Nov. 11, 2011
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame fencing team has announced its 2011-12 schedule, it was announced by Irish head coach Janusz Bednarski. The docket will feature six NCAA regular season dual meets, culminating in the 2012 NCAA Championships in Columbus, Ohio.
While the beginning of the official collegiate season is only nine days away for the Irish, a pair of North American Cup (NAC) events open up the competitive year as members of the women’s team head to the NAC Junior Individual Championship in Austin, Texas, from Nov. 11-13, while the men will compete Nov. 12-14. Additionally, parts of the Irish roster also will compete in both a December NAC meet (Dec. 9-11) and a January NAC meet (Jan. 13-16).
The first NCAA event of the schedule takes place Nov. 19-20 when both the men’s and women’s squads head to the Penn State Open. The women are scheduled to compete on Nov. 19, while the men will take to the strip Nov. 20. After the conclusion of winter break, the women return to action first as they head to the Air Force Duals in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Jan. 7.
The men rejoin the fold for a joint dual at the St. John’s Duals, which will take place at St. John’s Arena on Jan. 21 in Queens, N.Y. Both squads then head to New York, N.Y., the following day to take part in the NYU Duals before returning to the campus of Notre Dame for the traditional Notre Dame Duals (Jan. 27).
The month of February gets underway with both squads going to Evanston, Ill., to take part in the Northwestern Duals on Feb. 4-5 at the Henry Crown Sports Pavilion. The men’s squad then heads to one final dual to conclude the regular season, as they travel to Durham, N.C., for the Duke Duals (Feb. 11).
After select fencers take part in the United States Fencing Association (USFA) National Junior Olympics (Feb. 17-20) and the Squad Championships (Feb. 26), the team reunites to begin postseason competition at the Midwest Fencing Conference Championships (March 3-4) hosted by Notre Dame in the Joyce Center.
The team then travels to Cleveland, Ohio, for the NCAA Midwest Regionals (March 11) in one final tune-up before the NCAA Championships begin. The Championships will take place March 22-25 at the French Field House and St. John Arena on the campus of Ohio State, marking the second-consecutive year of hosting for the venue.
After conclusion of the final NCAA event, one final competition remains on the ledger, as select members of the team will head to the USFA National Championships (April 13-16) in Virginia Beach, Va., in search of a national medal.
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