July 2008

Former St. Benedict’s athletes Cullen Jones and Steve Mocco are currently preparing for the Beijing Olympics as members of the U.S. team in swimming and wrestling, respectively.

Marty Williams Jr. has his sites set on the Olympics too – just not as soon as the aforementioned Gray Bees stars. His best chance will come in four more years – in 2012 when the quadrennial event is staged in London.

Williams, who became the first New Jersey fencer to win four state Prep titles before receiving his diploma from St. Benedict’s last month, took a huge step in realizing his ultimate goal by capturing a national fencing championship over the July 4th weekend in California.

Williams, who is headed to Sacred Heart University in Connecticut, won the Junior title in the United States Fencing Association Summer National Championships on Sunday, July 6, at the San Jose Convention Center.

“I really can’t put it into words how this feels,” said Williams, who won his first national tournament after coming close numerous times. “I’ve waited a long time for this. Now I know I can win at this level and that gives me a great deal of confidence for the future.”

Williams’ immediate future includes heading to Sacred Heart where he will compete on an NCAA Division 1 level. His college coach, Dr. Thomas Vrabel, was on hand to witness his prized recruit performing at the national level and was, naturally, thrilled with the outcome.

“It was a very exciting tournament to say the least. Marty was a very serious and focused young man who performed at a very high level,” Dr. Vrabel said. “We are very pleased to have someone of his national and international ability on board at Sacred Heart.”

Williams, whose fencing prowess has taken him to events throughout the world, came into the Summer Nationals ranked sixth in the USFA Junior point standings. He cruised through the pool round of Sabre competition and gained the No. 1 seed heading into the Direct Elimination, championship round. He earned the top spot by racking up 30 touches against only six in the opening sector.

In the direct elimination portion of the event, Williams sailed through the first two rounds before taking out Avery Zuk of Indiana, the No. 2 ranked fencer in the point standings, in the quarterfinals, 15-12.

Fellow New Jerseyan, Aleksander Ochocki, was eliminated by Williams in the semifinals, 15-11, before the St. Benedict’s star took on Daryl Homer of New York in the final. Homer came into the Summer Nationals as the No. 1 ranked fencer in the USFA point standings.

Williams, however, was unfazed and realized his national title by recording his 15th touch to post a 15-13 verdict. It’s a title he’s been dreaming about since finishing second two years ago in the Summer Nationals.

Williams said he was driven to excel in this event after watching members of the current Olympic Fencing Team compete in the Las Vegas Grad Prix two weeks earlier.

“It inspired me a lot and made me realize that if I can keep working hard and listening to my coaches someday I can be an Olympian,” said Williams. “I’m not that far away from those guys and can be there in no time if I just keep performing at this level.”