HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College men's fencing team will begin its ninth season under head coach Chris Spencer this weekend as the Fords open the 2015-16 season at the Temple Open. The Fords are just three short years removed from a run of three straight MACFA Team Championships. Looking to return the Fords to the top of the conference will be a mixture of youth and experience as six incoming freshmen join six returners for the upcoming season.
Headlining the list of returners to the team is junior Eric Gardner. Gardner was one of three Haverford epeeists to qualify for last year's NCAA Regional, working his way to the "at large" seat with a 12th place finish that came up just short of a trip to the NCAA Championship. Gardner, a bronze medalist in epee at the MACFA Championships last year following a championship 2014 season will be looking to take the next step this season.
Senior captain Kailash Faris and junior Jake Bassinder also return to the foil lineup after trips to the NCAA Regional last year. Bassinder has been to regionals in his first two years with the Fords, highlighted by a 21st place showing during his freshman campaign. Over the summer, Bassinder was a silver medalist at the New York State Fencing Championships. Faris made his first regional appearance last season where he placed 26th overall. A strong incoming class features "A" epeeists in freshmen Edward Ogborn and Maxwell Hampton who will only strengthen a historically strong weapon for the Fords.
Junior Aldis Gamble will serve as co-captain alongside Faris and will lead the team's foil squad. Foil was Haverford's strongest weapon at the MACFA Championship with a fourth place finish last year after back-to-back runner-up showings in 2013 and 2014. Gamble is the only returning regional qualifier from last season as the weapon will have to replace the exploits of Max Findley '15. Gamble placed 28th overall at both the 2013 and 2014 NCAA Regional in this weapon.
Sophomore Devin Louis, last year's team rookie of the year, also returns to the foil lineup this year. He had a strong showing at the Temple Open last year and recorded a victory against Navy in the MACFA Championship. Helping to add in the graduation losses will be Ian Wheeler making transition to foil. Wheeler came on strong at the end of the season with an 8-1 record at the MACFA Championships in epee. Freshman Matthew Soulanille will also fence for the foil squad.
Sabre will be a trio of completely new faces for Haverford during the upcoming season. One familiar name to the program will be freshman Gabriel Braun. He is the younger brother of current women's captain Leila Braun, who is an all-conference fencer in her own right. Henry Li and David Parker will also fence sabre in their first year in the program.
Men's fencing will take part in nine competitions before the MACFA Championship at the end of February. The Andy Kates Fencing Salle will serve as the host of the Dan Arnstein '09 Invitational and Tri-Co Invitational during the months of November and December, along with the team's Alumni Match and Banquet in February.