The following dates have been designated for 2008-2009 SSCC tournaments:
September 20/21, 2008 – South Texas – Austin Fencers Club
November 1/2, 2008– North Texas – Fencing Institute of Texas
January 10/11, 2009 – Gulf Coast – Young Elites of Houston
February 21/22, 2009 – Ark-La-Miss – Rose Condon Committee

The Oklahoma Division has chosen not to designate a tournament for the 2008-2009 season, however the SSCC Commission feels it is important for the structure of the SSCC to have 5 designated events. Therefore a 5th event will be designated by bid. The bid form can be downloaded here. Bids are due June 30th, 2008 and a decision will be posted by July 15th.

This past weekend (September 30 and October 1), the first SSCC event of the 2006-2007 season was held in Austin, Texas, hosted by the Austin Fencers Club. This is the first time AFC has been an LOC for an SSCC event, and they should be congratulated on a job well done. The venue was clean, spacious and well lit, with seven grounded and additional ungrounded pistes, and a number of FIE-grade scoring boxes that incorporate time and score. A first class technical committee and armoury staff headed by Terry Harkey and Ovy Waddoups, respectively, kept the tournament moving along efficiently, and an excellent referee cadre with Gary Van Der Wege as the Head Referee provided expert, unbiased officiating at the high level that we have come to expect at SSCC events.

The athletes of the Southwest Section showed a fantastic level of fencing, with a number of new faces in the top ranks, as some of the standouts from previous seasons have begun their college fencing careers out of the region. A new crop of top level athletes is coming to take their places though, and as usual, there were a number of upsets and some unexpected results in this competition. In particular, the first place winners of Robert Reed (Men’s Epee), Benjamin Parkins (Men’s Foil), David Chao (Men’s Sabre), Gabrielle Strauss (Women’s Epee), Evelyn Scarborough (Women’s Foil) and Cait Schneider (Women’s Sabre) are to be congratulated for their excellent performances. Likely, we’ll be seeing some shifting around of the SSCC Rolling points standings, once the new formulations have been put together.

This promises to be an excellent season, full of high level fencing at SSCC events.

Congratulations to all the participants of the Austin Challenge, and we hope to see you at the rest of the SSCC events this season.

Keep fencing!

The SWS has recently approved the following changes to the SSCC Operations Manual.

1. A revision to the seeding system to use SSCC points to break ties within both classification AND year.
2. Modification of the points list to allow out-of-section fencers to earn points, as they are used for seeing purposes at SSCC events. However, end-of-season prizes would still be restricted to SWS residents. The current SSCC rolling points standings would be edited to reflect this change.
3. Points will be awarded in each category (Men’s Foil, Epee, and Sabre and Women’s Foil, Epee and Sabre) as per the current table of points awarded at a Division I NAC, for participants completing or having a bye past the first round of direct eliminations (i.e. promoted Tableau B) up to a maximum of 32. This new formulation would affect 2006-2007 season and beyond tournaments only, and the results on the rolling point standings from previous seasons would NOT be edited to reflect this change.
4. The Head Referee of an SSCC tournament should be an official with a 4 or better rating, capable of assisting with hiring of the rest of the referee cadre and running the referee cadre at the tournament. The majority of the referees at an SSCC tournament should have a USFA rating of 8 or better. Top 8 bouts should be refereed by persons rated at least 6 in the weapon in being fenced, or be directly overseen by an FOC Examiner.

   SSCC Commissioner’s editorial comment: This is a compromise on the thorny referee issue. Many fencers and coaches are concerned with this process, and want the best referees used. Experience has shown that SSCC events are an excellent place for the development (as opposed to training) of top-flight referees, and are one of the reasons the referee corps from the Southwest Section is so highly regarded on the National level. Experience has also shown that developing (rated below 6) referees, properly overseen by a competent FOC Examiner are vital to the operations of SSCC events, often capable of refereeing high level bouts, and provide a valuable service to tournament operations. Additionally, experience has shown up-and-coming referees, under observation and mentoring by FOC Examiners and senior referees, are much more capable than their ratings alone often suggest, but still in need of supervision and mentoring.

