CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Haverford College men's fencing team traveled to MIT on Super Bowl Sunday to compete in the Sollee Invitational. Continuing its grueling schedule that the Fords hope will pay dividends during the postseason, Haverford broke through this weekend by toppling Division I Ivy League foe Brown to highlight its day on the strips.
The Fords' win over Brown was just the second in program history, but it is also the team's second in three seasons. Sabre and foil both posted squad wins in that 16-11 team victory. The win over Brown helped the team replicate the feats of the 2016-17 squad which defeated the Bears by a 17-10 score. The Fords' sabrists later earned a squad victory over host MIT by a 6-3 score.
Leading sabre's charge on Sunday was junior John Hare as he posted a team-best 14-4 overall record. He was a perfect 3-0 during the squad's victories against Brown and MIT, while winning two of his three bouts during each of the other rounds of fencing. David Parker added a solid 6-6 record to the squad. He was 2-1 against both rival NJIT and Brown to start his day, also collecting victories against NYU and MIT. First-year Nicholas Conroy was at his best when the Fords needed him most. The standout rookie went 2-1 during both sabre victories and added another notch to his belt against Division I Boston College.
Foil ace Jack Leighninger paced his squad with an unblemished 3-0 record versus Brown to help the Fords topple the Division I Bears. The junior finished his day with seven wins overall, taking two bouts against Brandeis during the final round and also collecting victories against NJIT and MIT. Alton Wiggers continued his strong spring semester with six victories. He posted 2-1 marks against Brown and Brandeis, also collecting wins against NJIT and NYU. Carter Langen started his day strong and finished with four victories. He claimed two bouts against NJIT and followed that up with additional wins against Brown and NYU.
Kadan Lottick led the Fords' epeeists. He won seven bouts during the first five rounds of fencing before joining the foil squad for the final matchup against Brandeis. Haverford's co-captain had at least one victory during each of his five rounds in his regular spot of the epee lineup. Lottick was especially strong with 2-1 showings against Brown and MIT. Fellow co-captain Gabriel Braun continued to make great strides in the epee discipline. He took bouts during four different rounds, including a key victory against Brown. Adrian Velonis and Raynor Bond-Ashpole also contributed wins to the epeeists during the final round against Brandeis.
Men's fencing will now turn its full attention towards MACFA competition during the coming weeks. The Fords will next travel to Drew University this Sunday, February 10 for the MACFA "A" vs. "C" bouts. This weekend's bouts are scheduled to get underway at 9 a.m.
Full team results
NJIT 18, Haverford 9
Epee: 8-1
Foil: 5-4
Sabre: 5-4
Haverford 16, Brown 11
Epee: 3-6
Foil: 6-3
Sabre: 7-2
NYU 21, Haverford 6
Epee: 8-1
Foil: 7-2
Sabre: 6-3
Boston College 22, Haverford 5
Epee: 7-2
Foil: 9-0
Sabre: 6-3
MIT 17, Haverford 10
Epee: 6-3
Foil: 8-1
Sabre: 3-6
Brandeis 18, Haverford 9
Epee: 6-3
Foil: 5-4
Sabre: 7-2