Alexa Fitzgerald
Drew University’s men’s and women’s fencing teams both saw action on Sunday, Feb. 18. The women’s fencing team took part in the Eastern Women’s Fencing Conference Championships at Johns Hopkins University, placing third overall. The men’s fencing team hosted the Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Fencing Association round robin in the Baldwin Gymnasium.
At the EWFC Championships the women’s team finished in third with a 5-2 record in the event. They began by earning a triumphant 20-7 win over Hunter and beating Yeshiva 21-6. Drew then posted a pair of close victories over Vassar 16-11 and Haverford 15-12, before they fell to both Johns Hopkins and Stevens 25-2, the first and second place finishers. The Rangers concluded the competition by toppling CCNY 25-2.
The Rangers had dominant performances from fencers across the three disciplines: foil, saber and epee. Caitlin Kotz (‘19) went undefeated in her eight bouts and Lydia Segal (‘20) posted a record of 12-5 in foil competition. The saber trio of Emily Huber (‘21), Pearl Sutter (‘18) and Natalya Shcherban (‘19) tallied 13, 12 and 11 victories. Claudia West (‘19) paced the epee squad with a contribution of nine wins.
Immediately following the EWFC team championships, the EWFC individual direct elimination tournament was held to determine the All-Conference Teams. The Rangers had at least one fencer named All-Conference in each of the three weapons, with Segal earning a First Team All-Conference nod in foil.
Segal grabbed a First Team All-Conference recognition in foil after winning three matches to advance to the final, where she was defeated. West earned Second Team All-Conference honors after reaching the quarterfinals in epee while Huber and Shcherban both made the quarterfinals to secure their Second Team All-Conference nods in saber.
Meanwhile, the Drew men’s squad closed out their regular season with a 3-1 record in the MACFA competition. They topped Lafayette 16-11, Rutgers 18-9 and TCNJ 17-10, before suffering a 15-12 loss to Cornell.
Ryan Baldi (‘21) posted a 9-2 record in sabre, while fellow freshman Nick Kilgore (‘21) led his foil teammates with eight wins. In epee competition, Andrew Pidhorodeckyj (‘19) had a 9-1 showing and Jeremy Ferreria (‘21) notched a 6-1 record.
Drew’s women fencing team will close their regular season at the Fairleigh Dickinson Invitational Sunday, Feb. 25. Meanwhile, the men’s fencing team will take the next two weeks to prepare for the MACFA Championships when they return to action in Easton, PA on Sunday, March 4.
