Mar. 2, 1997

Notre Dame Fencers Sweep Team Championships

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Notre Dame fencing team placed firstat the Midwestern Team Championships. This is the fourth consecutiveMidwestern Team Championship that the Irish have won since theinception of the competition in 1994. The Irish came in first in allfive weapons. Ohio State placed second in the entire tournament. Ohio State came in second in four weapons; the men’s sabre, men’sfoil, women’s epee and women’s foil. Northwestern claimed the thirdspot in the tournament and their highest finish was second in themen’s epee.

The closest match of the day came in the women’s foilchampionship. The Notre Dame women’s foil team faced a highlycompetitive Ohio State squad in the match. Senior captain Rose Saariregistered two decisive victories, while sophomore Myriah Brown hadthree victories and one loss in the match. Notre Dame won the women’sfoil championship by a score of 9-7. In the women’s epee championshipNotre Dame defeated Ohio State 9-4. In the men’s sabre championshipNotre Dame beat Ohio State 5-2. The Notre Dame men’s foil teamdefeated Ohio State 5-2 for the championship of that weapon. In themen’s epee championship Notre Dame defeated Northwestern 5-1.

At the conclusion of the tournament, the Association of MidwesternFencing Coaches honored former Notre Dame head coach Michael DeCicco. DeCicco guided the Notre Dame fencing team for 34 years (1962-1995). He led Notre Dame to five national championships in his tenure. DeCicco was honored for his invaluable contribution to Americanfencing.

Mar. 1, 1997

Notre Dame Fencers Prove Deserving of No. 1 Seed

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Notre Dame men’s and women’s fencing teamsproved they were deserving of their top seed at the Midwestern TeamChampionships. Both the men’s and women’s squads went undefeated inthe first day of the championships. With their performance, Notre Dameadvanced every weapon to Sunday’s direct-elimination tournament. OhioState, seeded second in the tournament, advanced four of their squadsto Sunday’s action.

The Midwestern Team Championshops changed from thedouble-eliminiation, dual-meet style in favor of a more basictournament. The 12 teams in the tournament were placed into twoseparate pools based on their seeding. The top four teams from eachpool advance to Dunday’s direct-elimination tournament. In Sunday’stournament, Notre Dame will be seeded first in four of the fiveweapons. Wayne State claimed the No. 1 seed in the men’s eppe teamtournament. Ohio State earned the No. 2 seeds in four weapons, women’sepee and foil and sabre.