Seven Yale fencers challenge for NCAA title

On Fri., Mar. 16, the NCAA announced the 144 fencers who will compete in the 2001 championships. Seven Yalies will have the opportunity to test their skills in a competition featuring the best collegiate fencers. The list of Bulldog competitors includes Jennifer Joseph, CC '04, Zane Selkirk, PC '04, Sada Jacobson, MC '04, Sophie Jones, DC '03, Cameron Hill, TD '02, Daniel Senft, PC '03, and Luke Ferreira, SM '02.

The championships include individual events in each of the six divisions (men's and women's sabre, foil, and epée). The Elis will compete in a round-robin field of 24 fencers in five-touch bouts. The top four scorers in each division advance to a 15-touch, single-elimination playoff which determines the first through fourth places. A university's final team ranking is contingent on individual fencer performance, as each victory contributes one point to the school's overall score.

The Bulldogs finished seventh out of 28 teams in last year's championships, but the team is looking for a stronger showing this year, largely due to the anticipated success of the three freshmen. Earlier this year, Jacobson, undefeated in her short collegiate career, scored a victory over last year's individual sabre winner, Caroline Purcell '02 of MIT. Furthermore, the Bulldogs will be looking to the experience of Hill and Jones, who placed 14th and 18th in their respective divisions in last year's championships. With a mixture of youth and experience, the Bulldogs must endure a weekend trial of intense competition if they hope to be title contenders. The Elis will have to beat Penn State, the NCAA champions for the last seven years. —Kevin Tran

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