STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – The Haverford College men's fencing team got a win from its sabre squad against Yale and nearly pulled off another weapon squad victory against the host Nittany Lions at the Penn State Invitational on Sunday. Facing Division I competition that the Fords could see again in the NCAA Regional and Championship competitions, the Fords matched wits with Division I Duke, Columbia, Yale, Penn, North Carolina, and Penn State over the weekend.

The reigning MACFA Squad Champions showed Haverford's sabre prowess extends well beyond the conference as the Fords secured 19 victories against their Division I opposition. Sophomore John Hare led the still young lineup with eight total victories, including two against the Bulldogs. He also went 3-0 against the host Nittany Lions to fuel that near upset and had at least one other victory in each of the final five rounds of fencing.

Juniors Gabriel Braun and David Parker each finished the day with four victories. Co-captain Braun came through with a perfect 3-0 record against the Bulldogs to secure the Fords' weapon squad win. He jump started his day a round earlier with a win against Columbia. The Fords won at least two individual bouts in each of the final five rounds of fencing, thanks in part to Parker's continued improvement throughout the afternoon as he secured at least one win in each of the team's final four matchups.

Sophomore Yan Yan Xie highlighted the foil squad's day with five individual victories. He went 2-1 against Yale as the Fords were edged out by a 17-10 score in that third round matchup. Xie was a perfect 2-0 in the bouts against North Carolina and also took down one of Columbia's fencers. Alton Wiggers subbed into the foil lineup late in the day and went 1-1 against Penn and was victorious in his only bout against North Carolina. Aldis Gamble added yet another win against Yale while squadmate Jack Leighninger got his victory one round later against fellow Ivy League school Penn.

Kadan Lottick led the Haverford epeeists with three wins, securing victories over Duke, Yale, and North Carolina. Co-captain Ian Wheeler also came up with the second victory in the opening round against the Blue Devils and later added his second individual win against North Carolina. Devin Louis capped the squad's day with a victory over the homestanding Nittany Lions.

Men's fencing will trek to Penn next Saturday for the Philadelphia Invitational. Facing off against Division I teams next weekend as well, fencing is scheduled to get underway at 8:30 p.m. in University City.

Team Scores

Duke 25, Haverford 2
Epee: 7-2
Foil: 9-0
Sabre: 9-0

Columbia 24, Haverford 3
Epee: 9-0
Foil: 8-1
Sabre: 7-2

Yale 17, Haverford 10
Epee: 8-1
Foil: 6-3
Sabre: 3-6

Penn 23, Haverford 4
Epee: 9-0
Foil: 7-2
Sabre: 7-2

North Carolina 20, Haverford 7
Epee: 7-2
Foil: 6-3
Sabre: 7-2

Penn State 22, Haverford 5
Epee: 8-1
Foil: 9-0
Sabre: 5-4

Team Standings
1. Columbia (6-0)
2. Penn State (5-1)
3. Duke (3-2)
4. North Carolina (2-3)
4. Penn (2-3)
6. Yale (1-4)
7. Haverford (0-6)

The following matchups did not take place: Duke vs. North Carolina, Penn vs. Yale