Benjamin Bratton
Encyclopedia
Ben Bratton is a three-time fencing
all-American and a member of the United States
fencing team. As a national team member, he competed in the 2006 World Fencing Championships
in Turin
, Italy
; 2009 World Fencing Championships
in Antalya
, Turkey
and 2010 World Fencing Championships
in Paris
, France
.
As coworkers, Deborah became acquainted with American Saber Champion and 1984 Olympic Bronze medalist Peter Westbrook. Having recently created the Peter Westbrook Foundation, Westbrook invited Benjamin to participate in his Saturday Fencing Program to be taught by himself and other fencing Olympians. Benjamin would gravitate to the sport almost instantly.
"I was immediately intoxicated by the sport and was amazed by the way fencers moved and looked on the strip. It was an incredible experience to be taught by people who went to the Olympic games. At that time, a goal like that wasn't even fathomable for me. I just mimicked the teachers I would see fencing and I would practice footwork drills that they gave me in the basement of my house. Before time I was had become one of the strongest in my class."
Under the tutelage of Dr. Aladar Kogler (then the U.S. National Men’s épée coach), Bratton would be placed under a strict training regimen, including group and private classes, along with training camps around the globe with some of the best youth fencers in the world. Citing his speed, strength and size as his greatest assets, Bratton would begin to focus his skills mastering the épée.
Prior to college, Bratton was a member of the 2002 Junior/Cadet United States World Championship Fencing Team.
He led the 2007 St John's University fencing team to fourth place at the 2007 NCAA tournament, with an individual silver medal
in épée. Awarded a full athletic scholarship, Benjamin go onto earn a Masters degree in Psychology while working to leave his mark on the NCAA fencing circuit and also accomplishing his goal of making his first US National Team. Under the guidance of Red Storm coach Yuri Gelman, Bratton was able to successfully balance academics and athletic aspirations. Over the course of the next four years, Bratton would be named to the All-American team 3 times, when two individual silver medals and on silver team medal at the NCAA Fencing Championships.
In addition, upon his commencement from the St. Johns University, Bratton would be awarded the Frank G. Haggerty trophy which is bestowed upon the “outstanding student athlete of the year”.
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
all-American and a member of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
fencing team. As a national team member, he competed in the 2006 World Fencing Championships
2006 World Fencing Championships
The 2006 World Fencing Championships were held at the Oval Lingotto in Turin, Italy. The event took place from September 29 to October 7, 2006.-Medal table:-Men's events:-Women's events:-References:*...
in Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
; 2009 World Fencing Championships
2009 World Fencing Championships
2009 World Fencing Championships was held at the Antalya Expo Center in Antalya, Turkey. The event took place from September 30 to October 8, 2009.-Men's events:-Women's events:-Medal table:-Foil individual:3 October - Final-Epée individual:...
in Antalya
Antalya
Antalya is a city on the Mediterranean coast of southwestern Turkey. With a population 1,001,318 as of 2010. It is the eighth most populous city in Turkey and country's biggest international sea resort.- History :...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and 2010 World Fencing Championships
2010 World Fencing Championships
The 2010 World Fencing Championships were held at the Grand Palais in Paris, France 4–13 November.-Medal table:-Men's events:-Women's events:- Participating nations :...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Biography
Bratton was born in Queens, New York and is the oldest child of Deborah Hanson and Dwight Bratton. With both parents constantly working to support Benjamin and his two sisters, a young Bratton was often pushed by his mother into sports, hoping to keep him away from the trouble and distractions of an inner city neighborhood.As coworkers, Deborah became acquainted with American Saber Champion and 1984 Olympic Bronze medalist Peter Westbrook. Having recently created the Peter Westbrook Foundation, Westbrook invited Benjamin to participate in his Saturday Fencing Program to be taught by himself and other fencing Olympians. Benjamin would gravitate to the sport almost instantly.
"I was immediately intoxicated by the sport and was amazed by the way fencers moved and looked on the strip. It was an incredible experience to be taught by people who went to the Olympic games. At that time, a goal like that wasn't even fathomable for me. I just mimicked the teachers I would see fencing and I would practice footwork drills that they gave me in the basement of my house. Before time I was had become one of the strongest in my class."
Youth Fencing
Bratton quickly began to show aptitude for the fast paced nature of the sport and with his passion already becoming evident, his instructors began to take notice. After several years of consistently performing in the Saturday program, Bratton would be invited to join the PWF Elite Athlete Scholarship program. Sill in existence, the program boasts creating some of the country’s most decorated fencers including: Ahki Spencer-el, Ivan Lee, as well as brother sister duo Keeth and Erinn Smart.Under the tutelage of Dr. Aladar Kogler (then the U.S. National Men’s épée coach), Bratton would be placed under a strict training regimen, including group and private classes, along with training camps around the globe with some of the best youth fencers in the world. Citing his speed, strength and size as his greatest assets, Bratton would begin to focus his skills mastering the épée.
Cadet & Junior Circuit
In 2000, Bratton began training with Hungarian fencing coach, Kornel Udvarhelyi. Under Udvarhelyi, Bratton was able to harness his natural speed and strength and made the qualified for the first of his six Junior World Championship performances. Ranked as the number one American fencer under 17 and the number 3 fencer under 20, it was here that Bratton was able to make his first impact on the international stage when, at age 16, he would win the Bronze medal at the event becoming one of the first Americans to do so in almost 25 years.Prior to college, Bratton was a member of the 2002 Junior/Cadet United States World Championship Fencing Team.
Collegiate Career
In 2002, with his successes along the Junior – and now Senior – fencing circuit adding up, Bratton would become one of the top men’s épée recruits for the 2003 season, being courted by fencing programs across the country. Ultimately, in order to continue training in a manner that he had been accustomed, and to continue to work with the network of support that had surrounded him in New York, Bratton chose to attend St. John’s University in the Fall of 2003.He led the 2007 St John's University fencing team to fourth place at the 2007 NCAA tournament, with an individual silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
in épée. Awarded a full athletic scholarship, Benjamin go onto earn a Masters degree in Psychology while working to leave his mark on the NCAA fencing circuit and also accomplishing his goal of making his first US National Team. Under the guidance of Red Storm coach Yuri Gelman, Bratton was able to successfully balance academics and athletic aspirations. Over the course of the next four years, Bratton would be named to the All-American team 3 times, when two individual silver medals and on silver team medal at the NCAA Fencing Championships.
In addition, upon his commencement from the St. Johns University, Bratton would be awarded the Frank G. Haggerty trophy which is bestowed upon the “outstanding student athlete of the year”.