May 3, 2018
By Joanne Norell
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – After capturing its second straight NCAA Championship – and 10th in program history – the 2018 University of Notre Dame fencing team gathered for a final time Wednesday to celebrate another title-winning season.
The Irish held their annual banquet in a two-part event with dinner at The Carriage House in South Bend before adjourning to the Castellan Family Fencing Center to distribute team awards.
The program bestowed 28 honors this season, including team MVP awards, academic awards and special dedication awards. In addition to the program’s existing awards, a new honor was also introduced: the Kiefer/Meinhardt Award, named in honor of Lee Kiefer (’17) and Gerek Meinhardt (’13, ’15 MBA) and given to the member of the team adjudged to be the best, most selfless bouting partner.
Continue below for a complete list of fencing’s team award winners:
Rockne Scholar-Athlete Award
Rory Burke
Madeline Gallagher
Men’s Fencing MVP
Nick Itkin
Women’s Fencing MVP
Francesca Russo
Squad MVPs
Nick Itkin, Men’s Foil
Jonah Shainberg, Men’s Sabre
Nicholas Hanahan, Men’s Epee
Elyssa Kleiner, Women’s Foil
Francesca Russo, Women’s Sabre
Amanda Sirico, Women’s Epee
Squad Awards
Given to members of each squad who best represent the team on and off the strip
Steve Donlon Award, Men’s Epee – Zachary Zeller
John Crikelair Award, Men’s Foil– Hazem Khazbak
Dan Mulligan Award, Men’s Sabre – Jonathan Fitzgerald & Ben Scholl
DeCicco/Auriol Award, Women’s Epee – Marie-Anne Roche & Katherine Clarke
Alice “Dit” Langford Award, Women’s Foil – Sabrina Massialas
Janusz Bednarski Award, Women’s Sabre – Francesca Russo
Yves Auriol Award (Most Improved)
Nicholas Hanahan
Reghan Ward
DeCicco/Langford Award
Awarded to that mainstay of the team who inspires his teammates in victory, consoles them in defeat, and is there for Monday’s practice to push them to greater achievement.
2018 Recipients
Zachary Zeller
Juila Barry
Ted Hodges Award
An award presented to a Notre Dame fencer, who, when faced by extraordinary adversity, did not merely endure, but prevailed.
2018 Recipients
Sabrina Massialas
Dasha Yefremenko
Kiefer/Meinhardt Award
Awarded to the fencer who gives their time selflessly and humbly in training, as judged by their teammates and coaches. This recipient goes above and beyond expectations, helping teammates prepare for tournaments while pursuing their own passion for the sport.
2018 Recipients
Joseph Marino
Jonathan Fitzgerald
Ariel Simmons
Walt Langford Award
Awarded to the Notre Dame fencer who epitomizes the very best in sportsmanship,
leadership and teamwork – the true Notre Dame student-athlete.
2018 Recipients
Jonah Shainberg
Nicholas Hanahan
–ND–