Poughkeepsie, N.Y. – The Haverford College men's fencing team went an impressive 6-1 during its first team competition of the season. The Fords fell only to host Vassar by a 16-11 score in the fourth round, but rebounded with a 16-11 victory over MACFA rival Stevens. Haverford also secured a hard-fought 14-13 victory against Sacred Heart to start the day and won at least 18 bouts during victories over Army West Point, Incarnate Word, Yeshiva, and Hunter.
Haverford's sabre (46-17 combined record) and foil (44-19 combined record) led the way for a successful weekend. Both weapon squads were 5-2 overall in their disciplines. Sabre saved the day in the 14-13 win over Sacred Heart by winning seven of its nine bouts to overcome narrow defeats in the other two weapons. David Parker, who led sabre with a 17-4 record on the day, went a perfect 3-0 in those bouts while teammates Gabriel Braun (16-5 overall) and John Hare (6-6 overall) both went 2-1 to start the day.
Both Parker and co-captain Braun went a perfect 3-0 against four separate teams, including both sabrists yielding perfect marks in the win over the Ducks. First year Kagan Harris also showed the returning MACFA squad champions can go more than three deep as he was a combined 7-2 on the afternoon, highlighted by a 3-0 showing against Incarnate Word.
Foil also combined for a 5-2 squad record and was the only Haverford weapon to defeat the host Brewers, doing so by a 6-3 score. The Fords' foilists were edged out by 5-4 scores in the squad's only defeats. Six different foilists won a bout for Haverford, with four of those fencers finishing their respective days with winning records. Yan Yan Xie was a perfect 11-0 on the day with 3-0 records against Sacred Heart, Vassar, and Stevens. First years Carter Langen (9-2 overall) and Alton Wiggers (8-1 overall) were also steadying forces in the lineup.
Langen went 3-0 against both Army West Point and Hunter, while Wiggers was 6-0 during Haverford's final two rounds. Sophomore Russell Rivera (7-2 overall) also won his final five bouts of the day to solidify a young, but talented weapon. Senior Aldis Gamble provided veteran leadership with six victories, including a 2-1 mark against Vassar. Sophomore Jack Leighninger added three wins to his squad's total.
Paced by the technique of sophomore Kadan Lottick, who went 11-7 overall, Haverford's epee was 4-3 as a squad, pulling out thrilling 5-4 victories against Army West Point, Incarnate Word, and Stevens. Lottick was a perfect 3-0 against Army West Point and Hunter, while also notching two crucial wins against Stevens. Co-captain Ian Wheeler (9-6 overall) had a winning record in four of the five rounds he competed in. First years Raynor Bond-Ashpole and Adrian Ballard added key victories to the epee squad. Bond-Ashpole won six of his bouts, while Ballard finished the day with three victories by taking a bout in each of Haverford's final three rounds.
Men's fencing will be back at home this Saturday, November 18 to host the Dan Arnstein '09 Invitational. Bouts will get underway at 10 a.m. inside the Andy Kates Fencing Salle in what will be fans only chance to catch the Fords on their home strips this season. Haverford closes out the fall semester portion of the schedule with a trip to Drew on Saturday, December 2.
Team Scores
Haverford 14, Sacred Heart 13
Epee: 3-6
Foil: 4-5
Sabre: 7-2
Haverford 20, Army West Point 7
Epee: 5-4
Foil: 7-2
Sabre: 8-1
Haverford 19, Incarnate Word 8
Epee: 4-5
Foil: 6-3
Sabre: 9-0
Vassar 16, Haverford 11
Epee: 8-1
Foil: 3-6
Sabre: 5-4
Haverford 16, Stevens 11
Epee: 5-4
Foil: 4-5
Sabre: 7-2
Haverford 20, Yeshiva 7
Epee: 5-4
Foil: 8-1
Sabre: 7-2
Haverford 19, Hunter 8
Epee: 6-3
Foil: 9-0
Sabre: 4-5