MADISON, N.J. – The Haverford College men's fencing team placed fourth at the 2020 MACFA Championships. Haverford's foilists paced the weapon squads with a bronze medal finish for the highest foil placement since the 2014 championship. The Fords' sabrists and epeeists finished sixth and seventh, respectively.
Individually, Kadan Lottick (epee silver) and Jack Leighninger (foil bronze) both medalled for the Fords during the direct elimination bouts. Lottick's medal was the third of his career after earning back-to-back bronzes during the previous two championship meets. Lottick was 10-4 out of the "A" slot in the seeding bouts and eventually made it all the way to the championship bout of the direct elimination tournament. Edward Shin (6-8 in "B" slot), Adrian Velonis (4-2 "C"), and Raynor Bond-Ashpole (4-4 "C") also contested epee for the Fords.
Leighninger earned his first career MACFA medal with a bronze showing. Leading Haverford's top weapon on the weekend, Leighninger was 11-3 during the "A" seeding bouts for foil before making a run all the way to the semifinals of the direct elimination draw. Alton Wiggers (11-3 "B") joined his squadmate in the direct elimination bouts where he was eventually credited with a 12th place finish while Carter Langen (12-2 "C") just missed the cut line for advancement into direct elimination fencing.
John Hare and Nicholas Conroy represented Haverford in the sabre direct elimination bouts. Hare posted the second-best record out of the "A" slot as he went 11-3 in seeding bouts but was upset in his first direct elimination bout to finish in ninth place overall. Conroy was also second out of the "B" slot with an identical 11-3 record and eventually credited with a 12th place showing after the direct elimination tournament. Kagan Harris (8-6 "C") made it three Haverford sabrists with a winning record during the championship but fell shy of the cut line for the direct elimination bouts.
Men's fencing will now turn its attention to the NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional this Saturday, March 7 at Duke. John Hare (sabre), who missed qualification to the NCAA Championships by a single touch last year, will be back looking to secure his spot in the national field. MACFA medalists Kadan Lottick (epee) and Jack Leighninger (foil) will also be in the field that is widely considered the toughest regional across the entire country. Haverford will send seven fencers in total on the men's side as Carter Langen (foil), Alton Wiggers (foil), Edward Shin (epee), and Nicholas Conroy (sabre) will also compete for the regional championship.