Fencers Head to Regionals

With the entire campus caught up in basketball fever, some of Harvard’s other winter sports are due recognition as well: in particular, the Crimson men and women’s fencing teams, who are heading to Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., this Sunday to compete in the NCAA regional championships. Last year Harvard qualified the maximum of 12 fencers for national competition and is hoping to repeat the feat this year.

Competition is divided into three blade classes: the foil—a light thrusting weapon, the epee—a heavier blade used for thrusting, and the sabre—used more for slashing. Each gender can qualify two fencers in each class, and the national championship will take place in Columbus, Ohio, later in March. Men’s and women’s competition points are combined at the end of competition, so everyone who makes it to the championships will be representing the Crimson together.

The men’s team has found incredible success this season, both as a team and individually. The squad goes into regionals with a 19-2 record, and several of its members have received international acclaim. Freshman Michael Raynis from California was selected to represent the United States in the World Junior Fencing Championships (WJFC), and his teammate sophomore Ben White will also attend as a representative of his home country England. The WJFC will be held in Jordan only five days after the NCAA championships.

The women’s team has had a strong season as well. Led by freshman Alexandra Kiefer, sophomore Katherine Chou, and junior Shelby Macleod, the team marched to an 18-5 record over the course of the season. It swept the Beanpot last month, making Harvard’s women fencing the only team to ever win the Beanpot title over its four-year history.