PHILADELPHIA – The Haverford College men's fencing team competed at the Philadelphia Invitational on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania on Saturday. The Fords faced many of the same tough teams they saw a week ago, but improved their overall team score in each of the three rematches against Division I competition. Haverford also posted a 22-5 win over Drew, its most convincing victory over the Rangers in program history. The Fords secured four more individual bouts against both Penn and North Carolina when comparing the results from a week ago, while claiming three more individual wins against the Blue Devils.
Haverford's sabre once again starred as it won each of its final four weapon squad matchups and finished the day with team-best 29 total bout victories against just 25 defeats. David Parker headlined those efforts with a 10-8 record, posting perfect 3-0 marks against both North Carolina and Drew. The junior was a combined 9-3 in the team's weapon squad victories. Not far off his pace was sophomore John Hare as he went 9-7, fencing just one bout against Drew. Hare won at least one bout in each of the six rounds, capping his day with a 3-0 record against NJIT.
Co-captain Gabriel Braun matched Hare with nine wins over his six rounds of fencing. The junior was also a perfect 3-0 against Drew, while recording two wins against both Duke and North Carolina. Kagan Harris entered the lineup against Drew in place of Hare and split his two bouts against the Rangers.
Haverford's foilists started their day with a 5-4 squad win over MACFA rival Johns Hopkins and nearly upset the host Quakers a round later on their way to 23 individual victories. Five different foilists won at least three bouts for the Fords on Saturday. Yan Yan Xie led the foil squad with a 7-5 record, going 3-0 against the rival Blue Jays and posting 2-1 records against Penn and NJIT. Jack Leighninger won six bouts, with two wins against both Johns Hopkins and Penn to start his day.
Alton Wiggers and Carter Langen went unbeaten when they were called into action during the afternoon session. Wiggers went 4-0 with three straight victories against Drew after getting his day started with a win over the Tar Heels one round prior. Langen also entered the foil lineup in the team's win over Drew, adding three more bouts to that impressive showing in his only round of competition. Aldis Gamble found his form during the afternoon session, getting in the win column against North Carolina and adding a 2-0 mark to the squad's 8-1 win against Drew.
The epeeists made it a clean sweep of every weapon with a 7-2 win against Drew. Co-captain Ian Wheeler posted an impressive 8-4 record to finish with more than half of the squad's victory. His day included a 3-0 record against both host Penn and Drew, along with single victories over MACFA foes Johns Hopkins and NJIT. Devin Louis and Kadan Lottick finished with three wins to their credit. Both fencers went 2-1 in the victory against Drew. Louis earned his first win of the day against North Carolina, while Lottick's third triumph came in the final round against the Highlanders.
Men's fencing will have the upcoming weekend off from official competition as the Fords welcome back their alumni for the annual bouts/banquet inside the Andy Kates Fencing Salle on Saturday, January 27. Fencing will get underway at 11 a.m. with the reception to follow at approximately 1 p.m. Haverford will return to official competition on Saturday, February 3 for the Sollee Invitational at Brandeis in the team's final competition before the MACFA Championship season gets underway.
Team Scores
Johns Hopkins 18, Haverford 9
Epee: 8-1
Foil: 4-5
Sabre: 6-3
Penn 19, Haverford 8
Epee: 6-3
Foil: 5-4
Sabre: 8-1
Duke 22, Haverford 5
Epee: 9-0
Foil: 9-0
Sabre: 4-5
North Carolina 16, Haverford 11
Epee: 8-1
Foil: 6-3
Sabre: 2-7
Haverford 23, Drew 4
Epee: 7-2
Foil: 8-1
Sabre: 8-1
NJIT 17, Haverford 10
Epee: 7-2
Foil: 6-3
Sabre: 4-5