Oct. 20, 2010
CINCINNATI, Ohio – – The University of Notre Dame men’s and women’s fencing team claimed three gold medals at the recently completed North American Cup A event at Cincinnati’s convention center. Lian Osier (women’s sabre), Gerek Meinhardt (men’s foil) and Courtney Hurley (women’s epee) each won their respective weapon’s tournament to claim the gold.
In the women’s sabre, Notre Dame turned in a dominant team performance with three members of the squad advancing into the medal rounds (quarterfinals). Osier captured the title after knocking off Ibtihaj Muhammad in the finals. Eileen Hassett finished in third place, falling to Osier in the semifinals by a score of 15-14. Sarah Borrmann, the third Irish member in the final eight, finished in fifth after losing to Osier, 15-13, in their quarterfinal bout.
Abigail Nichols also gained points to her national ranking by finishing 23rd overall.
Meinhardt captured the men’s foil gold with three convincing wins in the medal rounds, defeating Alexander Massialas (15-10), Zain Shaito (15-7) and Race Imboden (15-11). Steve Kubik earned an eighth-place finish, dropping a 14-13 bout to Shaito in the quarterfinals.
Ariel DeSmet (12th), Frederick Bentley (18th) and Nick Kubik (21st) also earned points to their national rankings.
Hurley, a junior on the Irish roster, claimed the women’s epee title after knocking off her sister and former Irish fencer Kelley Hurley in the finals by a count of 15-13. She was the lone member of the current Irish roster to compete in the weapon.
In the men’s sabre, Avery Zuck advanced into the medal rounds and finished fifth overall, falling to the eventual champion Timothy Morehouse (15-6) in a quarterfinal bout. Keith Feldman (18th), Kevin Hassett (22nd) and Alexander Coccia (30th) also earned points to their national rankings.
Four more Irish fencers earned points to their national rankings in the women’s foil as Hayley Reese (13th), Rachel Beck (18th), Grace Hartman (22nd) and Darsie Malynn (23rd) all placed within the top 32 in the weapon.
The Irish fencing team will send individuals to competition next Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 30-Nov. 1) at the USFA Remenyik Open, hosted by Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.
–ND–