STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – The Haverford College men's fencing team got its spring semester schedule underway this past Sunday at the Penn State Invitational. As the only Division III team in the field which featured some of the toughest Division I competition available, the Fords nearly came through with a victory against North Carolina while several individuals showed their elite fencing prowess.

John Hare led all Haverford fencers with a 9-9 record against the tough field. Hare won at least one bout during each of the team's six rounds, including a perfect 3-0 showing against the host Nittany Lions to conclude his strong performance. Both Hare and fellow sabrist Nicholas Conroy started their days with victories over Duke All-American Ping Ping Kitsiriboon who was an 11th place finisher at last year's NCAA Championship. Hare also notched two bout victories in the matchup with the University of Pennsylvania as he took down Enzo Bergamo and Adam Green. Green was an honorable mention All-American for the Quakers a season ago while Bergamo is the 74th-ranked sabrist in the world rankings.

Conroy's win against Duke's All-American was one of four on the day for Haverford's sophomore. A round later, Conroy went 2-1 against Yale before adding a final victory against North Carolina. Kagan Harris made his return to the lineup after studying abroad in the fall and also found success against the Tar Heels. Haverford ultimately fell to North Carolina by a 16-11 team score, but the Fords gave the Tar Heels everything they could handle, falling by just three touches.

Kadan Lottick led those epee efforts as he recorded seven victories over the first five rounds before fencing just once against the hosts. Haverford's co-captain was a perfect 3-0 against the Tar Heels in Haverford's closest team battle of the day and also notched two wins against the University of Pennsylvania. Squadmates Adrian Velonis and Edward Shin also secured bouts for the Fords in the squad victory over North Carolina.

Foilists Jack Leighninger and co-captain Alton Wiggers led their squad with four victories apiece throughout Sunday's competition. Wiggers posted his best round with a 2-1 showing against Penn while also posting victories against Yale and North Carolina. In addition to his win against UNC, Leighninger also defeated foes from Duke, Columbia, and Penn. Carter Langen added a third win to the squad's total against UNC while he secured his first win of the day a round earlier against the Quakers.

The tough schedule, which is designed to have the Fords peaking for the postseason later this semester, continues this coming Saturday, January 18 as Haverford heads to the University of Pennsylvania for the Philadelphia Invitational. Fencing that day is scheduled to get underway at 9 a.m.

Full team results

Duke 23, Haverford 4
Epee: 8-1
Foil: 8-1
Sabre: 7-2

Yale 23, Haverford 4
Epee: 9-0
Foil: 8-1
Sabre: 6-3

Columbia 24, Haverford 3
Epee: 8-1
Foil: 8-1
Sabre: 8-1

Penn 19, Haverford 8
Epee: 7-2
Foil: 5-4
Sabre: 7-2

North Carolina 16, Haverford 11
Epee: 4-5
Foil: 6-3
Sabre: 6-3

Penn State 24, Haverford 3
Epee: 9-0
Foil: 9-0
Sabre: 6-3