Jan. 24, 2009
JAMAICA, N.Y. –
Complete Men’s Results in PDF Format 
Complete Women’s Results in PDF Format
The men’s and women’s fencing teams combined to post a 4-0 record as they opened their season at the St. John’s University Duals at the Carnesecca Arena. The men, currently ranked first along with Penn State, toppled fourth-ranked Columbia (17-10) and followed up with a dramatic win over ninth-ranked St. John’s (14-13). The second-ranked women defeated fourth-ranked Columbia-Barnard (18-9) before knocking-off St. John’s by an 18-9 margin.
With the wins, both teams move to 2-0 on the season, while the men’s win over St. John’s was the 1,200th in program history (1,200-119/.910). Freshman Courtney Hurley (San Antonio, Texas) got her Irish career off to a great start with six wins on the day, most among both Notre Dame contingents. Hayley Reese (Crestwood, Ky.) and Darsie Malynn (Grapevine, Texas) were also perfect on the day as each posted a 4-0 mark. The men’s contingent was led by Enzo Castellani (Keller, Texas), who racked up five wins in his Irish debut.
The Irish return to the strip tomorrow, January 25 to take part in the NYU Invitational at the Coles Sports Center in New York, N.Y. Notre Dame’s opponents for Sunday include Yale, #4 Columbia, Stevens Tech (men), #6 Northwestern (women), #9/RV St. John’s, NYU and #3 Ohio State.
Men’s Recap
The men’s victory over Columbia was spearheaded by the foil contingent as Zach Schirtz (Rochester, N.Y.), Castellani, Frederick Bentley, Mark Kubik (San Antonio, Texas) and Teddy Hodges (Salina, Kan.) combined to post a 7-2 record. Schirtz and Bentley each went 2-0.
In epee, sophomore Greg Schoolcraft (San Jose, Calif.) lead the way with two wins versus Columbia, while Karol Kostka (Krakow, Poland) and Brent Kelly (Grapevine, Texas) each chipped in with a win. Kelly’s win, a 5-2 triumph over Lorenzo Casertano, came against his former team, as he qualified for last year’s NCAA’s as a member of Columbia’s fencing team.
In sabre, Bill Thanhouser and Avery Zuck each went 2-0 versus Columbia as they helped the Irish post a 6-3 mark in the weapon.
The men’s squad then downed St. John’s in a narrowly contested battle that saw the Irish build a 13-7 lead. St. John’s then rattled off five straight wins to cut the lead to 13-12. But then senior captain Bill Thanhouser (Portland, Ore.) fenced a great tactical sabre bout against Daryl Homer, beating him 5-2, to clinch the match for the Irish.
The bulk of Notre Dame’s wins against St. John’s came in foil as they posted a dominating 8-1 mark in the discipline. Castellani led the group with a 3-0 record, while Mark Kubik went 2-0 and Hodges, Schirtz and Bentley had one win apiece.
Women’s Recap
The Notre Dame’s women got their season off to a strong start with an 18-9 win over Columbia-Barnard that included a perfect 9-0 mark in epee, as C. Hurley, Kelley Hurley (San Antonio, Texas) and Ewa Nelip (Katowice, Poland) each posted 3-0 marks.
In foil, the women went 6-3 versus Columbia-Barnard. They also posted a 3-6 mark in sabre. The foilists were led by Hayley Reese (Crestwood, Ky.), who went 3-0 versus Columbia Barnard.
Against St. John’s, the women earned an 18-9 win behind a perfect 9-0 record in foil. Freshman Darsie Malynn (Grapevine, Texas) led the way with three wins, while seniors Adrienne Nott (Pittsford, N.Y.) and Emilie Prot (Limoges, France) each had two wins. Radmilla Sarkisova (Grand Rapids, Mich.) and Reese chipped in with a win apiece, putting Reese at a perfect 4-0 for the day.
C. Hurley also had three epee wins over St. John’s, moving her record to 6-0 on the day.
— ND —