PHILADELPHIA – The Haverford College men's fencing team wrapped up the regular competition season this weekend with a series of three dual meets at the Philadelphia Invitational. The event was hosted at the University of Pennsylvania's Tse Ping and Cheng Cheung Ling Sports Center.

The Fords opened the day against ACC powerhouse UNC-Chapel Hill, followed that up by taking on the Pioneers of Sacred Heart, and finished the day against defending MACFA champions Johns Hopkins.

Haverford's first round against North Carolina saw the sabre and epee squads both edged out by narrow 5-4 losses. The Tar Heels took the overall victory by winning the foil with a 7-2 advantage. Epeeists Eric Gardner and Jake Bassinder each won bouts, as did sabrists Gabriel Braun and David Parker.  Foilists Devin Louis and Ching Li each contributed a win against UNC's toughest squad.

In the next round against the Pioneers of Sacred Heart, Braun and Parker demonstrated their strength as they again each won two the their three bouts. While epee and foil struggled to win against Sacred Heart, epeeist Edward Ogborn performed the incredible feat of winning against a very strong Sacred Heart player, Cody Richard, with his non-dominant hand due to injury. The Fords were also shorthanded with captain Kailash Faris out of the lineup during Sunday's competition.

Wrapping up the day against defending MACFA champion Johns Hopkins, epeeists Gardner and Bassinder, and sabrist Parker, showed they are ready to contend as each won two of three in the their final bouts of the day. Foilist Li had a breakthrough win in the last bout of the match, winning against JHU's Polansky, the toughest opponent Li has yet defeated this season.

Men's fencing will next compete on Sunday, February 28 at the MACFA Conference Championships. That championship meet will be hosted at the Durkan Fencing Academy in New Jersey.

Haverford Results

North Carolina def. Haverford, 17-10
Epee: 5-4
Foil: 7-2
Sabre: 5-4

Sacred Heart def. Haverford, 21-6
Epee: 7-2
Foil: 9-0
Sabre: 5-4

Johns Hopkins def. Haverford, 19-8
Epee: 5-4
Foil: 8-1
Sabre: 6-3