5. At the conclusion of each SSCC event, the LOC will submit a report to the SSCC Commissioner detailing the Operations Committee personnel, armoury personnel, referees utilized in each event, the numbers of entries in all events, the close of registration time, initial pool posting and finishing time of all events held and the names of any athletes from the top 3 point standings from the previous year for whom the LOC should receive compensation. Once this tournament report has been received along with the Head Tax, the SSCC Commissioner will authorize the Treasurer of the SWS to pay the appropriate amount to the LOC for recompense of top 3 point holders from the previous season.

September 30-October 1st, South Texas Division, Host: Austin Fencers Club
November 4-5, North Texas Division, Host: Cutting Edge Fencing Club
February 3-4, Ark-La-Miss Division, Rose Condon Memorial *
March 3-4, Gulf Coast Division, Host: Alliance Fencing Academy *
April 14-15 , Oklahoma Division, Oz Parsons Memorial

*Please note change to Rose Condon Memorial and Gulf Coast events.

At the 2006 annual meeting of the membership of the Southwest Section, B.J. Smiley Goins, current Southwest Section Circuit Cup Commissioner, expressed her desire to not continue as Commissioner for 2006-2007, leaving a future vacancy in that position. The Southwest Section Executive Committee voted by majority to ask Marty Wysocki to serve in this position beginning at the start of the 2006-2007 fencing year on August 1st. He has accepted.

The Executive Committee wishes to express its thanks to B.J. for all her hard work this season, and wishes further to extend its support to Marty for the coming season.

Congratulations to all the fencers who fenced in the 2005-2006 SSCC tournaments. Attendance was up in most events. More on all of that in my report at the membership meeting in May.

A special congratulations to the top point finishers. I hope to see all of you at the Sectional Qualifiers and annual membership meeting May 6th & 7th in Shreveport. Prizes for the top three finishers in each weapon will be presented on that Saturday (time yet to be determined).

Thanks for supporting your Section!

BJ Smiley Goins
SSCC Commissioner 2005-2006

Top Three Finishers in the 2005-2006 Southwest Section Circuit Cup

As part of their prize for the 2004-2005 Season, the following fencers are given free entry to all SSCC tournaments for the 2005-2006 season in the event they are listed. (Please note that pre-registration is still required and showing up at the door without pre-registering still incurs the late fee.)

David Sierra, SSCC Commissioner through the 2004-2005 season, writes:

To the Members of the Southwest Section :

Due to pressing personal reasons, I hereby tender my resignation as Commissioner of the Southwest Section Circuit Cup, to take effect when my replacement has been confirmed by the Section Executive Committee.

The SSCC has been an endeavor I have poured a great deal of time, effort and love into over the past years, and it pains me greatly to have to do this at this time. This resignation should in NO WAY be considered a comment on the policies or makeup of the current Sectional Administration, and I support them fully in their efforts to develop and expand the SSCC.

I would like to suggest that the Executive Committee consider B.J. Smiley-Goins for the position of SSCC Commissioner to replace me. B.J. is a capable administrator, having served as Chair of our Section in the late 1990's, and her administration began the initial efforts of a Section-wide series of tournaments that the SSCC codified into clear form. I am confident her ability and dedication will serve the SSCC well. In order to ease the transition, I offer my services as sounding board and general advisory resource on SSCC matters and precedents, and will not take any public positions opposing the leadership of the SSCC and Southwest Section. The SSCC is one of the premier regional fencing circuits in the nation, and I am confident it will continue to grow and serve the needs of the fencing athletes of the Southwest Section.

David Sierra

The Southwest Section Executive Committee acted to name B.J. Smiley Goins as the next SSCC Commissioner. She writes:

Greetings to my fellow fencers of the Southwest Section.

As the new commissioner for the 2005-2006 SSCC, I would like to take this opportunity to encourage each one of you to support the tournaments of the Circuit. This year, the tournaments are the Longhorn, the Oz Parsons, the Rose Condon, the Gulf Coast Open and the Gold Blade Open.

Be sure to pre-register for each tournament as soon as registration opens to take advantage of any early registration discounts. Encourage your fellow fencers to travel with you to the tournaments (carpool-save money, room together-save more money).

