Temple University Athletics
TEMPLE WOMEN'S FENCING SENDS FIVE TO NCAAs AND CONTINUES WINNING TRADITION
10.28.03 | Women's Fencing
The Cherry and White started off the season with the 23rd annual Temple Open where fencers from across the country come to Temple's campus to compete in foil, sabre and epee. Sakinah Shaahid, Jeanne Browne, Nerita Brumell, Sara Forsythe, Aziza Hassan and Stephanie Sargent all advanced to the finals of the Temple Open.
Temple next traveled to the Penn State Open where Shaahid was the only finalist for the Owls, finishing third. The team next competed in the NIWFA Christmas Invitational Tournament in early December. Brumell gave Temple its best result as the 2002 gold medalist in foil.
On January 11th and 12th, the Owls started the dual meet portion of their schedule. Temple defeated rivals Wayne State 20-7, Detroit 24-3, Northwestern 14-13, Cleveland State, 27-0, Fairleigh Dickinson, 19-8, Michigan, 24-3, North Carolina, 21-6, Lawrence, 26-1, and Johns Hopkins, 21-6, while losing to Ohio State, 17-10.
The Cherry and White then went on an eight-meet winning streak that began at home in McGonigle Hall with wins over Rutgers, James Madison, Hunter and Fairleigh Dickinson. The Owls continued their winning streak at Steven's beating Stevens, Haverford and Johns Hopkins. Temple next traveled to Princeton where the Owls defeated James Madison before having their winning streak broken by the host Tigers in a 15-12 loss. The team finished out the meet at Princeton on a high note, defeating Cornell, 16-11.
Temple then rounded out the regular season at Columbia losing to Penn State and St. John's, defeating Penn and then losing to Columbia for an overall team record of 19-5.
On March 1, at the NIWFA Championships, Temple successfully defended its team title against 14 other teams, winning the prestigious Olympian's Trophy for the sixth year in a row. Forsythe finished the NIWFA Championships as the 2003 NIWFA Epée Champion. Browne took home 2003 NIWFA Foil Champion honors. Forsythe, Browne, Brumell and Shaahid were all named to the NIWFA first team all-conference.
At the Mid-Atlantic South Regional Championships, Temple was the only team to qualify all its eligible members. Seven fencers made it to the finals of the Regional Championships and five qualified for the NCAA Championships.
Forsythe, Browne, Hassan, Shaahid and Jenna Remmert each qualified for the NCAA Championships. Shaahid led the way for the Owls, finishing seventh overall and receiving second team All-American honors. Hassan finished 11th in sabre, and received honorable mention honors, while Forsythe finished 16th in epée. Remmert and Browne rounded out the Owls squad, placing 18th and 23rd in foil, respectively.
