Both Notre Dame epee squads put on command performances Saturday.

Notre Dame Remains Undefeated on Day One of DeCicco Duals

Feb. 7, 2015

NOTRE DAME Day 1 Results Get Acrobat Reader

Complete Results – All Teams Get Acrobat Reader

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame fencing program celebrated senior day and head coach Gia Kvaratskhelia’s birthday Saturday with a perfect 8-0 (4-0 men and 4-0 women) mark, besting Wayne State, Cleveland State, Lawrence and Detroit on the first day of the two-day DeCicco Duals event.

With several of their well-known starters absent due to international competition, the Irish maintained a strangle-hold on the competition, beating Cleveland State 23-4 (men’s) and 26-1 (women’s), Wayne State 23-4 (men’s) and 25-2 (women’s), Lawrence 21-6 (men’s) and 25-2 (women’s), and finishing Detroit 24-3 (men’s) and 26-1 (women’s). They had a bye in the first round.

” I think the kids who don’t get to travel much performed outstanding today,” Kvaratkshelia said. “Their performance was great, and that was really important to see, to know they’re ready to go [to ACCs].

“We are working on multiple levels right now; some of our athletes are competing internationally at World Cups and Pan American Games, and some are here, so we will be evaluating all of those performances to put the finishing touches together these next two weeks,” Kvaratskhelia continued.

In the second round against Cleveland State, the women’s epee and women’s foil teams logged perfect 9-0 marks, while women’s sabre, men’s epee and men’s sabre all went 8-1. Men’s foil earned a 7-2 record against the Ohio Vikings squad.

With two rounds of competition done, the team took a brief intermission to honor their 11 graduating seniors in a senior day celebration. The women’s squad recognized captains Nicole Ameli, Ashley Severson, and Madison Zeiss in addition to sabreuse Mary Regan, while the men’s squad honored captains Dale Purdy and Ariel DeSmet in addition to foilists Alan Markow and Gabriel Acuña, sabreist Billy Meckling and epeeists Ryan McDonough and Mark O’Dea.

“Oh my gosh, it’s so hard to replace this class – Ariel, Madi[son Zeiss], Ashley, Nik-Nik [Ameli]; they are the proven competitors for us, the leaders of this team,” Kvaratskhelia admitted. “But hopefully, we have worked diligently with the next generation to step up in their roles next season.”

In round three versus Wayne State, women’s foil set the gold standard with their 9-0 mark, while women’s epee, women’s sabre, men’s epee and men’s sabre all logged 9-0 records. Men’s foil earned their second 7-2 mark of the day.

In round four against Lawrence, women’s foil continued to dominate (9-0), while women’s epee, women’s sabre, men’s epee and men’s foil all etched 8-1 marks. Men’s sabre earned a close 5-4 victory against the Wisconsin Vikings entourage.

In the final round of the day, the women’s team was nearly undefeated as both epee and foil logged 9-0 records. Women’s sabre finished 8-1, while the men’s team saw the epee squad go 9-0, the foil team, 8-1, and the sabre squad, 7-2.

The second day of competition begins tomorrow at 10am, as club teams from Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Indiana and Bradley all make the trek to South Bend. Results will be periodically posted on team social media accounts throughout the day.

Full Results

Round 1:

Cleveland St. v. Lawrence

· Lawrence men W, 16-11 (ME, 5-4; MF, 5-4; MS, 6-3)

· Lawrence women W, 18-9 (WE, 8-1; WF, 4-5; WS, 6-3)

Wayne St. v. Detroit

· Wayne St. men W, 14-13 (ME, 6-3; MF, 8-1; MS, 3-6)

· Wayne St. women W, 23-4 (WE, 6-3; WF, 8-1; WS, 9-0)

Round 2:

Notre Dame v. Cleveland St.

· Notre Dame men W, 23-4 (ME, 8-1; MF, 7-2; MS, 8-1)

· Notre Dame women W, 26-1 (WE, 9-0; WF, 9-0; WS, 8-1)

Wayne St. v. Lawrence

· Lawrence men W, 16-11 (ME, 3-6; MF, 7-2; MS, 9-0)

· Lawrence women L, 9-18 (WE, 5-4; WF, 4-5; WS, 0-9)

Round 3:

Notre Dame v. Wayne St.

· Notre Dame men W, 23-4 (ME, 8-1; MF, 7-2; MS, 8-1)

· Notre Dame women W, 25-2 (WE 8-1; WF, 9-0; WS, 8-1)

Detroit v. Lawrence

· Lawrence men W, 22-5 (ME, 3-6; MF, 8-1; MS, 8-1)

· Lawrence women W, 17-10 (WE, 6-3; WF, 6-3; WS, 5-4)

Round 4:

Notre Dame v. Lawrence

· Notre Dame men W, 21-6 (ME, 8-1; MF, 8-1; MS, 5-4)

· Notre Dame women W, 25-2 (WE, 8-1; WF, 9-0; WS, 8-1)

Detroit v. Cleveland St.

· Cleveland St. men W, 20-7 (ME, 5-4; MF, 9-0; MS, 6-3)

· Cleveland St. women W, 16-6 (WE, 3-6; WF, 9-0; WS, 4-0)

Round 5:

Notre Dame v. Detroit

· Notre Dame men W, 24-3 (ME, 9-0; MF, 8-1; MS, 7-2)

· Notre Dame women W, 26-1 (WE, 9-0; WF, 9-0; WS, 8-1)

Wayne St. v. Cleveland St.

· Cleveland St. men W, 15-12 (ME, 3-6; MF, 6-3; MS, 6-3)

· Cleveland St. women L, 9-18 (WE, 2-7; WF, 5-4; WS, 2-7)

Lizzie Mikes,

Media Services Coordinator

–ND–