STATE COLLEGE, Pa.—The No. 2 ranked Columbia Fencing teams each swept four opponents at the Penn State Duals Sunday at Penn State's Multi-Sport Facility. The event marked Columbia's first competition of the 2022 spring semester.
 
Columbia improves to a combined 29-0 in dual matches on the year, 15-0 in women's and 14-0 in men's.
 
Columbia's women's team eked out a close 14-13 victory over Penn State in the opener. The match came down to the final epee bout where Columbia's Mina Yamanaka defeated Penn State's Nirali Igoe. Columbia was led by Sylvie Binder, who won three foil bouts and Vera Kong, who claimed three sabre bouts. On the men's side, Columbia won a 16-11 decision over Penn State led by a 6-3 sabre and 7-2 foil advantage. Robert Vidovszky won three sabre bouts, while James Bourtis and Andrew Zheng each won three foil bouts. Teddy Lombardo won the 14^th and decisive bout in epee.
 
In the day's third round, the Lions an 18-9 women's win and 17-10 men's win over Duke. Binder claimed three foil bouts, Valentina Bos and Ariana Mangano both won three epee bouts, and Nora Burke won three sabre bouts. The Columbia men were led by foilists Bourtis and Zachary Zusin, who both took three foil wins.
 
Round four saw the women's squad defeat Temple 19-8, while the men claimed a 25-2 win over Haverford
 
The Lions concluded the day with a 19-8 women's win and 21-6 men's victory over North Carolina. It marked the second time the Lions faced the Tar Heels this year. The women swept each of the three weapons with Audrey Chu and Bos both finishing 3-0. The men also swept all three weapons and were led by Vidovszky (sabre), Christopher Walker (sabre), Zachary Binder (foil), and Justin Haddad (epee), who all won three bouts.
 
Columbia did not face Ivy League rivals Penn and Yale. Yale ended up withdrawing.
 
Columbia is back in action next Saturday at the St. John's Super Cup when the Lions take on Notre Dame, Penn State, Harvard, St. John's, and Ohio State.
 
PENN STATE DUALS COLUMBIA RESULTS
Sunday, January 16, 2022 | State College, Pa. | Penn State Multi-Sport Facility (capacity: 800)
 
FINAL COMBINED WON-LOSS RECORDS
Columbia, 8-0
Penn State, 8-3
Penn, 5-3
Duke, 4-5
Temple Women, 2-2
North Carolina, 2-6
Haverford Men, 0-10
 
COLUMBIA RESULTS
Women: Columbia 14, Penn State 13
Men: Columbia 16, Penn State 11
Women: Columbia 18, Duke 9
Men: Columbia 17, Duke 10
Women: Columbia 19, Temple 8
Men: Columbia 25, Haverford 2
Women: Columbia 19, North Carolina 8
Men: Columbia 21, North Carolina 6