Fencers Set To Compete At NCAA Regionals – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/6/2002 12:00:00 AM | Fencing
March 6, 2002
Columbus, Ohio-The Ohio State fencing team will continue postseason action this weekend when it travels to Cleveland, Ohio for the 2002 NCAA Regional Championships. The Buckeyes hope to continue their success form last weekend when 14 Buckeyes placed in the Top 10 in their respected events at the Midwest Conference Championships.
Fencers Nationally Ranked
The Buckeyes (30-6 overall) are ranked in the top five in the recent United States Fencing Coaches Association poll released Feb. 21. The men (12-3) are ranked fourth in the country and the women (18-3) are tied for fourth. Big Ten-foe Penn State is ranked No. 3 in the men’s poll and No. 4 in the women’s poll. The women have made a remarkable turnaround from their 7-24 record last season.
Midwest Championship Recap
Fourteen different Buckeyes finished in the top ten in their respected events at the Midwest Conference Championships in South Bend, Ind.. Louise Bond-Williams (Fr., Gloucestershire, England/Chipping Campden) was the lone champion for the Buckeyes, winning her first Midwest Conference championship in women’s sabre.
In women’s epee, Gaelyn Mae Park (Fr., Louisville, Ky.) and Alexandra Shklar (So., Jerusalem, Israel) tied for third and Toya Richmond (Jr., Columbus, Ohio) took fifth. Hanna Thompson (Fr., Rochester, N.Y./East) and Metta Thompson (Fr., Rochester, N.Y./East) both tied for third place in foil. Rounding out the sabre competition for the Buckeyes were Leah Tracy (Sr., Winnetka, Ill.) placing third, Jennifer Ando (Fr., Buffalo Grove, Ill./Stevenson) placing 10th and Molly Krebs (So., Castle Shannon, Pa.) placed 23rd.
On the men’s side, Spencer Jones (Jr., Ft. Leonardwood, Mo.) took second in epee and Brian Gross (Fr., Cleveland, Ohio/St. Ignatius) took seventh. Another strong showing was turned in by the foil squad with Nathan Wier (Jr., Kennewick , Wash.) placing third, Craig Galanter (So., El Paso, Texas/Franklin) placing fifth and David Carrino (Jr., Buffalo Grove, Ill.) finishing sixth. In men’s sabre, Kitz Siebert (So., Lawrence Kan.) tied for third out of 30 competitors.
Up Next
The Buckeyes will wrap up the season at the NCAA Championships in Madison, Wis. next weekend, March 21-25.
