Senior Grant Hodges

Irish Complete First Day Of Competition At Duke Home Meet

Feb. 9, 2013

DURHAM, N.C. – The University of Notre Dame men’s fencing team wrapped up the first wave of competition Saturday at the Duke Fencing Home Meet inside Card Gym.

The No. 2 Irish (12-7) earned a 17-10 win over Johns Hopkins, while dropping a pair of narrow decisions to No. 1 Penn State (11-16) and No. 10 Duke (12-15).

Senior James Kaull paced the epee squad with a 6-3 effort in the day’s three dual tilts, logging a 2-1 bout record in each match-up. Jack Piasio added a 2-0 mark against Johns Hopkins to aid in the 6-3 squad victory.

Senior Grant Hodges was a standout in men’s foil, going a perfect 3-0 in bouts against Duke. Hodges closed the competition with a 6-3 head-to-head record. Junior Nick Kubik contributed a 2-1 slate against Johns Hopkins.

Freshman John Hallsten and senior Jason Choy led the Irish men’s sabre team to the best won-loss record (17-10) of all Notre Dame weapon squads. Hallsten and Choy each shut out John Hopkins opponents (3-0) in combining for 13 of the squads 17 victories.

The Notre Dame women are scheduled to take the strip Sunday at 8 a.m. at the Duke Home Meet.

Duke Fencing Home Meet
Durham, N.C.

No. 1 Penn State 16, No. 2 Notre Dame 11 (Epee: 4-5, Foil: 2-7, Sabre: 5-4)
No. 2 Notre Dame 17, Johns Hopkins 10 (Epee: 6-3, Foil: 4-5, Sabre: 7-2)
No. 10 Duke 15, No. 2 Notre Dame 12 (Epee: 3-6, Foil: 4-5, Sabre 5-4)

–ND–