The fencing team closed out the match portion of its schedule with three losses. Collegiate powerhouse Penn State defeated Cornell 21-6 before the Red fell to its Ivy rivals — host Columbia and Penn.
Against Penn State, the Red was defeated in all three weapons, but had its strongest showing in epee, winning three of nine bouts. Freshman Meghan Phair won two of her three duels, while junior Erica Wilhelm won the other. Seniors Tara Watkins and Rachel Lee picked up the two team wins in foil, while classmate Eleanor Bartolomeo won the team’s only bout in sabre.
After dropping to Penn State, the Red then succumbed to Columbia by a 24-3 score. However, Phair starred for the Red once again, winning two of her three epee bouts. Watkins claimed Cornell’s only other win against the Lions, winning in foil.
The Red closed the weekend with its best performance with a 19-8 loss to Penn. Cornell once again struggled in the foil, as junior Valerie DeRose secured the Red’s lone win in the weapon. But led by Phair, the Red won the epee event 5-4. The freshman phenom was victorious in all three of her bouts, while Wilhelm and Christine Kidwell took home the other two wins.
Meanwhile, juniors Lily Nierenberg and Erin Conroy took two victories in the sabre.
The Red will now prepare for the IFA championships which will take place this Saturday in Boston, Mass.
Archived article by Alex Ip