POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Competing in its first team bouts of the 2018-19 season, the Haverford College men's fencing team went 6-2 at the Vassar Invitational on Sunday, Haverford pulled through with hard-fought wins against Sacred Heart (W, 14-13) and Vassar (W, 15-12), while demonstrating depth throughout all weapons during triumphs against Army-West Point, Yeshiva, Drew, and Hunter. The only blemishes on an otherwise strong day came during setbacks against Incarnate Word (L, 15-12) and MACFA rival Stevens (L, 17-10).
No weapon better exemplified Haverford's depth than the Fords' sabrists as each of those five individuals finished with winning records. The sabre squad went undefeated through eight rounds of fencing, totaling a 60-12 combined record on the day. The sabre squad saved the win against Sacred Heart with a perfect 9-0 performance to start the day and soundly defeated rival Stevens by an 8-1 score in the second to last round of the afternoon.
First year Nicholas Conroy (14-1 overall) and co-captain Gabriel Braun (13-1 record) each starred for that squad. Conroy went 3-0 during his first four rounds in the lineup against Army-West Point, Incarnate Word, Vassar, and Stevens before winning two of three bouts against Hunter. Braun's lone defeat came during a round in which he won two of three bouts against Vassar, while he was perfect against Sacred Heart, Incarnate Word, Yeshiva, and Drew.
John Hare matched Conroy with 14 individual victories during his 16 bouts. Hare was critical to the Fords' success with a perfect 3-0 record against Sacred Heart, while also going 3-0 against Stevens and Drew during his successful day on the strips. David Parker won 12 of his 15 bouts, giving the Fords four different fencers who each recorded at least that many victories. Haverford's top four sabre performers combined for a 53-7 overall record. Not to be outdone, Kagan Harris posted a winning 7-5 record, sporting a perfect 3-0 mark during the squad's shutout victory against Yeshiva.
Haverford's foilists finished the day with a 26-1 record during the final three rounds of fencing. However, it was a 5-4 victory against Sacred Heart to start the day that proved crucial during the team's one-point victory. The foil squad went 3-1 in bouts that were tied at four-all against Sacred Heart and ultimately decided by the final touch. Jack Leighninger led his squad with an 18-6 record. He went 2-1 against Sacred Heart and recorded perfect 3-0 rounds against Army-West Point, Yeshiva, Drew, and Hunter.
Carter Langen also went 2-1 against Sacred Heart, finishing with a 15-9 overall record. Langen was perfect in the Fords' victories against Army-West Point, Yeshiva, and Hunter. Alton Wiggers matched Leighninger with a perfect mark against Army-West Point before closing his day with nine straight victories against Yeshiva, Drew, and Hunter. He matched Langen's total with a 15-9 record on the afternoon.
Co-captain Kadan Lottick led Haverford's epeeists with seven victories. He capped his day on a solid note with a perfect showing against Hunter, while also securing two wins in Haverford's team victory over Vassar. Adrian Ballard finished just behind his squadmate with six victories overall. He was perfect against Army-West Point, while notching victories against Vassar, Yeshiva, and Drew. Raynor Bond-Ashpole added five wins to the squad's total. He went 2-1 against Army-West Point, adding victories during the rounds against Incarnate Word, Vassar, and Drew. First year Adrian Velonis, who joined the team from the PE class, tried his hands on the strips. Although unable to secure a victory, Velonis showed great potential by taking four of his bouts to four out of five touches.
Men's fencing will return home this weekend for the Dan Arnstein '09 Invitational which is set for Saturday, November 17 inside the Andy Kates Fencing Salle. Action on the strips is set to start at 10 a.m. This will be the first of two straight home competitions for the Fords who announced they will now be hosting the Tri-Co Invitational on Saturday, December 1.
Men's Team Scores
Haverford 14, Sacred Heart 13
Epee: 0-9
Foil: 5-4
Sabre: 9-0
Haverford 21, Army-West Point 6
Epee: 5-4
Foil: 9-0
Sabre: 7-2
Incarnate Word 15, Haverford 12
Epee: 8-1
Foil: 6-3
Sabre: 1-8
Haverford 15, Vassar 12
Epee: 4-5
Foil: 4-5
Sabre: 7-2
Stevens 17, Haverford 10
Epee: 1-8
Foil: 1-8
Sabre: 8-1
Haverford 19, Yeshiva 8
Epee: 1-8
Foil: 9-0
Sabre: 9-0
Haverford 17, Drew 10
Epee: 3-6
Foil: 8-1
Sabre: 6-3
Haverford 18, Hunter 9
Epee: 3-6
Foil: 9-0
Sabre: 6-3