Gabriel Braun, a member of the Haverford College men's fencing team, is the 2016 recipient of the Archibald MacIntosh Award. Braun is just the second men's fencer to receive this honor in the award's 52-year history. The Beta Rho Sigma alumni society has presented the award in MacIntosh's honor to the top scholar-athlete in the first-year class at Haverford since 1964.
It did not take Braun long to make his presence felt on the strips of the Andy Kates Fencing Salle as Braun was the Fords' top sabriste throughout many of the competitions during his first year. His season was highlighted by his advancement to the NCAA Regional Championships and a bronze medal at the Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Fencing Association (MACFA) Championship.
"Winning the MacIntosh Award is a huge honor," stated Braun. "There are many excellent student-athletes in my year at Haverford. Receiving this award feels like a validation of the work that I've put into both my schoolwork and my fencing."
Although Braun was at his best in the biggest meets of the season, the Fords' standout made an immediate impression at the Temple Open, his first collegiate competition, where he advanced to the finals and finished in sixth place against a field consisting of several Division I fencers. That early season momentum carried over to his home strips where Braun was 14-1 overall as he helped the Fords to a perfect 6-0 record inside the Andy Kates Fencing Salle. He would later go on to lead each of Haverford's three weapons in individual victories at both the Penn State Invitational and Sollee Invitational. His strong fencing skills at the MACFA Championships helped lead the sabre squad to its highest finish since the 2013 season.
"Gabe sets very high standards for himself, and is often reassessing where others would be complacent," explained head men's and women's fencing coach Chris Spencer. "He is a deep thinker who understands the value of decisive action. His creativity and mental flexibility are only heightened by his combative, competitive nature, which lurks beneath the placid surface."
Coach Spencer is one of the many people who Braun would like to thank in helping him achieve this prestigious recognition. "The people around me have been really important in getting me to where I am today. The fencing team – especially the captains and coaches – have pushed me to improve, both on and off the strip. In the classroom, my fellow students and my professors challenge me every day. The most important people have always been my family, though. My sister, Leila Braun '16 [a former captain of the women's fencing team], in particular, has been a great inspiration to me, both academically and athletically."
His ability to succeed in the athletic realm did not go unnoticed by his professors as explained by Rajeswari Mohan, an associate professor of English. "Gabe took my Introduction to Postcolonial Literature last spring. He brought to his work academic strengths I see in many Haverford students. But what was striking about him was the care and tact with which he engaged in class discussion. The books we read dealt with complex, even touchy, issues. Gabe would make an observation, listen intently to what his classmates had to say in response, and revise his position. But if some part of the issue remained unresolved for him, he would lay it out in a way that generated further inquiry. He was careful not to jump into conclusions, but instead puzzled his way through a textual passage in a way that helped the class arrive at nuanced yet definitive interpretations."
Recognizing the complete dynamic of the student-athlete experience, Braun finds his balance crucial to his success at Haverford. "Making time for everything can be hard, but I find that doing a sport makes me a more productive student. Sports provide a valuable release from schoolwork. When I'm fencing, or training, I have to give it my full attention, and then I'm rejuvenated when I turn my focus back to academics. Additionally, a huge priority of the fencing team, from the coaches down, is taking care of both physical and mental health, and this has had a positive impact on all aspects of my life."
Looking to the future, Braun plans to take advantage of the many benefits offered by a liberal arts education. "I haven't decided on a major, but I'm excited for my remaining three years at Haverford. My interests are broad, from natural sciences to the humanities. Part of why I like Haverford so much is that it is a great place to explore different disciplines."