Bayer almost on top of the world

Cliff Bayer isn't your ordinary Wharton freshman. Sure he hates OPIM as much as the rest of everyone else, but Bayer is special. Currently the No. 1 foil fencer in the United States, he has succeeded at every level of national competition, including the U.S. Olympic trials last year. Prior to this weekend, international success has come in spurts. This past weekend, Bayer travelled to Modling, Austria, to compete in the Junior World Cup tournament against the best under-20 fencers in the world. Winning the silver medal amidst a high level of competition was a great accomplishment for Bayer, who was one of only two Americans in the competition. "These tournaments become more challenging the further east in Europe the location is, because of all the strong eastern Europeans that compete," Bayer said. After an inconsistent start to his collegiate career, Bayer certainly found his old form and regained the top level that took him to the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Bayer entered the tournament as the No. 34 seed out of 105 participants, but quickly slashed his way through the draw, slaying opponents left and right. In his bout to make the final eight of the tournament, Bayer ran into an old foe, Jean Yves Robin of France, the very man who beat Bayer in a competition last year. The Penn student was a bit intimidated by Robin's cheering section, consisting of the entire French team of at least 40 people, while Bayer just had the support of his coach. It was no matter. Bayer won easily, 15-5. After the match, Robin was beaten so soundly, that he even thanked Cliff for "the lesson." Bayer went on to win his quarterfinal match and his semifinal match. In the championship round of the tournament, Bayer faced another Frenchman, Loic Attely, the top-seeded fencer in the tournament. "At this point, I knew I had been fencing well," Bayer said. "It was going to come down to endurance. It was a long day, and we were both tired." Bayer had fenced Attely before and has beaten the French foil in previous matches. The Quaker came out early with a lead, but Attely changed his style and pulled even at 13 apiece. Loic won the next two points and the championship. "I knew his strengths and weaknesses," Bayer said. "I knew what I had to do in my head, but I was so tired that my body just couldn't do it." This weekend, Cliff accomplished a feat that no other American fencer has ever achieved, except Bayer. He hopes that his outstanding performance in Austria brings United States fencing some respect.