The Rensselaer Kendo team competed this past weekend in the second annual United States Military Academy Kendo Tournament at West Point where several of the team’s members–Scott Bigler, Brian Amadio, Nikolas Rocchio, and Joo Kyung Kim spent the weekend living at the Cadet Barracks and eating in the Army mess hall.
On Saturday, teams from seven colleges, including Columbia, Yale, RIT, and the University of Florida, came to the Arvin Gymnasium to take part in the team competition. In the round-robin format only the top four teams advanced to the semifinals. RPI, despite being forced to forfeit one match every round was able to soundly defeat Yale’s team and a mixed team composed of competitors from Army and RIT. There was a three-way tie for third place and RPI, being low on team members, was also low on points, and did not advance to the semi-finals.
Sunday’s hosted the individual and the RPI was team again had a solid day. Amadio won three consecutive matches, reaching the semifinals and take home the third place medal while first place went to Yun Lee of HMK.
The RPI Kendo Club will be back in action April 23 and 24 in the ninth Annual Harvard Shoryuhai Kendo Tournament.
