Lining Them Up

The HAA has added a scientific touch to College fencing. Tuesday the team bought a set of electric epees, which will take the guesswork out of determining the winners of epee contests.

Points are scored in that branch of the sport when a fencer hits any part of his opponents body. Previously, red ink had been used on the sword tips to indicate hits, but there was often uncertainty in close action as to which man made the first hit.

With the new equipment, electric cords are attached to the weapons and lights indicate when a hit is scored. The setup is accurate to 1-25th of a second.

Prospects for this year's fencing team are good. Preparing for their six-match schedule, the fencers yesterday whipped Boston University, 21 to 6, in a practice contest at the Blockhouse. A combined varsity and freshman team faced the Terriers, and the only wine scored by BU were against freshmen.

The varsity fencers open their formal season Saturday at Cornell. Matches with Army, MIT, Princeton, Columbia, and Yale follow and the team will close its season by competing in the intercollegiates meet in New York on March 17 and 18.

Four Veterans

Four men from last year's squad are leading the 1950 team--Captain Ray Frankmann and Joe Vera in the foils, and John Gay and Forrest Carter in the sabers. Eric Solice and Chris Martin of last year's once-beaten freshman team are the two other foils men, while Ray Pierce and Jay Levine complete the saber team. Joe Overhoiser, Byron Morton and John Smith comprise the epee squad.

Coaching the team is Rene Perey, who has been at the University since 1929.

In preparing for the intercollegiate season, individual members have competed in the New England division of the Amateur Fencers League of America and have shown well in these matches.

This is the first time in several years that the League has been operating.

Not too enjoyable as a spectator sport, fencing rarely draws a sizable crowd, regardless of the team's record.