Best of 2010: Nicole Ross Wins NCAA Individual Fencing Title in Women's Foil
12/21/2010 7:42:00 AM | Fencing
During the final weeks of 2010, gocolumbialions.com will highlight some of the best moments of 2010, highlighting the outstanding accomplishments of our student-athletes, coaches and teams in random order.
March 26, 2010
Columbia's Nicole Ross became the third Lion fencer in four years to claim an NCAA individual title when she knocked off two-time champion Doris Willette in the finals to claim the women's foil title.
It was the first time in 20 years that a Columbia woman had won the women's foil title, however. Columbia Athletics Hall of Famer Tzu Moy claimed the NCAA women's foil crown in 1990.
Ross won 21 of 23 bouts on her way to the individual title, after winning 13 of 14 bouts on the first day of the competition. In the semifinals, Ross defeated fourth-seeded Evgeniya Kirpicheva of St. John's before facing Willette.
Ross had never beaten Willette, the junior from Penn State who was the 2009 NCAA women's foil champion. Willette also won top individual honors in 2007, prior to redshirting the 2008 season.
Fencing fans were awaiting a bout that would perhaps come down to one or two touches but Ross impressively defeated Willette, 15-9 in the finals to claim the NCAA title.
"Nicole is smiling ear to ear," said a beaming George Kolombatovich, Columbia's Head Coach and Director of Fencing, while watching the medal ceremony. "She was such a dominant force throughout the whole tournament."
A dominant force throughout her Columbia career, it was the second time Ross had earned first team All-America honors.
Players Mentioned
