NEW YORK – Just a few months after dominating the highest stage in Division I athletics, members of the Columbia fencing team took their skills to the international level as head coach Michael Aufrichtig led a group of six members of the squad to Wuxi, China, for the Absolute USA-China Elite Fencing Invitational on August 12-16.

“I thought this event provided an amazing opportunity for our athletes to experience a new culture while participating in a sport they love,” said Aufrichtig. “I really want to thank Gary Lu, Absolute Fencing and the organizing committee for their invitation and hospitality.”

Sponsored by Absolute Fencing Gear and the Absolute Development & Exchange Foundation, the Absolute China Fencing Competition was a weeklong event held at the Absolute International Fencing Training Center that allowed U.S. fencers from Brown, Harvard, Princeton and Columbia to compete and train with Chinese college fencers.  The opportunity allowed an experience that was not only a time for fencers to improve their skills, but also a once in a lifetime cultural experience that the Lions would never forget.

“The competition was definitely a once in a lifetime experience for me and my teammates,” said senior captain Jake Hoyle. “After the competition, we had an opportunity to spend some time with the fencers on the other team, which was incredibly rewarding.”

Hoyle led the Lions with a first-place finish in men's epee while fellow senior Margaret Lu was able to take a bronze medal in women's foil.

“I thought the entire Columbia team fenced very well,” said Hoyle. “Overall, it was a great competition and I'm thankful to have had the experience.

For other members of the squad, like junior captain Brittin Boenning and senior Angad Singh, the event provided an opportunity to compete in their first-ever international competition.

“All of the fencers involved in the event were all very welcoming and it was cool to get to talk to all these people that I probably would have never met otherwise,” said Boenning. “I loved that we all had fencing in common. We all love the sport, but everyone has such different experiences while participating in it and we all had the opportunity to share that with each other.”

Senior Rienzi Gokea and junior Vivian Rand also made the trip with the Lions, providing the upperclassmen with an experience they will likely never forget.