GREENWICH VILLAGE, N.Y. —The Ivy League Championships were looming just days ahead, but Columbia's fencers refused to take the bait and overlook their non-league matches against NYU, Sacred Heart and Vassar Wednesday. Their leaders wouldn't allow it.
Demonstrating levels of intensity and determination not always found in non-league competition, the Columbia women swept all three matches in the competition at the Violets' Coles Gymnasium, while the men's team added one win and narrowly missed another.
"I hoped that no one would overlook any of these matches," junior co-captain Sammy Roberts said, "and the results showed that no one did. I'm really proud of everyone. Everyone fenced really strong."
The women's team topped both Vassar and Sacred Heart by 22-5 scores, then was very impressive in a 17-10 defeat of a good NYU squad. The Columbia men lost to NYU by just one point, 14-13, and to Sacred Heart, 15-12, while defeating Vassar, 16-11.
The 2011 Ivy League Championships will be held Saturday and Sunday at Princeton.
"The Ivies are very intense," Roberts noted. "Each of our fencers will have to fence their best for us to capture that title." But the women's sabre standout had little doubt that her teammates would be up for the challenge.
"Today's matches were good preparation," she said, "for the kind of fighting we will see this weekend."
The sabre and epee squads paced the women's efforts on the afternoon. Sabre went a perfect 9-0 against both Sacred Heart and Vassar, 5-4 vs. NYU, while epee won 21 of 27 in the three matches. The sabre success was noteworthy in that Roberts, an All-American, was absent from the lineup due to an injury.
"It's the first time I've ever missed a match because of an injury," Sammy noted. "In the past, I've always been able to fence through injuries." Will she recover in time for the Ivies? "Absolutely!"
Seven Lion women were undefeated in the three matches, paced by first-year foilist Nzingha Prescod, 9-0, sophomore epeeist Lydia Kopecky, also 9-0, and sophomore sabre fencer Loweye Diedro, 6-0.
Epee also excelled in the men's matches, going an aggregate 20-7. The other two weapons were unable to keep pace, however, as sabre was 13-14 and foil 8-19.
Two first-years, Alen Hadzic and Magnus Ferguson, were each 7-2 in epee, while junior co-captain Sean Leahy was 4-3. First-year Ty Hinderson won both of his bouts.
First-years Alex Pensler (foil) and Mel Rodriguez (sabre) each won eight of nine bouts, but no one else on either weapon squad could compile a winning record. Foil's hopes were hurt badly by the absence of first-year standout Bo Charles, who did not make the trip due to illness.
Yet the Lions' spirit and enthusiasm remained high all afternoon.
"They have amazing team spirit," Sammy Roberts' mother, Jo, noted. "It's infectious."
It certainly has infected the Roberts, who work long hours to prepare sandwiches, snacks, and liquids for the team's meets, bringing them in a red wagon. In doing so, Jo and Dale Roberts have become as much a part of Columbia Fencing as the competitors and coaches.
"Dale and I have fallen in love with this team," said Jo Roberts, who watched all three matches even though her daughter was unable to fence. "We're … for all of them, their parents."
Parents and fencers will all travel down to Princeton Saturday attempting to regain the Ivy League men' and women's championships. Fencing in Jadwin Gymnasium begins at 10:30 a.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday. All-Ivy League teams will also be determined this weekend.
Today's results:
Historical Meet Plus
February 9, 2011
Jerome Coles Gymnasium, New York University
Men's Fencing
12-15 Sacred Heart, 16-11 Vassar, 13-14 NYU
Leaders: Alex Pensler (F) 8-1, Mel Rodriguez (S), 8-1, Magnus Ferguson (E) 7-2, Alen Hadzic (E) 7-2
Women's Fencing
22-5 Sacred Heart, 22-5 Vassar, 17-10 NYU
Leaders: Lydia Kopecky (E) 9-0, Nzingha Prescod (F) 9-0, Loweye Diedro (S) 6-0, Neely Brandfield-Harvey (E) 4-0, Marie Rudnicki (S) 4-0, Claire Wu (S) 3-0, D'Meca Homer (F) 7-2
