The Columbia fencing teams had an incredible weekend at the Western Invitational on November 22-23, going a perfect 17-0. The men’s team remains undefeated, moving to 11-0 after wins against Air Force, UC San Diego, Stanford, Incarnate Word, Brandeis, and Ohio State. The women also shined, improving to 12-0 with victories over Northwestern, Stanford, Tufts, Air Force, Incarnate Word, Denison, Brandeis, and Ohio State.
Will Morrill stood out, finishing with a perfect 15-0 record in men’s sabre. Nick Harvey from College Park also impressed with a 16-2 record in the same category. In men’s epee, Sasha Bezrodnov went 14-2, while Caleb Jeon and Marsel Nagimov each finished 10-3 in men’s foil.
The women’s team had standout performances too. Tamar Gordon achieved a flawless 14-0 in sabre, and Carolina Stutchbury finished 12-0 in foil. Nicole Xuan led with a 13-2 record in epee.
The matches kicked off with the women dominating Northwestern 22-5. The men followed suit with a 24-3 victory over Stanford. Both teams continued to perform strongly throughout the weekend, with notable wins against Air Force and UC San Diego.
As they closed out the tournament, the men faced off against Ohio State in a nail-biting match. After trailing, they managed to tie it up, leading to a final decisive bout, where two-time All-American Samarth Kumbla secured the win with a 5-4 finish. The women also defeated Ohio State impressively, wrapping up the event with a 20-7 victory.
The teamwork and strategy displayed by Columbia not only highlight their skill but also their preparation. Recent studies in sports psychology suggest that a strong team dynamic can significantly influence performance outcomes. By working closely together, athletes can build trust and enhance communication, leading to improved results.
Columbia fencing will next compete in the Brian Palestis Memorial on December 7, hosted by Wagner on Staten Island.
To follow more updates on their progress, you can check out their social media channels like Twitter and Instagram.
