FENCING

Sunday, March 3, 2002

Knights Place Third at NIWFA Championships
Three athletes earn 1st team all conference; two named to 2nd team
Jillian Peabody named to all-academic team

PHILADELPHIA, PA - The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's fencing team competed at the National Intercollegiate Women's Fencing Association (NIWFA) Championships, narrowly missing a runner-up overall finish, taking home third place team honors behind winner Temple and second-place Johns Hopkins. Fifteen schools were represented at the meet.

Sabina Orsi helped advance the foil team to a second-place finish with a third-place individual showing, being selected first team all-conference.  Victoria Helmer came in sixth and earned second team all-conference.

All three of FDU's epee athletes finished in the top ten with Courtney Brennan posting a third-place individual finish for first team all-conference, leading the epee squad to third place in the team standings. Jillian Peabody placed seventh in epee, earning second-team honors and the Knights' lone bid to the all-academic team. Kathleen Kolakowski finished in ninth.

Cathleen Ferris had a fifth-place showing in sabre for the first team all-conference nod while Sam Hardisty did very well, placing 15th in sabre. The Knights finished sixth overall in the division.

"I'm very proud of all our athletes and their efforts today," said head coach Roger Cummings. "Sue Ou, Allison Baretz and Edwina Gustave are especially to be commended for their tenacious competition and steady improvement."

The Knights are next in action at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships on Saturday, March 9.

Senior Sabina Orsi posted a third place individual finish to lead the foil team to a runner-up title.