2008 Woodie Awards
Men's Fencing Excels at MACFA Championships; Ducks Capture Sabre and Foil Team Championships
Brian Granata
Issue date: 3/2/07 Section: Sports
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The Stevens Institute of Technology men's fencing team saved its best performance for last as the Ducks captured both the sabre and foil team titles at the 55th Annual Middle Atlantic Collegiate Fencing Association Championships, which were held on Sunday at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va. Stevens, which finished second overall, narrowly missed out on winning the three-weapon conference championship as the Ducks fell one bout short (94-93) to Haverford College in the final standings.
Sunday's performance was remarkable considering that the last time Stevens won a sabre team championship was in 1984. The Ducks had not won a foil title since 1979. In addition, the last time Stevens won two titles at one conference championship occurred in 1972 when the Ducks claimed the foil and epee crowns.
"We really pulled together as a team when it counted the most," head coach Mika'il Sankofa said. "I have nothing but admiration and respect for our team. In just three short seasons, we have bonded and erased a 23-year championship drought in sabre and a 28-year drought in foil; and nearly took the overall title as well. The whole team is numb with excitement as they got a taste this weekend of what it means to have that championship feeling."
The sabre team featured junior captain Matt Paragano , junior Brian Weiner and freshman David Barth. The foil squad consisted of three sophomores - Lowden Charles, Ben Hochberg and Michael Lang.
In epee, Stevens received a strong performance out of senior Piotr Czerechowski, sophomore Josue Saintiche and freshman Steven DiPaola. The epee team peaked at the conference championship en route to a third-place finish.
Stevens received a number of great individual results as the Ducks produced seven finalists, which was the most of any competing school. In foil, Hochberg and Charles finished in second and third place, respectively. In sabre, Barth was third overall while Weiner came in fourth. In epee, DiPaola ended up in third place. Czerechowski and Saintiche finished in fourth and eighth place, respectively.
"Our guys showed that we are a new and upcoming force in our conference," Sankofa said. "We look forward to improving next year by defending our titles and perhaps with a little good fortune winning the overall title as well."
Sunday's performance was remarkable considering that the last time Stevens won a sabre team championship was in 1984. The Ducks had not won a foil title since 1979. In addition, the last time Stevens won two titles at one conference championship occurred in 1972 when the Ducks claimed the foil and epee crowns.
"We really pulled together as a team when it counted the most," head coach Mika'il Sankofa said. "I have nothing but admiration and respect for our team. In just three short seasons, we have bonded and erased a 23-year championship drought in sabre and a 28-year drought in foil; and nearly took the overall title as well. The whole team is numb with excitement as they got a taste this weekend of what it means to have that championship feeling."
The sabre team featured junior captain Matt Paragano , junior Brian Weiner and freshman David Barth. The foil squad consisted of three sophomores - Lowden Charles, Ben Hochberg and Michael Lang.
In epee, Stevens received a strong performance out of senior Piotr Czerechowski, sophomore Josue Saintiche and freshman Steven DiPaola. The epee team peaked at the conference championship en route to a third-place finish.
Stevens received a number of great individual results as the Ducks produced seven finalists, which was the most of any competing school. In foil, Hochberg and Charles finished in second and third place, respectively. In sabre, Barth was third overall while Weiner came in fourth. In epee, DiPaola ended up in third place. Czerechowski and Saintiche finished in fourth and eighth place, respectively.
"Our guys showed that we are a new and upcoming force in our conference," Sankofa said. "We look forward to improving next year by defending our titles and perhaps with a little good fortune winning the overall title as well."
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