Feb. 24, 2001

NOTRE DAME, Ind. (2/24/01)–The Notre Dame fencing team won the 2001 Midwest Fencing Conference Team Championship Saturday at the Joyce Center Fieldhouse. The Irish men and women combined for a score of 870, finishing far ahead of the second place team of Northwestern, with 755 points.

The Wildcats of Northwestern finished first in the women’s competition, ahead of the second place Notre Dame women by a 425-420 margin. The match came down to the last bout in the sabre competition with Notre Dame holding a 4-3 lead. The Wildcats managed to prevail, scoring two successive victories to win the first-to-five series 5-4.

The Irish women received a strong performance by its epee squad, who scored 150 points by defeating Wayne State in the final. The success of Northwestern in foil and sabre clinched the victory for the Wildcats.

The top-ranked Irish men continued their domination as they cruised through Saturday undefeated. All three Irish squads (epee, foil, sabre) finished first in their respective bouts. The Notre Dame men completed the team competition with 450 points. Second place Ohio State finished with 395 points.

The Notre Dame men and women fencers now have their sights set on the Midwest Fencing Conference Individual championship, which will begin Sunday at 8:00 a.m. in the Joyce Center Field House, admission is free.