Feb. 23, 2013
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – One week out from the Midwest Fencing Conference Championships, the University of Notre Dame fencing team sent a powerful message, sweeping the field at the Notre Dame Duals Saturday at the Castellan Family Fencing Center in the Joyce Center.
The women concluded their day with an overall record of 6-0, while also holding every opponent to single digits in bouts that saw 27 points up for grabs in each match. The most impressive victory came against Detroit, a 27-0 shutout, with the rest of the victories coming against Cleveland State (26-1), Wayne State (21-6), Northwestern (21-6), Lawrence (23-4) and Air Force (21-6).
Individually, the women were led by six fencers going undefeated with at least five decisions. Epeeist Ashley Severson led all with a perfect 12-0 mark, but she was joined in perfection by fellow epeeists Courtney Hurley (11-0), Nicole Ameli (10-0) and Ewa Nelip (9-0), foilist Lee Kiefer (8-0) and sabreuse Mary Regan (8-0). As a unit the women’s epee team dominated for Notre Dame, finishing with a combined record of 52-2 over their six matches.
The men, meanwhile, fought through a tough 15-12 opening match against Cleveland State before turning it on over the next five bouts to defeat Wayne State (24-3), Detroit (26-1), Northwestern (22-5), Lawrence (21-6) and Air Force (20-7). The men also took on Chicago in a last-second addition, defeating the Maroons 25-2. The same scheduled match on the women’s side did not take place.
Gerek Meinhardt was not part of the domination on the men’s side while competing in, and earning a bronze Saturday at the Foil World Cup event in La Coruna, Spain. The remaining Irish roster was unfazed, however, with six fencers posting perfect ledgers. Sabreists William McGough, Kevin Hassett and John Hallsten shared for the team lead with perfect 7-0 marks, while fellow sabreist Jason Choy finished 6-0, foilist Ariel DeSmet concluded 6-0 and epeeist Dale Purdy concluded 5-0. Foilist Grant Hodges picked up the most decisions for the men’s squad, earning 17 victories on the day while only losing three times.
Both the Irish men and women’s fencing teams return to the strip next weekend as they play host to the 2013 Midwest Fencing Conference Championships on Saturday and Sunday.
Women's Results (6-0):
NOTRE DAME def. Cleveland State 26-1 (E: 8-1, F: 9-0, S: 9-0)NOTRE DAME def. Wayne State 21-6 (E: 8-1, F: 5-4, S: 8-1)NOTRE DAME def. Detroit 27-0 (E: 9-0, F: 9-0, S: 9-0)NOTRE DAME def. Northwestern 21-6 (E: 9-0, F: 6-3, S: 6-3)NOTRE DAME def. Lawrence 23-4 (E: 8-1, F: 9-0, S: 6-3)NOTRE DAME def. Air Force 21-6 (E: 8-1, F: 5-4, S: 8-1)
Men's Results (7-0):
NOTRE DAME def. Cleveland State 15-12 (E: 3-6, F: 6-3, S: 6-3)NOTRE DAME def. Wayne State 24-3 (E: 8-1, F: 7-2, S: 9-0)NOTRE DAME def. Detroit 26-1 (E: 9-0, F: 9-0, S: 8-1)NOTRE DAME def. Northwestern 22-5 (E: 6-3, F: 7-2, S: 9-0)NOTRE DAME def. Lawrence 21-6 (E: 7-2, F: 9-0, S: 5-4)NOTRE DAME def. Air Force 20-7 (E: 6-3, F: 7-2, S: 7-2)NOTRE DAME def. Chicago 25-2 (E: 9-0, F: 9-0, S: 7-2)
–ND–