MADISON, N.J. - On Sunday, the Haverford women's fencing team completed their regular season at the Eastern Women's Fencing Conference competition, held at Drew University. The dual meet matches were held in a new, round-robin format, due to wider participation of more schools at the championships. The Fords placed 7th of 10 schools, while the tournament was won overall by defending champs Johns Hopkins.

 

During the round-robin team pool, Haverford defeated both Yeshiva and CCNY, while losing to JHU, Wellesley and Denison. In the placement round, Haverford triumphed 14-12 over Hunter College, to lock in the 7th place finish. The sabre squad of Caroline Donado and Megan Heflinger, both seniors, and the epee squad of Nina Hamilton and Julie Edelstein, both first-years, performed exceptionally well despite being short a player each.

 

Donado led all fencers on the day with eight total wins, while Heflinger, Hamilton and foilist first-year Nina Chaffee all contributed seven wins to buoy the Fords at the tourney.  Foilists Paige Copenhaver and Paola Delgado, who had no fencing experience before this season, fought tooth and nail to contribute six more wins between them. Despite some struggles during the team event, going 5-7, sophomore foilist and co-captain Sophie Gardiner led the charge during the individual portion of the tournament.  She downed Denison's Nina DeLaperouse in a hard fought match before succumbing to eventual champion, Velma Hall, also of Denison. Gardiner place 4th in the tournament, earning First-Team All-Conference accolades.  Donado also did well in the individuals, defeating opponents from Stevens Tech and Wellesley, and placing 5th, also earning First-Team All-Conference. 

 

Heflinger, Chafee, and Hamilton all qualified to the individual rounds, but did not make the event finals. Hefflinger was additionally named to the EWFC All-Academic team following the meet. The Fords will next compete at the National Intercollegiate Women's Fencing Association Annual Championships, to be held at Drew University on March 4th.

 

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Epee: 7-2

Foil: 9-0

Sabre: 9-0

 

E: 6-2

F: 7-2

S: 5-3

 

E: 5-4

F: 6-3

S: 7-2

 

E: 8-1

F: 8-1

S: 7-2

 

E: 5-4

F: 6-3

S: 6-2

 

E: 5-4

F: 5-4

S: 4-4