Following a successful 2007-08 season that saw four of her student-athletes qualify for the NCAA Fencing Championships, Lauren Willock is entering her second year as an assistant coach for New York University men’s and women’s fencing teams. She will continue to assist head coach Steve Mormando in all facets of the program.
Last season, Willock’s tutelage helped men’s sophomores Jared Hammond and Sam Roukas (both sabre) earn their second straight national invitations, with Roukas placing seventh in his weapon to become the Violets’ first All-American since 2005-06. Meanwhile, sophomore co-captain Alyxandra Mattison (sabre) and freshman Sophie Ciaravino (foil) qualified for their first-ever NCAA’s, helping NYU place 15th.
Previously, Willock was a four-year standout for the Violets who compiled a 222-89 record. She earned Second Team All-America honors by finishing eighth in the epee at the 2005 NCAA Championships. Willock also won the NCAA Northeast Regional epee title that year, capping a season that saw her win a career-best 89 bouts. In addition, she also captured the Intercollegiate Fencing Association epee championship as a freshman in 2004.
Willock competed for the 2005 U.S. Senior World Championship squad and the 2007 U.S. World University Games team. She was a 16-time University Athletic Association (UAA) Athlete of the Week, a three-time UAA Winter Sport All-Academic honoree and a recipient of the NYU Student-Athlete Academic Achievement Award in 2007.
“Having Lauren with us brings a fresh and exciting feel to our program,” Mormando said. “She has a keen sense of the sport and has also proven herself to be a great leader.”
A native of Louisville, KY, Willock resides in Manhattan.
