Nov. 20, 2016
By Joanne Norell
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Two University of Notre Dame men’s fencers snared podium positions Sunday, leading the way for a strong day for the Irish at the Garret Penn State Open.
Sophomore and reigning Atlantic Coast Conference men’s foil champion Axel Kiefer turned in a nearly perfect day Sunday to collect gold in the event at Penn State’s White Building, while freshman Zachary Zeller impressed in his second collegiate event to snare bronze in men’s epee.
Kiefer went 10-1 in two rounds of pool play before dominating in direct elimination to take the crown. The Lexington, Kentucky, native did not allow more than six touches during the elimination rounds and defeated Penn’s John Vaiani 15-6 to claim the championship.
Zeller was 10-2 during pool play to earn the third epee seed. He defeated Cal Tech’s Ethan Lo and Penn’s Zsombor Garzo to advance to the semifinal before falling to eventual silver medalist Anton Piskovatskov of Penn State.
In total, the Irish sent 11 fencers to direct elimination across all three weapons, with all four foil entries and four of six epeeists advancing. In foil, Hazem Khazbak took ninth, Michael Antipas claimed 12th and Steffen Felt snared 16th. In epee, Dylan French placed fifth while Darius Zacharakis took sixth and Nicholas Hanahan came in 15th. Arsenii Panteleev paced Irish sabreurs with a sixth-place finish, while Jonah Shainberg placed 14th and Ariel Croitoru came in 16th.
The Irish will have a two-month break from collegiate competition before returning to the strip January 21 and 22 at the St. John’s and NYU invitationals. In the meantime, Irish fencers will compete in North American Cup events in December and January.
Garret Penn State
White Building
University Park, Pa.
November 19-20, 2016
Men’s Results
Foil
1. Axel Kiefer *
9. Hazem Khazbak *
12. Michael Antipas *
16. Steffen Felt *
Epee
T-3. Zachary Zeller *
5. Dylan French *
6. Darius Zacharakis *
15. Nicholas Hanahan *
T-19. Cole Mallette
21. Aidan Antekeier
Sabre
6. Arsenii Panteleev *
14. Jonah Shainberg *
16. Ariel Croitoru *
21. Paul Cepak
22. Ian Jones
24. David Brown
26. Blake Murphy
Women’s Results
Foil
1. Lee Kiefer *
6. Samantha Viqueira *
11. Finnula Mageras *
13. Zoe Loh *
16. Reagan Fitzgerald *
25. Erin Deiche
36. Kellsey Mone
Epee
1. Amanda Sirico *
11. Molly Hudson *
15. Katherine Clarke *
18. Marie-Anne Roche
T-23. Katherine Wallace
34. Eva Niklinska
38. Julia Barry
42. Erin Coscia
Sabre
8. Regina O’Brien *
11. Natalie Disher *
16. Tara Hassett *
17. Christina Boitano
*Advanced to elimination rounds
— ND —
Joanne Norell, athletics communications assistant director at the University of Notre Dame, has been part of the Fighting Irish athletics communications team since 2014 and coordinates communications efforts for the Notre Dame women’s soccer, men’s tennis, women’s tennis and fencing programs. Norell is a 2011 graduate of Purdue University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communication, and earned her master’s degree in sports industry management from Georgetown University in 2013.