Season overview: Overcoming a perennially challenging schedule that is packed with Division I opposition, the Haverford College men's fencing team recorded 21 wins during the 2016-17 season. That total is the highest for the Fords since the 2010-11 season during which Haverford captured its second of three consecutive MACFA titles. The tough competition appeared to sharpen the Fords' mettle throughout the year, culminating with a stand out performance at the MACFA Championships that put the Fords just five bout victories away from the conference title.
Although the pursuit of the team championship was just touches away, Haverford did walk away with the sabre squad championship for the sixth time in program history and the first since the 2005 MACFA Championship. From an individual perspective, senior epeeist Eric Gardner captured his second MACFA gold with a thrilling run through the direct elimination bouts as he finished his career as a four-time medalist to go along with his two conference golds. Sabrist John Hare nearly replicated Gardner's feat as he made the championship bout before settling for the silver medal.
Haverford capped the year with a thrilling run to the regional finals by first year foilist Yan Yan Xie. The Fords qualified eight individuals to the NCAA regional, but it was Xie who shined the brightest as he made an all Division I final and finished 12th, earning the "at-large" seat to the NCAA Championships. Although ultimately not selected, Xie will have three more seasons to try and return Haverford to the national stage.
Season Notes: Eric Gardner is the first two-time MACFA gold medalist in Haverford's decorated epee history. He added bronze performances during this sophomore and junior campaigns to also become the first four-time medalist in any weapon at Haverford. Only Chris Flanders' gold medal finishes in sabre during the 2005 and 2006 seasons replicate Gardner's feat in the conference. In the regional meet, Xie's finalist appearance in foil marks the first in that weapon for the Fords since Wotan Kusner during the 2007 season. Haverford's eight regional qualifiers mark the highest total for the team since the 2013-14 season. The Fords put three sabrists through to the regional bouts for the first time since the 2013 season. Both Gabriel Braun and David Parker are just sophomores, while John Hare accomplished his heroics during his rookie campaign. All three foil fencers in the regional were first year fencers for the Fords (Russell Rivera, Jack Leighninger, and Xie), while Kadan Lottick also qualified to the regional in his first collegiate season. The most experienced fencer on the team, Gardner, made his fourth appearance at the NCAA regional. The co-captain was the team's highest placer in epee during three of those four years, including his appearance in the finals and subsequent "at-large" seat selection in the 2015 season.
Honors/Awards
NCAA Regional Qualifiers
Yan Yan Xie (12th, foil), Russell Rivera (27th, foil), Jack Leighninger (29th, foil), Gabriel Braun (19th, sabre), John Hare (26th, foil), David Parker (t30th, foil), Kadan Lottick (24th, epee), Chris Gardner (31st, epee)
MACFA Gold Medalist
Eric Gardner (epee)
MACFA Silver Medalist
John Hare (sabre)
MACFA Squad Championship
Sabre (John Hare, Gabriel Braun, David Parker, Henry Li)
MacIntosh Award Recipient
Gabriel Braun
Ambler Scholar-Athlete
Jake Bassinder
Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Team
Jake Bassinder, Gabriel Braun
Looking ahead: The Fords appeared poised to continue their ascent in the coming years with seven of their eight regional qualifiers returning. That breakdown includes five who just completed their rookie campaigns at Haverford and two more sophomores as the entire foil and sabre squads return next year. Epee will surely miss the presence of co-captain Eric Gardner and his fellow senior Jake Bassinder. However, Lottick will look to lead that weapon into the coming years as the Fords' highest placing epeeist from the regional championship.