Columbia Fencers Dump Harvard, 20-7

A severe case of stage fright ruined Harvard's chances for its first Ivy League fencing title as Columbia creamed the Crimson Saturday 20-7.

It's been six years since Columbia has lost an Ivy League match, Crimson fencing buffs weren't expecting anything unusual this year until last week, when the Lions barely squeaked by the C.C.N.Y. squad which Harvard clobbered 17-10 earlier in the season.

But the Crimson couldn't shake its inferiority complex. Columbia swept the first round 9-0 and gave up only 12 touch us as Harvard attacked indecisively.

Senior Paul Profeta lost the first bout against Columbia all-American Mark Berger, but won his next two against Berger 5-4 in the second round. The Lions won the sabra competition 6-3 while using seven different men.

Columbia was overhelming in foil, taking sight of the nine matches, mostly with substitutes. Captain Rick Kolombatovich beat Art Baer 5-2 for Harvard's only point in foil, Kolombatovich lost 5-2 to New York Collegiate Invitational foil champion Jeff Kestler.

In epee sophomere Steve Shea surprised Columbia's Guy Barbolini, sixth in the East last year. Harvard's Harry Jergesen defeated Bill Quirk 5-1, and junior Brian Keidan downed Columbia's Rich Kneele 5-1. But Columbia took the other six bouts to win 6-3 in epee.

Columbia, defending national champion, has now won 26 consecutive matches. The Lions should have no trouble clinching their seventh straight Ivy League crown this year. Harvard is 6-2 for the season, but 0-1 in Ivy competition.

The Columbia freshman beat the Crimson 16-11. Harvard's epee team posted a 6-3 victory, but the Baby Lions took foil 6-3 and sabre 7-2. The Yardlings have one win, an 189 pasting of M.I.T., and two losses.