JAMAICA, N.Y.—In facing eight nationally ranked teams, the No. 2 ranked Columbia Fencing teams claimed five out of eight dual matches at the highly competitive St. John's Super Cup on Saturday at Taffner Field House. Columbia's No. 2 ranked women's team went 3-1, while the Lions' No. 2 ranked men's squad finished 2-2.
 
In the day's anticipated finale featuring the No. 1 ranked men's and women's teams from Notre Dame and the No. 2 ranked teams from Columbia, the Lions dropped a 15-12 women's decision and 14-13 men's match. In women's, Notre Dame claimed the sabre competition 6-3, the Lions took foil 5-4, and the Fighting Irish won epee 5-4. Sylvie Binder (foil), Delphine DeVore (foil), and Ariana Mangano (epee) each won two bouts apiece. In men's, Notre Dame claimed advantages in sabre (5-4) and foil (6-3), while the Lions won the epee bouts 6-3. Leading the Lions were Robert Vidovszky (sabre), Sidarth Kumbla (foil), Ethan Kushnerik (epee), Justin Haddad (epee), and Howard Zhao (epee), who all won two bouts apiece.
 
Columbia's day began with a 23-4 women's win and 16-11 men's win over host St. John's. In women's, the Lions swept both the foil and epee bouts 9-0. On the men's side, the match was much closer as Columbia claimed the foil competition 7-2, dropped the sabre bouts 6-3, then won men's epee 6-3 to take the win. Winning three straight bouts in the match was foilist Zachary Binder, while Joon Paik (foil), Josef Cohen (sabre), Alan Temiryaev (epee), and Cedric Mecke (epee) each claimed two victories apiece.
 
The Lions then took on Ivy League rival Harvard in the second match of the day. Columbia's women defeated the Crimson 15-12, while the men lost a 16-11 contest. A 7-2 epee decision proved to be the difference for Columbia in the women's competition as Yana Botvinnik won three bouts, while Mina Yamanaka and Ariana Mangano each won two. In men's, Harvard won eight of the nine sabre bouts to take an advantage and the Lions battled from behind the rest of the way. Columbia will face Harvard later in the year at the Ivy League Duals.
 
Columbia registered a 19-8 women's win and 14-13 men's win over Ohio State. In women's, the Lions swept epee 9-0 and won sabre 6-3. Audrey Chu, Yamanaka, and Mangano in epee and Daniela Timofeyev (sabre) all went a perfect 3-0 for the Lions. The men won by one point and dropped both the epee and sabre competitions 5-4 respectively. The difference was in foil where the Lions took a 6-3 advantage, led by Kumbla's three victories.
 
Following Saturday's competition, Columbia is now a combined 34-3 overall in dual matches as the women are 18-1 and men are 16-2.
 
Columbia is back in action tomorrow at the Penn Invitational in Philadelphia. The Lions will face Notre Dame, Ohio State, Northwestern (W), Penn (M), Drew, and Princeton in dual matches.
 
ST. JOHN'S SUPER CUP RESULTS (COLUMBIA ONLY)
Jamaica, N.Y. | Taffner Field House
 
Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022
Women: Columbia 23, St. John's 4
Men: Columbia 16, St. John's 11
Women: Columbia 15, Harvard 12
Men: Harvard 16, Columbia 11
Women: Columbia 19, Ohio State 8
Men: Columbia 14, Ohio State 13
Women: Notre Dame 15, Columbia 12
Men: Notre Dame 14, Columbia 13
 
Penn State did not compete
 
PENN INVITATIONAL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (COLUMBIA ONLY)
Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022 | Philadelphia, Pa. | TSE Center
 
vs. Notre Dame, 11 a.m.
vs. Ohio State, 1 p.m.
vs. Northwestern (Women), 2:15 p.m.
vs. Penn (Men), 2:15 p.m.
vs. Drew, 3:30 p.m.
vs. Princeton, 4:45 p.m.