Fencing team gets the inside edge

Emma Carmichael Staff Writer

The Vassar College fencing teams advanced toward their season goals with a set of victories on Sunday, Nov. 12. The women won over Cleveland State University, Marist College, City College of New York, and Sacred Heart University. The men’s team swept Cleveland State, Marist, Sacred Heart and Yeshiva University.

Bruce Gillman, head coach for both teams, is looking forward to matches this year with “a stronger épée squad and also a stronger foil squad. We hope to improve team results this year in both dual matches and Championship,” said Gillman. “There are a couple of athletic new sabre fencers that could be surprising and I hope to see one or possibly two fencers qualify for NCAAs. The potential is there among the new freshmen.”

The freshmen fared well in their rounds on Sunday. John Rothman ’10, Jesse Bisignano ’10, Eric Lynch ’10, Zach Pattison-Gordon ’10 and Hassan Sakhtah ’10 all earned victories for the Vassar squad, while Alex Snow ’09 and Chris Benson ’09 helped seal the deal with strong performances against Cleveland State.

On the women’s side, captain Karolyn Upham ’07, along with Molly Soiffer ’09 and Meryl Franklin ’09 set the tone with épée squad success against Cleveland State. The Brewers also saw great improvements in its freshmen members, Ayse Unver ’10, Melissa Lee ’10 and Emilia Mendieta ’10 all of whom won their bouts.

Gillman listed winning the épée squad event at the New England Intercollegiate Fencing Conference (NEIFC) Championships as an attainable goal, especially with the help of A-rated United States Fencing Association fencer Pattison-Gordon. Gillman is confident that the women’s team will continue to improve over the year as well.

“We have three returning women’s sabre fencers, who started fencing last year,” said Gillman. “We would like to move them to the next level and continue their improvement this year, perhaps taking home a plaque from the [champsionships].”

Gillman also stressed the importance of teamwork and support on his squads this season. “Fencing is generally an individual sport first and a team sport second,” said Gillman. “We hope to foster more of a team feeling this year by increasing our concentration on team strategy and tactics and teaching fencers how to better help their teammates on the strip, not just encourage them.”

Above all, Gillman emphasized that fencers are up to the challenge of this season’s schedule. Gilmore noted that the teams will be “given a greater part in organizing practices, and the opportunity to add practice elements from their own experience.”