The New York University Men's Fencing Team competed at the Sacred Heart Invitational hosted by Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT, on Sunday, December 5.
The Violets were eager to get back on the strip, having not competed since their season opener on October 24.
The men won four of their six matches, including Princeton University (15-12), currently ranked #4 by the
USFCA (United States Fencing Coaches' Association). The Violets also defeated New Jersey Institute of Technology (17-10), Vassar College (20-7) and host Sacred Heart (18-9), falling only to #5 Penn State University (11-16) and #6 Harvard University (12-15).
NYU is currently the #1 ranked NCAA Division III squad.
"We didn't know how this was going to turn out, but everybody showed up and fenced hard from the beginning," said Assistant Coach
Lauren Willock Wunderlich. "We built a lot in terms of team culture after the first tournament at Temple. It was great to see everyone come together."
In sabre,
Brian Kim (Upper Saddle River, NJ/Dwight-Englewood) led the way for the Violets, winning 11 of his 15 bouts.
"It's kind of surreal," Kim said. "It's a brand new team. It's a fresh new start for me. I was just so excited to get back out there and compete."
Liam Carpenter (Bedford, MA/St. John's Prep) also had a very successful meet, winning 12 of his 16 bouts in epee.
"It was about letting yourself have fun on the strip," Carpenter commented. "It was a small shift individually and then a conscious effort to keep the team-energy high."
Owen McKenna (New Hope, PA/Germantown Academy) was the Violets' top performer in foil, posting a winning record of 9-8.
The Violets will return to the strip on Saturday and Sunday, January 22-23, when they compete at the Philadelphia Invitational hosted by the University of Pennsylvania.
