Taffel Captures Gold, Angen Picks Up Bronze as Seven Lions Earn National Points at November NAC
11/12/2014 5:23:00 PM | Fencing
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Over the weekend, the Columbia fencing team captured individual hardware at the 2014 November North American Cup at the Kentucky International Convention Center. Sara Taffel led all of the Lions' seven performers as the sophomore captured gold in Junior Women's Foil while Katie Angen also found herself atop the podium with a bronze medal performance in Junior Women's Epee. Nearly 1,500 athletes competed on the strip at the second NAC event, a key qualifier for both the 2015 Senior and Junior World Championships, of the 2014-15 season.
After going undefeated in pool play with a plus-24 indicator, Taffel garnered the top seed of the elimination tables. The New York, New York, native cruised past Kianna Parker Kiki (15-3), Grace Hao (15-7), Woojoo Kwon (15-7) and Rebecca Stanford (15-1) to advance to the semifinals. Won win away from the championship bout, Taffel carried her momentum into the semis and bested Canada's Samantha Viqueira 15-9. In a see-saw match versus the tournament's sixth-seed, Morgan Partridge, Taffel prevailed, 15-14, to claim first place.
Taffel's classmate Jessie Laffey also faired well in the 159 entrant draw. Like her weaponmate, Laffey went unbeaten and pools and earned the tables second seed spot. The Glen Ridge, New Jersey, local picked up victories over Olympia Peters (15-5), Camille Pham (12-7), Simone Unwalla (15-8) and Desree Oretega-Furgeson (15-5) to reach the table of quarterfinals. Unlike Taffel, Laffey's momentum faded as she was upset be Stefani Deschner, who was tied for 25th, 15-9. Laffey's quarterfinal run earned the sophomore fifth-place.
For her 5-1 showing in pools, Angen earned the 12th-seed and a bye in the round of 256 in the elimination draw. The epeeist notched five wins on her journey to the semifinals where she met Safa Ibrahim. The semifinal bout was a back-and-forth affair, but in the end Ibrahim took the match 15-13 and Angen claimed bronze.
Audrey Yun also competed in the Junior Women's Epee. The first-year turned in a 32nd-place performance.
Danya Hu rounded out the Columbia women fencers at the event. The first-year soared through pool play and worked her way through a the Junior women's saber table that featured 138 fencers to take 13th.
Drew Johnston highlighted the Lions' men's performers as the sophomore claimed fifth in the Junior Men's Foil. Johnston was the third Columbia to post an undefeated record in pool action as the sophomore notched a plus-26 scoring differently. As the 256 Table top seed, he drew a bye in the first round and picked up victories in the ensuing four bouts. In the quarterfinals, Johnston's run was halted by Geoffrey Tourette, by a 15-12 decision.
Rookie John Avendano also took the stripe in the foil and placed 14th.
The Lions open up their 2014-15 schedule this weekend as they host the Columbia Invitational Friday, Nov. 14.
Results
Junior Men's Foil (246 Fencers)
Drew Johnston - 5th
John Avendano - 14th
Junior Women's Sabre (138 Fencers)
Danya Hu - 13th
Junior Women's Epee (180 Fencers)
Katie Angen - 3rd
Audrey Yun - 32nd
Junior Women's Foil
Sara Taffel - 1st
Jessie Laffey - 5th
Players Mentioned
