Merza, Culpepper, Koch and Cecchini Named Captains
10/29/2019 3:12:57 PM | Fencing
2019-20 Schedule | 2019-20 Roster
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Seniors Sarah Merza, J.R. Culpepper, Domenik Koch, and Gabriela Cecchini will serve as captains for the Ohio State fencing team for the 2019-20 season. Merza will serve as the overall team captain as Culpepper, Koch and Cecchini will lead their respective squads.
Sarah Merza
Overall Team Captain
Career highlights
- Competed at NCAA Championships since her freshman year
- Finished fifth as a freshman
- Placed sixth as a sophomore season
- Was seventh her junior campaign
- First at 2019 Midwest Championships
“It’s such an honor and incredibly humbling to be selected as overall team captain. To be chosen for this means my coaches and team see something in me and believe I have the leadership it takes to push this team in the right direction. It has also pushed me to step up and truly envelop what it means to be a leader my teammates can trust, look to and lean on both on the fencing strip and off.
“I’m most excited to see what our team can accomplish this season. We’re all working hard in the weight room and on the strip. I’m looking forward to seeing the hard work pay off as we get more into competition season. It’s always fun when we travel and get the opportunity to experience how an individual sport comes together as a team.”
J.R. Culpepper
Epee Captain
Career highlights
- Third at Midwest Championships his sophomore season
- Third at the Penn State Open as a junior
“It’s a big honor to be selected as a captain. Our squad is full of extremely motivated and capable people and I’m very excited to lead them this season. My favorite thing about my squad is that although we can sometimes get frustrated, we never direct that anger at each other. We always remember we are here because we love our sport, even on bad days.
“I think we have one of the deadliest squads in the country right now, and I’m really excited to take on other schools. I’m also excited for NCAA Championships, because we’ve won men’s epee for two years in a row and it would be incredible to win again.”
Domenik Koch
Sabre Captain
Career highlights
- Placed at NCAA Championships each year
- 10th as a freshman
- Placed third during sophomore season
- Third place as a junior
“Being selected as our team captain makes me incredibly proud. It is an honor to follow in the big footsteps of past leaders and represent such a motivated and ambitious team. I am excited about this task as well as the trust that my teammates and coaches have in me.
“As a senior, I am looking forward to my last NCAA Championships and the opportunity to give back to Ohio State. I am truly grateful for all the support that Ohio State has given me throughout my time here and wish to help our team perform the very best we can.”
Gabriela Cecchini
Foil Captain
Career highlights
- Placed eighth at NCAA Championships her sophomore season and ninth as a junior season
- Member of the Brazilian Senior Fencing Team since 2013
- Two-time Junior Pan-American Champion (2016 & 2017)
“It is an enormous honor for me to be selected as foil captain on a team with so many talented and driven athletes. I feel very grateful for that and I am motivated to help the team as much as I can. My favorite part of my squad is our determination. We have been able to stay strong and give our best effort even when things were not going very well.
“I am looking forward to seeing the ways we can grow and help each other become better fencers. I’m also looking forward to traveling and competing with these people, who are more than my teammates, but my friends for life.”
