Princeton University Athletics
Paul Epply-Schmidt '83 won the Vet-60 national title in Atlanta this weekend.
Photo by: Beverly Schaefer
Epply-Schmidt '83 Wins Veteran National Title
August 28, 2021 | Men's Fencing
As a senior at Princeton, Paul Epply-Schmidt '83 was in the final bout for the NCAA men's foil national title, concluding his three-time All-Ivy League career with a national runner-up.
Friday in Atlanta, in the same venue that hosted the Olympic Games' fencing competition 25 years ago, Epply-Schmidt got his national title, winning gold in the men's Vet-60 foil competition at U.S. Fencing's Veteran National Championships.
While at Princeton, Epply-Schmidt earned first-team All-Ivy honors in 1980, '82 and '83, and NCAA second-team recognition in 1982 and first-team in '83, captaining Princeton's team as a senior. Epply-Schmidt's contributions to the team earned him the program's freshman Princeton Fencing Award in 1979 before he closed his career with the team's Johnston Award in 1983.
Epply-Schmidt, who majored in Romance languages and literature and is an English teacher at nearby Princeton Day School, continued his involvement with fencing well after his time at Princeton. In 2013, Epply-Schmidt earned bronze at U.S. Fencing's December North American Cup, and in 2014, he won bronze at the USA Fencing National Championships, helping to earn a place on that year's U.S. Veteran National Championship Team before having to withdraw from the event.
"Having not qualified for the Olympic teams in '84 and '88, I have been trying for years to make a team to represent my country internationally," Epply-Schmidt said. "I did make it in 2014, but had to depart from Europe early for a family emergency and never competed. So, to have won the Men's Foil 60-69 National Championship and thereby qualified for the U.S. team for the Veterans World Championships is a gratifying conclusion to many years of work. And don't be fooled by age numbers; the fencers are almost as fast and crafty as they ever were."
Epply-Schmidt credited former Princeton coach Michel Sebastiani, with whom Epply-Schmidt trained during an off year from Princeton in 1980-81, in helping develop his later Princeton and post-Princeton career. Sebastiani became Princeton's head coach in 1982, continuing until 2006.
Returning to the medal stand this summer, Epply-Schmidt preceded the win in Atlanta with a bronze at the July North American Cup in Philadelphia, and this weekend, he earned his way to the top spot.
Epply-Schmidt got off to a strong start at the Veteran National Championships, going 5-0 in pool bouts to earn the top seed in the direct elimination round and then winning four more in a row to take the title. Each of the final three opponents Epply-Schmidt faced was in the top four in the U.S. Vet-60 point standings entering the event, beginning with a 10-6 win over Philippe Bennett, a fellow Ivy alumnus from Harvard, continuing with a 10-8 win over Joseph Streb, and earning gold with a 10-4 win over Jamie Douraghy in the final.
The Veteran World Championships are set for Oct. 8-13 in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Friday in Atlanta, in the same venue that hosted the Olympic Games' fencing competition 25 years ago, Epply-Schmidt got his national title, winning gold in the men's Vet-60 foil competition at U.S. Fencing's Veteran National Championships.
While at Princeton, Epply-Schmidt earned first-team All-Ivy honors in 1980, '82 and '83, and NCAA second-team recognition in 1982 and first-team in '83, captaining Princeton's team as a senior. Epply-Schmidt's contributions to the team earned him the program's freshman Princeton Fencing Award in 1979 before he closed his career with the team's Johnston Award in 1983.
Epply-Schmidt, who majored in Romance languages and literature and is an English teacher at nearby Princeton Day School, continued his involvement with fencing well after his time at Princeton. In 2013, Epply-Schmidt earned bronze at U.S. Fencing's December North American Cup, and in 2014, he won bronze at the USA Fencing National Championships, helping to earn a place on that year's U.S. Veteran National Championship Team before having to withdraw from the event.
"Having not qualified for the Olympic teams in '84 and '88, I have been trying for years to make a team to represent my country internationally," Epply-Schmidt said. "I did make it in 2014, but had to depart from Europe early for a family emergency and never competed. So, to have won the Men's Foil 60-69 National Championship and thereby qualified for the U.S. team for the Veterans World Championships is a gratifying conclusion to many years of work. And don't be fooled by age numbers; the fencers are almost as fast and crafty as they ever were."
Epply-Schmidt credited former Princeton coach Michel Sebastiani, with whom Epply-Schmidt trained during an off year from Princeton in 1980-81, in helping develop his later Princeton and post-Princeton career. Sebastiani became Princeton's head coach in 1982, continuing until 2006.
Returning to the medal stand this summer, Epply-Schmidt preceded the win in Atlanta with a bronze at the July North American Cup in Philadelphia, and this weekend, he earned his way to the top spot.
Epply-Schmidt got off to a strong start at the Veteran National Championships, going 5-0 in pool bouts to earn the top seed in the direct elimination round and then winning four more in a row to take the title. Each of the final three opponents Epply-Schmidt faced was in the top four in the U.S. Vet-60 point standings entering the event, beginning with a 10-6 win over Philippe Bennett, a fellow Ivy alumnus from Harvard, continuing with a 10-8 win over Joseph Streb, and earning gold with a 10-4 win over Jamie Douraghy in the final.
The Veteran World Championships are set for Oct. 8-13 in Daytona Beach, Fla.
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