Team USA Fights Hard in Foil Team Events, Finishing 6th in Women’s and 9th in Men's

PARIS, France - The foil teams took to the strip on the morning of September 5 where they looked to improve on the individual day results from the day prior.

The men’s team of Byron Branch, Garrett Schoonover and Noah Hanssen, faced a familiar opponent in Brazil for the Round of 16 in the men’s team event.

Branch shined as he entered the competition, scoring his opponent 8-7 in his first round. He continued to dominate as he put up seven more points in his second round to close the scoring gap 30-23.

Schooover and Hanssen also landed great touches in the team effort to help the team close the gap. 

“What I really tried to focus on, and this was the mistake I actually made earlier in the match, when we were down by a little bit, was just focus on one touch at a time and taking apart the Brazilian fencers game,” said Branch.

In the final round of the match, Branch put on a show, scoring Brazil 16-5. The final score of the Team USA versus Brazil match, 45-41, ending the team foil event in 9th place.

The women’s foil team of Ellen Geddes, Victoria Isaacson, and Jataya Taylor took on Italy in the Round of 8 after earning a bye in the Round of 16.

Taylor got the team out to a quick lead of 5-1 in the first round, and again in her second appearance, she out scored Italy 7-5.  Isaacson put up a fight against her opponent in her last round as she kept things close only losing her last bout by three points. 

Despite the efforts made by all three team members, they fell to Italy, 45-16, claiming 6th place in the event.

Team USA lost to Brazil, 45-41
 

Bye

Team USA vs. Italy, 45-16