FENCING Preview: U.S. favored in five of six events in Pan American Champs in Toronto

American Sabre star Eli Dershwitz

A powerful U.S. team is in Toronto for the Pan American Championships starting on Thursday, including no. 1-ranked Eli Dershwitz and eight top-10-ranked sword stars for individual and team events.

Five of the six events have the U.S. as the first and second-ranked entries:

Men/Epee:
4. Ruben Limardo Gascon (VEN) ~ 2018 silver medalist
8. Jacob Hoyle (USA) ~ 2018 bronze medalist
9. Curtis McDowald (USA) ~ 2018 bronze medalist
17 Jesus Andres Lugones Ruggeri (ARG) ~ Defending champion
33 John Edison Rodriguez (COL)

Men/Foil:
2. Race Imboden (USA) ~ Defending champion
6. Gerek Meinhardt (USA) ~ 2018 bronze medalist
12 Alex Massialas (USA) ~ 2018 bronze medalist
17 Nick Itkin (USA)
22 Maximillien Van Haaster (CAN) ~ 2018 silver medalist

Men/Sabre:
1. Eli Dershwitz (USA) ~ Defending champion
16 Daryl Homer (USA) ~ 2018 bronze medalist
24 Shaul Gordon (CAN) ~ 2018 silver medalist
45 Stefano Ivan Lucchetti (ARG)
51 Eliecer Romero (VEN)

Women/Epee:
8. Courtney Hurley (USA)
10 Kelley Hurley (USA) ~ Defending champion
26 Nathalie Moellhausen (ARG)
27 Isabel Di Tella (ARG) ~ 2018 silver medalist
28 Katharine Holmes (USA)

Women/Foil:
4. Lee Kiefer (USA) ~ Defending champion
14 Nzingha Prescod (USA) ~ 2018 bronze medalist
16 Nicole Ross (USA) ~ 2018 bronze medalist
22 Eleanor Harvey (CAN)
28 Kelleigh Ryan (CAN) ~ 2018 silver medalist

Women/Sabre:
7. Anne-Elizabeth Stone (USA) ~ 2018 silver medalist
15 Dagmara Wozniak (USA) ~ Defending champion
28 Aleksandra Shelton (USA)
35 Maria Belen Perez Maurice (ARG)
47 Alejandra Benitez Romero (VEN)

The individual competitions will be held from 27-29 June and the team events from 30 June-2 July. Look for results here.