Fencing
Licata, McMahon win gold medals

Mike Licata of Getzville and Kevin McMahon of East Amherst received their holiday jewelry a few days early, as both men won gold medals at the Valentine's Massacre Tournament Saturday.

Licata, competing in just his second tournament, won the open mixed foil event, while McMahon, owner and operator of the Fencing Center of Buffalo, won the open mixed epee competition.

Licata, who earned his E rating from the United States Fencing Association last month, upgraded to a D rating with his 15-8 win over Adam Jarosz of Orchard Park in the finals.

Licata didn't lose a match all day, as he defeated all four of his pool-bout opponents and took the first seed in the tournament. He received a bye in the first round, before eliminating Samantha Anthony of East Aurora, 15-10, in the quarterfinals and Matt Krueger of Cheektowaga, 15-12, in the semis.

Jarosz won the silver medal, while Krueger and Eileen McIver of Gasport both received bronze medals.

Licata's daughter, Victoria, also competed in the tournament, finishing 12th out of 15. Victoria Licata also competed in Friday's unrated foil event, placing 15th out of 21.

McMahon, a C-rated epee fencer, cruised through the preliminaries, winning all eight of his bouts. He earned the No. 1 seed in the tournament and received a bye in the first round.

In the quarterfinals, McMahon eliminated Chuck Farnsworth of Buffalo, 15-14. McMahon then ousted Graylin Booher of Geneseo, 15-6, in the semis and Scott Leadley of Rochester, 15-5, in the finals.

Leadley won the silver medal, while Larry Finkelstein of East Amherst and Booher each received a bronze.