HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College men's and women's fencing programs welcomed back their alumni for the annual alumni bouts/reception this past Saturday. Those bouts were followed by a banquet where the current varsity team got the chance to meet with the fencers who have come before them and established the tradition of Haverford fencing.
Alumni and alumnae from the men's and women's fencing programs turned out in great numbers. In addition to meeting up with former teammates and classmates, the weekend was also a special occasion as former head coach Dave Littell has returned to the team this year as an assistant coach.
An Olympian in his own athletic endeavors, Littell guided the Fords for six seasons (2001-07). While at the helm of the fencing program, he guided the men's team to a pair of MACFA Championships and led the women to what was at the time a program-best third-place finish at both the EWFC and NIWFA Championships.
Alumni in attendance dated all the way back to the College's Class of 1974 and included: Roger Chin '74, Laszlo Kopits '87, Dr. Philip Perilstein '97, Will Gardner-Mims '05, Andrew Feierabend '06, Josh Mertz '06, Brandon West '07, Max Rosen-Long '09, Andrew Bostick '12, Lee Flaherty '12, James Nieuwland '13, Katie Elbert '14, Shannon Horn '14, Lawrence Wang '14, Leila Braun '16, Kailash Faris '16, Elisabeth Hawthorne '16, Jake Bassinder '17, Eric Gardner '17, Devin Louis '18, Alexandra Morrison '18, Lauren Pronger '18, and Ian Wheeler '18. Gardner and Wheeler continue to work with the program as assistant coaches, along with Littell and John Molloy who was also in attendance.
Both men's and women's fencing will resume their competitive schedule this weekend at the Sollee Invitational which is scheduled for Sunday, February 3. Hosted at MIT this year, fencing is slated to begin at 8:30 a.m.