A few changes are being made to circuit guidelines this year, but fencers should look forward to a season of great fencing, visiting with old friends and competing for bragging rights.

I welcome all questions, comments and complaints and will do my best to answer the questions, listen to the comments and resolve the complaints with the goal of continuing to keep the SSCC the best Regional fencing competition in the country.

Happy Fencing and See You on the Strip!

BJ Smiley Goins
SSCC Commissioner

The dates for the 2005 Southwest Section Circuit Cup (SSCC) have been set. Mark these on your calendars, it promises to be another excellent season of competition and fun.

• October 29-30, 2005 -- Longhorn Open (South Texas)
• November 19-20, 2005 -- Oz Parsons Memorial (Oklahoma)
• January 7-8, 2006 -- Rose Condon Memorial (Ark-La-Miss)
• February 11-12, 2006 -- Gulf Coast Open (Gulf Coast)
• March 18-19, 2006 -- Gold Blade Open (North Texas)

The final results from last season can be viewed at http://askfred.net/Results/pointsLists.php. Remember, top 3 place-holders from the previous season in each weapon get free entry to all SSCC events in the weapon they placed in!

Look for some important changes to registration protocols and seeding protocols to be implemented at this year's SSCC events to be publicized soon!

Thanks go out in advance to the dedicated Local Organizing Committees who will be working hard to put on top level events this season.

David Sierra
SSCC Commissioner

Due to the fact that only three of the required six events have been scheduled, the 2005 Crescent City Open will no longer be designated as Southwest Section Circuit Cup (SSCC) tournament, by decision of the Southwest Section Executive Committee. No points will be awarded towards 2004-2005 SSCC standings from the 2005 Crescent City Open. This action only effects the 2004-2005 season. Final standings for the 2004-2005 SSCC will consist of the top four results for the five remaining events:

• South Texas Division: Longhorn Open
• Oklahoma Division: Oz Parsons Memorial
• Gulf Coast Division: Space City Rendezvous
• Ark-La-Miss Division: Rose Condon Memorial
• North Texas Division: North Texas Grand Prix

Southwest Sectional Circuit Cup Planning Meeting
October 23rd, 2004.
To be held after the end of fencing on Saturday at the Longhorn Open, Austin, Texas.

Please note: This is NOT a SWS Executive Committee meeting. It is a meeting to discuss the direction and operations of the SSCC with the goal of standardizing tournament operations and sharing tournament operations strategies. All consensuses arrived at are subject to EC approval. A representative of all current and future LOC is requested, in addition to Divisional representatives.

Agenda

1) Current growth projections and overall comments
2) SSCC vs LOC responsibilities and assistance
3) Registration and tournament operations
4) Referee hiring, pay, and training
5) SSCC Sportsmanship award
6) Plans for future implementation and directions

If you have any additional topics for the committee to discuss, please email David Sierra, SSCC Commissioner, at oso97@hotmail.com. If you are unable to be present, please forward any comments on any topic to the same.

As part of their prize for the 2003-2004 Season, the following fencers are given free entry to all SSCC tournaments for the 2004-2005 season in the event they are listed. Please note that pre-registration is still required and showing up at the door without pre-registering will STILL incur the late fee!

Congratulations to all of them!

For the 2004-2005 season all SSCC LOCs have been designated.

In order of scheduling priority (based on relative “seniority” of the LOC as an SSCC hosting entity and when the designating information was received by the Commissioner) they are as follows:

• South Texas : UT Fencing Club (Longhorn Open)
• Louisiana : Louisiana Division (Crescent City Open)
• ALM : ALM Division/Caddo Bossier Foundation for Sword Sports (Rose Condon Memorial)
• Oklahoma : Redlands Fencing Center (Oz Parsons Memorial)
• Gulf Coast : Alliance Fencing Center (Unnamed)
• North Texas : Lone Star Fencing Center (North Texas Grand Prix)

Scheduling information will be put out after the National Schedule has been set. The SSCC Commissioner will create listings on FRED for all events, and authorize the Bout Committee/Operations Personnel so designated by the respective LOC.

Final point standings for the 2003-2004 Southwest Section Circuit Cup can be viewed here. Please e-mail the SSCC Commissioner, David Sierra, with any questions about points.