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                         November 16, 2001

Fencing team strong on road, compete at home Sunday

Submitted by Army Fencing Team

In recent competitions, the Army Fencing Team faced Air Force at the All Services Military Championships in Arvada, Colo., where the women’s team was 15-12 overall winners. Prior to this event, the fencers tackled international competitors as the men’s epee team traveled to Belgium while the remainder of the team headed to Canada to face the Royal Military College’s men’s and women’s fencing squads.

Against Air Force, sophomore Stephanie Whittle placed first in the epee tournament while freshman Jacqueline Desenna took third. Senior team captain Laura Miller and saber blade captain junior Julianna Eum tied for third in that discipline.

For the men, senior captain Matt Keane tied for third in both open epee and foil. Epee blade captain junior Isaac Erbele tied for third place with Keane.

In Belgium, sophomore Felix Zaya came from trailing points in a bout to secure a third place bronze medal finish out of 47 competitors. Keane took 10th, Erbele took 17th and sophomore Wes Moerbe placed 33rd, securing another invitation to the tournament for the Army fencing team next year.

In Canada, Miller, Eum and sophomore Zandra Cioffi lead the women’s saber to a third place win, the only squad to medal for Army. This win also marked the highest finish ever of an Army women’s squad in the history of the RMC Collegiate Tournament.

For the men, senior Zane Kang beat an Olympic-qualified Canadian fencer in foil to bring the squad to 7th place. Men’s foil beat RMC 45-13 behind Kang, senior foil blade captain George Elias and sophomore Kyle Brandenberger. RMC upset the women’s foil team 45-37.

Women’s epee turned the tables upsetting RMC 49-29.

Both the men’s and women’s saber squads downed RMC with the women’s squad going on toclinch a 3rd placed win.

The fencing team competes at Boston Saturday and at Gillis Field House here Sunday.