PHILADELPHIA - This past weekend the fencing teams participated in the Temple Open, the largest collegiate fencing tournament in the country, at the Liacouras Center on the campus of Temple University.

The women's team competed on Saturday, with a large contingent of first-year students, both recruits and walk-ons. The group all enjoyed the spectacle and competitive camaraderie, and the opportunity to test their mettle against some of the best fencers in the world in this individual event.

Sophomore Sophie Gardiner topped the Fords foil results with a 52nd placement, the only from her squad to bust out of pool play into the Direct Elimination round. Junior Petra Budavari placed a solid fifth-place finish in the consolation round, with neophytes Paige Copenhaver and Nina Chafee each picking up wins and tying for 12th in that event.

First-year epee recruits Nina Hamilton and Julie Edelstein, at 33rd and 45th respectively, were the best finishers on that side, both garnering enough wins to make the Direct Elimination round. Veterans Ceanne Lyon and Joselyne Malan, after shaky starts in the first round, didn't make the direct elimination round, but cleaned up in the consolation round, placing first and second out of 15 fencers.

In the sabre event, senior slasher Megan Heflinger and junior co-captain Rebecca Osbaldeston each won in the first round and qualified to the Direct Elims, and placed 53rd and 55th respectively. 

The Fords will now kick off the team part of the season in two weeks, at the Vassar Invitational on Sunday, November 13. Action on the strips in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. is slated to begin at 10 a.m.