HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College women's fencing team is starting the 2023-24 season with a flourish, after securing the eighth spot in the United States Fencing Coaches' Association (USFCA) Division III Preseason Coaches Poll.
The poll, consisting of votes from 20 head women's fencing coaches, ranks a total of 15 Division I teams and eight Division III teams. New York University was the top ranked Division III fencing program, followed by Johns Hopkins in second, Brandeis in third, and Wellesley in fourth. Tufts, MIT, and Denison were slotted fifth through seventh, respectively.
The USFCA is a respected authority in college fencing and this ranking is particularly impressive given the strong competition from a bevy of Division III teams. The poll offers a glimpse into the upcoming season's expectations and sheds light on the strengths of the various women's fencing programs across the nation.
Last season, Haverford placed seventh at the EWFC Championships, and 10th at the NIWFA Championships.
Haverford kicks off its 2023-24 campaign with the Coach Nikki Franke Classic on Saturday at the Liacouras Center in North Philadelphia. The event, renamed from the Temple Open, serves as the kickoff of the fencing season for numerous programs in the northeast.