Jerent takes the Challenge Réseau Ferré de France

_ The demise of French fencing seems to have been overstated. _ This was a great weekend for Team France as Daniel Jerent (FRA) defeated Alexandre Blaszyck (FRA) 15-14 to keep the title at home at the Challenge Réseau Ferré de France. France took 3 of 4 podium spots in the men’s epee individual event. 2012 Olympian Soren Thompson took home some bragging rights as well: making it to the Top 8 with a 7th place finish. Dwight Smith , who went undefeated in pools and was the only other Team USA member to make it out of the preliminary rounds to the table of 64, placed 42nd after a 15-5 defeat by Grigori Beskin (ISR). Beskin went on to fence Gabor Boczko (HUN), and was eliminated in his bout 13-7. Boczko then fenced Micha Adamek (POL) and won 15-9. His win streak came to an end in the table of 8, where he lost to Ivan Trevejo (FRA) in a close 15-14 match. At the same time Trevejo’s teammate Alexandre Blaszyck won his bout against Soren Thompson 15-7, setting them up for a match in the table of 4 where Blaszyck bested Trevejo 15-13. Meanwhile, Nikolai Novosjolov (EST) defeated Gabriele Bino (ITA) 15-9. Novosjolov would face Daniel Jerent (FRA), who upset the number one seed Max Heinzer (SUI) in a close bout 15-14. Jerent squeaked by again against Novosjolov in another 15-14 victory, setting up a France vs. France final. Watch the video recap of the elimination rounds and finals from the FFE: http://www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/xzlp83ELIMINATOIRES et FINALE, les coulisses du… _by levalloisport_Jerent won in the finals against Blaszyck in (yet another) 15-14 victory. Trevejo ultimately tied for third with Novosjolov, giving France a near complete sweep of the medal podium. Heinzer placed 5th, Boczko 6th, Thompson 7th, and Bino 8th. Other American results: Adam Watson 120th, Alexander Tsinis 134th, Jason Pryor 138th, Justin Dion 210th, Teddy Sherrill 236th, Kevin Mo 242nd, and Nicholas Vomero 250th.