March 23, 2011
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame men’s and women’s fencing teams each remained atop their respective editions of the United States Fencing Coaches Association’s (USFCA) final polls of the 2011 season, it was announced Tuesday. The teams now head to Columbus, Ohio, for the 2011 NCAA Championships, which will be contested at the French Field House and St. John Arena, Thursday through Sunday (March 24-27).
The men and women earned No. 1 overall rankings in each of the three in-season polls, capturing the top spot in the preseason rankings, as well as prior to the Midwest Fencing Championships and now in this the final edition.
This season the women put together another undefeated season, posting a record of 29-0 to extend their unbeaten streak to 88 straight matches. The streak ranks as the longest winning streak for the women since beginning the program back in 1977. It bests the previous high mark of 75 straight wins from 1993-96. The men, meanwhile, saw their winning streak snapped at 80 consecutive bouts but still rebounded to finish the season with a 29-1 overall record.
The top-ranked squads now turn their attention to the NCAA Championshps, as four Irish fencers earned automatic bids to this year’s competition. Women’s sabreist Eileen Hassett (Beaverton, Ore.), women’s foilist Rachel Beck (Tucson, Ariz.), men’s sabreist Avery Zuck (Portland, Ore.) and men’s foilist Ariel DeSmet (Troutdale, Ore.), claimed gold medals at the 2011 NCAA Midwest Regionals to earn an automatic bid.
All told, the Irish qualified the maximum 12 fencers for the upcoming championship. Joining the quartet of automatic qualifiers are women’s sabreist Lian Osier (Battle Ground, Wash.), women’s foilist Hayley Reese (Crestwood, Ky.), women’s epeeists Courtney Hurley (San Antonio, Texas) and Ewa Nelip (Katowice, Poland), men’s sabreist Barron Nydam (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.), men’s foilist Reggie Bentley (Little Rock, Ark.) and men’s epeeists James Kaull (Washington, D.C.) and Brent Kelly (Grapevine, Texas).
At least one of the Irish fencing teams has now held sole possession of the top spot in 10 of the past 11 seasons (2001-06, 2008-11). Furthermore, the Notre Dame women now have been ranked number one in seven of the past eight years (all but ’07).
As has become the custom on the Notre Dame campus, the traditional lighted #1 sign will remain atop Grace Hall, and a #1 flag will continue to fly outside the Irish athletic department offices at the Joyce Center.
Check back with und.com later for a complete preview as the 2011 NCAA fencing championship approaches.
Men's USFCA Poll - 3/22/11Team (Previous rank in parenthesis)1. Notre Dame (1)2. St. John's (NY) (2)3. Harvard (2)4. Penn State (4)5. Ohio State (5)6. Princeton (7)7. Duke (8)8. Pennsylvania (6)9. Stanford (10)10. Yale (9)
Others receiving votes: Air Force, Columbia, North Carolina, NYU, Sacred Heart, UC-San Diego, Brandeis
Women's USFCA Poll - 3/22/11Team (Previous rank in parenthesis)1. Notre Dame (1)2. Princeton (3)3. St. John's (NY) (4)4. Penn State (5)5. Ohio State (2)6. Harvard (8)7. Temple (7)8. Northwestern (6)9. Columbia-Barnard (10)10. Duke (9)t. Pennsylvania (NR)
Others receiving votes: Cornell, Brown, Stanford, Yale, North Carolina
–ND–