Rachel Cota 2006-07 Fencing Roster

Women[apos]s Foil Team Co-Captain

Third-year captain of veteran women[apos]s foil group … has made steady progress in her technique and emotional preparation for bouting while gaining confidence in her ability … looking to overcome illness that slowed her start to the 2007 fall season … earlier was slowed in her sophomore season by a nagging foot injury … made solid progress as a freshman while learning the ins-and-outs of college fencing from veteran standouts Alicja Kryczalo and Andrea Ament … has strong foundation of technical basics … a strong leader who has a classical style and team-oriented approach to training … enters senior season with 95-31 career record in regular-season bouts … one of seven fencers and 39 total student-athletes who are invited participants in Notre Dame[apos]s Academic Honors Program (faculty mentoring) … entered 2007 fall semester with a 3.63 cumulative grade-point average (posted a 3.83 in 2007 spring semester), as a double major in theology and anthropology … placed 35th at the annual Penn State Open, during the fall of 2007.

AS A JUNIOR: Compiled a 29-10 regular-season record while competing in all five of Notre Dame[apos]s team tournaments, followed by a 16th-place finish at the Midwest Fencing Conference Championships and a 12th-place showing at the NCAA Midwest Regional (both held in Notre Dame[apos]s Joyce Center Fieldhouse) … received the Notre Dame fencing program[apos]s Alice Langford Award (in recognition of women[apos]s foil team leadership) … her 11-1 record at the Notre Dame Duals included a 5-3 win over Cleveland State[apos]s Leigh Pendergrass (a former All-American) … went 1-3 versus a tough field at the NYU Duals before winning all nine of her bouts at the Midwest Duals (held in Notre Dame[apos]s Langford Fencing Gym) and then closing the regular season with a 2-3 record at the Duke Duals and a 6-3 mark at the Northwestern Duals.

AS A SOPHOMORE: Went 29-6 in her 2005-06 regular-season bouts … received the Notre Dame fencing program[apos]s Michael DeCicco/Walter Langford Award, in recognition of her inspiration and dedication … started 0-1 at the NYU Duals before winning all nine of her bouts at the Notre Dame Duals … had another strong showing with an 11-2 record at the Ohio State Duals … closed the regular season with 9-3 mark at the UC San Diego Duals, with losses to top fencers Senta Breden (Cal State Fullerton) and Jen Chun (UCSD) … finished 15th at the 2006 Midwest Fencing Conference Championships, losing to her teammate Adrienne Nott in the round-of-16.

AS A FRESHMAN: Posted a 37-15 record in the regular season, as one of Notre Dame[apos]s top women[apos]s foilists in 2004-05 … went 3-5 at the NYU Duals, 16-7 at the ND Duals, 9-0 at the OSU Duals,and then 9-3 at the Duke Duals) … finished 11th at the annual MFC competition … earlier had placed 17th at Northwestern Open in the fall of [apos]04 before reaching round-of-32 at the Penn State Open … opened 2005 competition by fencing at the North American Cup held in Overland Park, Kan.

PREP & PERSONAL: Graduated from Mayfield Senior High School (which does not sponsor fencing) while training at the Los Angeles Fencing Center, under the direction of coach Derek Cotton … also has trained with Olympian Felicia Zimmermann … qualified for the 2003 and 2004 Junior Olympics … fenced in three 2004 North American Cups (San Jose, Calif.; Arlington, Texas; Atlanta, Ga.) … member of the National Honor Society and student government … her cousin Nathan Shirai was a member of the varsity rowing team at Vanderbilt while her cousin Scott Brunasso was All-America baseball player at Concordia … her uncle Daniel Smith is a Notre Dame graduate … daughter of Richard and Cathy Cota … full name is Rachel Louise Cota … born March 12, 1986, in Pasadena, Calif. … a theology and anthropology double major, in the College of Arts and Letters.