NEW YORK—The Columbia Fencing program hosted its third annual George Kolombatovich Historical Meet Wednesday evening at the Dodge Fitness Center University Gymnasium "Blue Gym". The Lions finished the evening by winning five of six dual matches against NYU, Sacred Heart and Vassar in both men's and women's matches. The Columbia men went an undefeated 3-0, while the women finished 2-1.
 
Columbia vs. NYU
Women: L, 14-13; Men: W, 19-8
 
In the Historic Rivalry, the Columbia Men's squad defeated NYU 19-8 behind an 8-1 foil advantage and 6-3 sabre score. Brian Szeto clinched the match for the Lions with the final point in sabre. The Lions won all three weapons to claim the Irving Martin Preschel Trophy. In women's NYU defeated the Lions for the first time in series history, 14-13, to take the Katy Bilodeau Trophy. NYU held 5-4 advantages in both sabre and foil before clinching the match with its fourth epee win with two bouts to go.
 
Columbia improves to 56-47-1 all-time against NYU in the men's series which began in 1923-24. Columbia drops to 40-1 in women's bouts against NYU dating back to 1982-83.
 
Each year, team winners of the annual Columbia-NYU fencing matchup earn the right to two respective trophies: Irving Martin Preschel men's fencing trophy and the Katy Bilodeau '87CC women's trophy. The Preschel Trophy dates back to 1945-46 and is named in honor of Preschel, a former manager and member of the NYU fencing team who was killed in action at Heidelberg Germany on March 30, 1945. A Columbia superstar, Bilodeau was a four-time All-American, two-time NCAA foil champion (1985 and 1987), two-time Olympian (1988 and 1992), and was named the NCAA Athlete of the Decade for the 1980s. The Bilodeau Trophy was introduced in 1990-91 but the Columbia-NYU women's series began in 1982-83.
 
Columbia vs. Sacred Heart
Women: W, 23-4; Men: W, 17-10
 
The Columbia Women swept both the foil and epee competition 9-0 en route to a 23-4 victory. Three-bout winners for Columbia included Rachel Zhang, Vivian Zheng, and Ruoqiu Fei in foil and Karina Leung, Nika Filippov, and Olive Lee in epee. In the men's match, Columbia won all three weapons, including a 7-2 advantage in foil. Three-bout winners for Columbia included Zachary Binder and Andrew Zheng in foil.
 
Columbia vs. Vassar
Women: W, 22-5; Men: W, 19-8
 
The women vaulted out to 9-0 and 7-2 advantages in sabre and foil respectively en route to a 22-5 win over Vassar. Rachel Zhang won three foil bouts and Karina Leung won three epee bouts. On the men's side, a variety of fencers saw action as the Lions rolled to an 8-1 advantage in foil and 7-2 lead in sabre as the Lions won a 19-8 match. Ben Sherwin registered the match-clinching bout in sabre for Columbia.
 
With the dual match wins, Columbia now owns a 55-11-1 combined dual match record in 2021-22. Columbia's women are now 28-6-1, while the men own a 27-5 dual match record.
 
Previously known as Columbia's Historical Meet, the event's name was changed to the George Kolombatovich Historical Meet in the 2018-19 season to honor the former Columbia fencing coach after his passing in September 2018.
 
Prior to the match, Columbia honored its 12-member senior class. Those seniors include Sylvie Binder, Valentina Bos, Kenya Plenty, and Anika Tsapsaris on the women's side; James Bourtis, Josef Cohen, Sidarth Kumbla, Jack Lin, Julian Maldonaldo, Cedric Mecke, Ben Sherwin, and Brian Szeto.
 
Columbia's next scheduled competition is at NCAA Regionals on Sunday, March 13 in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Vassar College will host the event.
 
GEORGE KOLOMBATOVICH HISTORICAL MEET RESULTS
Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022 | Dodge Fitness Center-University Gymnasium/Columbia Fencing Room | New York, N.Y.
 
Women: NYU 14, Columbia 13 (University "Blue" Gym)
Men: Columbia 19, NYU 8 (University "Blue" Gym)
Women: Columbia 23, Sacred Heart 4 (University "Blue" Gym)
Men: Columbia 17, Sacred Heart 10 (University "Blue" Gym)
Women: NYU 20, Vassar 7 (Columbia Fencing Room)
Men: NYU 22, Vassar 5 (Columbia Fencing Room)
Women: NYU 23, Sacred Heart 4 (Columbia Fencing Room)
Men: NYU 18, Sacred Heart 9, (Columbia Fencing Room)
Women: Columbia 22, Vassar 5 (University "Blue" Gym)
Men: Columbia 19, Vassar 8 (University "Blue" Gym)
 
All bouts contested at Columbia's Dodge Fitness Center on Columbia's campus.