts as a "translator" of the language of the blades
that the two competitors use. It is most important to remember that it
is the fencers who are the show, not the referee. This can only be accomplished
if the referee knows the rules, and then applies them correctly and fairly.
|
| Additional thoughts: |
As I was told by both of my masters, Oscar Kolombatovich
and Giorgio Santelli, it is important for a fencer to know the rules and
what a referee has to do so that officials cannot put the fencer at an
unfair disadvantage. Learning to be a referee not only helps our sport,
it also helps a fencer to be better as a fencer.
|
|
|
| Name: |
Francisco Martin |
| Place of Birth: |
Bilbao, Spain |
| Date of birth: |
September 26 |
| Occupation: |
PE. Teacher / Fencing Master |
| Hometown/State: |
Yonkers, New York |
| Do you coach? |
Yes |
|
| Where do you coach? |
The Masters School, Dobbs Ferry, NY |
| When/Where did you start fencing? |
1967 Madrid, Spain |
| What weapon(s) did you fence? |
Sabre |
| Who was a major influence on your fencing career? |
Fencing itself |
| What fencing club did you represent? |
Sala de Armas de Madrid |
| What do you consider as your greatest fencing accomplishment? |
Six times National Champion (Spain) |
| Did you fence in college? |
Yes |
| What college? |
National Institute Of Physical Education, Spain |
| Do you still fence? |
No |
| At what level do you participate? |
World Championships Many International events |
| When did you begin to referee? |
1969 |
| Why do/did you continue to referee? |
For the good of fencing |
| Who was the major influence on your officiating career? |
Chaba Palagui |
| What are your thoughts regarding the role of referee? |
Confidence
|
| Additional thoughts: |
Impartiality is of utmost importance
|
|
|
| Name: |
Charles Washburn |
| Place of Birth: |
Helsinki, Finland |
| Date of birth: |
November 12, 1964 |
| Occupation: |
Developer |
| Hometown/State: |
Wallingford, Pennsylvania |
| Do you coach? |
No |
|
| When/Where did you start fencing? |
1980, Milton Abbey School, Milton Abbas, Dorset, U.K. |
| What weapon(s) did you fence? |
All three to start then concentrated on Foil |
| Who was a major influence on your fencing career? |
Paul Nicholson, Bela Imregi and Mark Masters |
| What fencing club did you represent? |
Polytechnic and Fencing Academy of Philadelphia |
| What do you consider as your greatest fencing accomplishment? |
Member of US National Champion Men's Foil Team |
| Did you fence in college? |
No |
| Do you still fence? |
No |
| At what level do you participate? |
I currently referee at National Competitions, World Cups and Grands Prix. Have refereed at 3 Junior/Cadet World Championships (2003 Trapani, 2004 Plovdiv & 2005 Linz), and the 2005 Senior World Championships in Leipzig. |
| When did you begin to referee? |
Very early in my fencing career. |
| Why do/did you continue to referee? |
|
| Who was the major influence on your officiating career? |
George Kolombatovich and Emik Kaidanov |
| What are your thoughts regarding the role of referee? |
The referee is a facilitator and an arbiter of the rules. They must be conscientious, impartial, thick-skinned, and inconspicuous.
|
| Additional thoughts: |
|
|
|
| Name: |
Russell Wilson |
| Place of Birth: |
New York, New York |
| Date of birth: |
March 22, 1964 |
| Occupation: |
Lobbyist/consultant/martial arts instructor |
| Hometown/State: |
Arlington, Virginia |
| Do you coach? |
No |
|
| When/Where did you start fencing? |
Age 14 with the late Csaba Elthes |
| What weapon(s) did you fence? |
Saber |
| Who was a major influence on your fencing career? |
The late Csaba Elthes; Jack Keane; Lee Wilson (my father). |
| What fencing club did you represent? |
New York Athletic Club and Columbia University. |
| What do you consider as your greatest fencing accomplishment? |
Youngest person in history to pass the international "B" exam (age 18);
youngest AAA rated official in the world; 3x member Jr. World Team; JO U-20 Champion,
Maccabiah Bronze medallist, then retired to officiate at 22.
|
| Did you fence in college? |
Yes, at Columbia. |
| Do you still fence? |
No |
| At what level do you participate? |
I was a referee at the 1984, 88 and
96 OlympicGames. I officiated in the finals of the last dry sabre individual
Olympic Championship in1988 and have done countless finals at the world
level in foil and sabre (one time in epee).
|
| When did you begin to referee? |
1978 at age 14. |
| Why do/did you continue to referee? |
I am retired as an active referee and wish to focuson referee development. |
| Who was the major influence on your officiating career? |
Chaba Pallaghy; Ralph Zimmerman; George Kolombatovich. |
| What are your thoughts regarding the role of referee? |
The referee must
comporther/himself as an equal to the fencers, no higher, no lower. Self
confidence is good. Arrogance is bad.
|
| Additional thoughts: |
The only difference between a good refereeand a bad
referee is that a good one makes LESS mistakes. No one is perfect.
|
