Dec. 12, 2017
By Joanne Norell
PORTLAND, Ore. – Several fencers with University of Notre Dame ties posted impressive finishes at the most recent US Fencing North America Cup, with five former or current Irish fencers earning podium finishes and three more finishing in the top ten in their respective weapon categories at the Oregon Convention Center.
Alumna and two-time Olympian Courtney Hurley (’13) swiped gold in women’s epee, while sister and three-time Olympian Kelley Hurley (’10) took home bronze in the event. Also with a gold medal was three-time Olympian Gerek Meinhardt (’14, ’15 MBA), who topped the podium in men’s foil.
Current junior women’s foilist Sabrina Massialas won bronze in the Division I event, while Madison Zeiss (’15) finished eighth. In men’s sabre, senior Jonathan Fitzgerald also claimed bronze to round out Irish-centric top-three winners.
Also posting top-10 finishes were senior sabreuse Francesca Russo (sixth) and sophomore men’s epeeist Ariel Simmons (ninth).
The Irish return to collegiate action in January when the squad travels to the East Coast for the St. John’s SuperCup (Jan. 20) and the NYU Invitational (Jan. 21).
December North American Cup
Dec. 8-11, 2017
Portland, Oregon
Oregon Convention Center
Division I Women’s Foil
3T. Sabrina Massialas
8. Madison Zeiss (’15)
24. Samantha Viqueira
33. Stefani Deschner
52. Erin Dietsche
61T. Finnula Mageras
Division I Women’s Sabre
6. Francesca Russo
Division I Women’s Epee
1. Courtney Hurley (’13)
3T. Kelley Hurley (’10)
43. Amanda Sirico
Division I Men’s Foil
1. Gerek Meinhardt (’14, ’15 MBA)
Division I Men’s Sabre
3T. Jonathan Fitzgerald
12. Jonah Shainberg
Division I Men’s Epee
9. Ariel Simmons
45. Dylan French
64. Aidan Antekeier
71. Stephen Ewart
111. Nicholas Hanahan
136. Cole Mallette
Division I Men’s Epee Classification
13. Cole Mallette
–ND–
Joanne Norell, athletics communications assistant director at the University of Notre Dame, has been part of the Fighting Irish athletics communications team since 2014 and coordinates communications efforts for the Notre Dame men’s tennis, women’s tennis and fencing programs, in addition to overseeing production of the football Gameday Magazine. Norell is a 2011 graduate of Purdue University and earned her master’s degree from Georgetown University in 2013.