OLYMPIC TRIALS / FENCING : L.A.’s Nick Bravin, 21, Retains National Foil Title

Nick Bravin of Los Angeles won his second consecutive men’s foil title at the U.S. Fencing National Championships Monday night and earned a berth on the U.S. team that will compete at the Barcelona Olympics.

Bravin, 21, a 1988 graduate of Hamilton High who went to Stanford, beat three-time Olympian Michael Marx, 5-3, 2-5, 6-4, to win the national championship.

Marx, of South Bend, Ind., still qualified for the U.S. Olympic team and becomes the 59th American to qualify for four Olympic Games.

The third member of the U.S. foil team is Zaddick Longbach of New York.

Jack Tichecek, of Franklin Lakes, N.J., earned the alternate spot by defeating Alan Weber, of Philadelphia, 6-4, 5-6, 5-2.

Bravin eased by Jason Narkiewicz, 6-4, 6-4, in the quarterfinals and then cruised by Tichacek, 5-3, 5-3, in the semifinals to earn his spot on the team.

One of the most interesting matchups of the evening took place in the quarterfinals, where the oldest fencer met the youngest. Experience won out as Tichacek, 36, edged Sean McClain, 16, of Roundrock, Tex., 5-0, 3-5, 6-5.