Women Fencers Roll; Men Fizzle Late

1996

Sports Statistics

Record: Women--11-1, 5-1 Ivy Men--5-5, 1-4 Ivy

Ivy Finish: Women--Second Men--Fifth

Coach: Branimir Zivkovic

1997

Women: One Win Away

Fencing at Harvard requires mental toughness of the toughest sort, as participants must endure a season that lasts from late November all the way into April. For the Harvard women's fencing team, it seemed that every month brought new conquests.

The team stormed through its competition in the 1996-97 season, finishing with an 11-1 record overall, including 5-1 in the Ivy League. Most of the season appeared to be a mere tune-up for the fencers, as the first weekend brought romps over MIT, Brown, Tufts and Boston University, with no team even able to come within 10 points of Harvard.

As the women tore into the December stretch, the team rolled on, stretching its record to 7-0 with wins over Brandeis, Columbia and St. John's. Harvard held tight against the latter two, managing key wins at the end of the meets to snare 17-15 and 19-13 wins, respectively.

After taking a break through January for reading period and exams, the fencers returned in early February to resume their hunt for the Ivy League crown. Harvard snagged two key Ivy matches from Cornell and Pennsylvania, again by wide margins.

After a 28-4 romp over Wellesley, Harvard stood at 10-0 overall, 4-0 in the Ivy League. Tied atop the standings was Yale, and the Crimson traveled to face the Eli on February 22.

Harvard dropped its only contest of the year against Yale, a heart-breaking 18-14 decision. Harvard's dual-meet season came to a close the same day with a 26-6 win over Princeton.

The fencers then fared well on the national scene, placing third in the IFA Championships and then Eighth in the NCAA Championships.

The Crimson racked up numerous individual honors, especially in the Ivy League. Seniors Jill Katz (18-2 Ivy) and Viki Danics took home first team foil honors.

Co-captain Mallory Stewart garnered First Team Epee honors, as did Valerie Uzzell. Co-captain Brindisi Chan snared a spot on the Second Team Foil squad as well.

Men: From Peak to Valley

For the Harvard men's fencing squad, it was a tale of two seasons.

Traveling with the women fencers in an identical schedule, the men mimicked the success of the women's team for the first five matches of the season. In fact the first matches of the season seemed to predict a stellar season for the men--Harvard crushed MIT, Brown, Tufts and Boston University in convincing fashion, at least doubling up each opponent in scoring.

In its first match of December, Harvard edged Brandeis 14-13, to extend its record to 5-0. Unfortunately, that victory would be the Crimson's last in the match season.

Harvard dropped a close 16-11 match at Columbia, then was pummeled by St. John's, 21-6. After the exam period, Harvard dropped another close one to Penn, then finished its match season with losses to Yale and Princeton.

Still Harvard would fare relatively well on the national scale, finishing fifth out of 11 teams at the IFA Championships, then snagging eighth place at the NCAA Championships.

Several individuals stood out for Harvard despite the team's lackluster second half. Senior Greg Chang occupied a spot on the First Team Foil, and junior Michal Gattnar held a place on the First Team Epee with an 11-1 Ivy mark (27-3 overall). Captain Lee Scheffler garnered Second Team Sabre honors

The Crimson racked up numerous individual honors, especially in the Ivy League. Seniors Jill Katz (18-2 Ivy) and Viki Danics took home first team foil honors.

Co-captain Mallory Stewart garnered First Team Epee honors, as did Valerie Uzzell. Co-captain Brindisi Chan snared a spot on the Second Team Foil squad as well.

Men: From Peak to Valley

For the Harvard men's fencing squad, it was a tale of two seasons.

Traveling with the women fencers in an identical schedule, the men mimicked the success of the women's team for the first five matches of the season. In fact the first matches of the season seemed to predict a stellar season for the men--Harvard crushed MIT, Brown, Tufts and Boston University in convincing fashion, at least doubling up each opponent in scoring.

In its first match of December, Harvard edged Brandeis 14-13, to extend its record to 5-0. Unfortunately, that victory would be the Crimson's last in the match season.

Harvard dropped a close 16-11 match at Columbia, then was pummeled by St. John's, 21-6. After the exam period, Harvard dropped another close one to Penn, then finished its match season with losses to Yale and Princeton.

Still Harvard would fare relatively well on the national scale, finishing fifth out of 11 teams at the IFA Championships, then snagging eighth place at the NCAA Championships.

Several individuals stood out for Harvard despite the team's lackluster second half. Senior Greg Chang occupied a spot on the First Team Foil, and junior Michal Gattnar held a place on the First Team Epee with an 11-1 Ivy mark (27-3 overall). Captain Lee Scheffler garnered Second Team Sabre honors