Tigers repeat as overall team champions as women capture three-weapon title

For the men's and women's fencing teams, the Intercollegiate Fencing Association Championship may be unlike any other event of the season. But in New Haven, Conn., this weekend, the Tigers proved that they can produce just the same winning results.

One week after storming through the Ivy League and claiming concurrent titles for the first time ever, the fencing teams returned to Yale this weekend and left with another title — the IFA overall team championship.

Against some of the best teams in the nation, Princeton produced 167 victories — just three more than second-place St. John's — to claim the six-weapon title Saturday.

Tiger standout freshmen Mindy Rostal and Eva Petsch-nigg proved their prowess in Sunday's individual championships as well, taking second and third place, respectively, in the women's foil.

In repeating as the IFA team champion, Princeton relied on the success of the women's foil and epee squads — both of which were victorious — and the strong showings of all three men's squads.

Although the Princeton women could not get past St. John's in the sabre — the Red Storm boast the former national champion — the Tigers were pleased with their fourth-place finish in the relatively new event.

"Sabre's always up in the air because it's a new sport," junior captain Lisa Leslie said.

In the foil, Princeton tied Yale with 35 victories and lost the head-to-head, 2-1, but overwhelming indicators gave the Tigers the squad victory.

In addition, Princeton was the only squad to have three fencers make it to the final round of eight in the foil event. Rostal came in second place after ending the regular slate of bouts tied for first place with Susan Jennings of Columbia.

In her third-to-last bout of the day, Rostal stepped awkwardly as she hit her opponent and pulled a muscle on the top of her foot. She completed her last two bouts, but the pain prevented her from fencing with Jennings to determine first place. Rostal chose not to risk further injury — NCAA Regionals are this weekend — and settled for second.

"Once I got [to the tiebreaker], I was disappointed," Rostal said. "I had beaten [Jennings] twice that day, 5-4 and 5-3."

It was in the epee where the Princeton women really shone against a strong squad from St. John's, outpacing the Red Storm by four victories.

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"St. John's has a really amazing epee team," Leslie said. "We fenced really well head-to-head. That was really huge."

On the men's side, Princeton's sabre squad finished with 20 victories, good for fourth place. Columbia eked out a foil squad victory over the Tigers. Both teams tied with 29 victories, but indicators pushed the Lions to the squad title. In the epee, St. John's dominated all comers with 31 victories to Princeton's second-place 23.

The tournament provided the Tigers with a good warmup for NCAA Regionals, which begin this weekend in State College, Pa. The teams' success against the stiff competition at IFAs should give Princeton confidence.