PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - The Haverford College men's fencing team faced a big challenge on Sunday as it competed in the Philadelphia Invitational hosted by the University of Pennsylvania. The Fords battled some of the best Division I teams in the region with the objective of securing good seeding in March's NCAA regional championship.
The opening round proved historic as Haverford took down the University of North Carolina, 18-9, for the first-ever win over the Tarheels in program history. The epee squad went 8-1 and the foil squad was not far behind with a 6-3 mark to help secure the victory.
An immense task loomed for the Fords in round two as up next was the eighth-ranked Blue Devils of Duke University Blue Devils. Foilists Max Findley and Sam Levinson registered the lone wins for Haverford in a 25-2 loss.
The Fords hoped to avenge an early-season loss to Middle Atlantic Collegiate Fencing Association (MACFA) rival Drew University in round three but came up just short against the Rangers, 14-13. The epee squad performed strongly, 7-2, in defeat.
Another MACFA rival, Johns Hopkins, awaited in round five. Haverford fell to the Blue Jays, 19-8, despite a 6-3 effort by the foilists.
The Fords battled but fell in the fourth and sixth rounds, against D-I powerhouses Penn, 22-5, and Sacred Heart, 21-6. Several Haverford fencers made the most of the experience of squaring off against the seventh-ranked Quakers and ninth-ranked Pioneers by securing important victories to further NCAA nationals aspirations.
Team leaders on the day included epeeists Andrew Bostick and James Nieuwland who went 10-5 and 10-6, respectively. Not to be outdone, Findley also earned 10 wins at foil (10-6). Bostick, Nieuwland, and Findley also took down several highly ranked opponents to improve their own regional ranking.
The road does not get any easier for the Fords as rematches against North Carolina and Penn await along with other top-notch competition at the Penn State Invitational next Saturday.
Haverford def. North Carolina, 18-9
Sabre: 4-5
Foil: 6-3
Epee: 8-1
Duke def. Haverford, 25-2
S: 9-0
F: 7-2
E: 9-0
Drew def. Haverford, 14-13
S: 7-2
F: 4-5
E: 7-2
Penn def. Haverford, 22-5
S: 9-0
F: 6-3
E: 7-2
Johns Hopkins def. Haverford, 19-8
S: 9-0
F: 6-3
E: 4-5
Sacred Heart def. Haverford, 21-6
S: 9-0
F: 7-2
E: 5-4