October 3, 2016
After an outstanding rookie campaign, Ben Natanzon started his sophomore season with a gold medal performance in junior men’s saber at the Junior World Cup in Plovdiv, Bulgaria this past weekend. This is the second-consecutive year he has finished in first place at this prestigious international competition.
Natanzon is currently the top-ranked junior men’s saber fencer in the world and contented his impressive performances this past weekend. In pool play, the Manalapan, N.J., native was dominant, winning all five of his bouts and outscoring his opponents, 30-12.
His impressive play earned him a bye into the table of 64, where he cruised past Matei Anciculoesei of Romania, 15-8. In the table of 32 bout, Natanzon made quick work as he bested his opponent Adrian Degan of Germany, 15-5.
Natanzon continued his dominance on the strip beating his next opponent Giacomo Mignuzzi, 15-8. Looking to advance to the semifinals, Natanzon was sensational in his quarterfinal bout, with a 15-3 triumph over the No. 17-ranked fencer, Mateusz Godlewski.
In the semifinal bout, the sophomore defeated Gherardo Caranti, 15-12, to secure a medal. The finals pitted Natanzon up against the No. 6-ranked fencer, Konstantin Lokhanov of Russia. This bout was tight throughout and with the score even at 14, Natanzon won the final touch to take home the gold medal.
The St. John’s fencing team will begin its season this Friday, Oct. 7 at the October North American Cup in Detroit, Mich.