Temple University Athletics
OWLS SET TO CONTINUE TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE
11.1.03 | Women's Fencing
The coaching staff expects the same success from this year's team. "We have high expectations in terms of competitive results," Coach Nikki Franke said. "There truly is a tradition of excellence for Temple fencing. It's not just a saying, it is something each fencer has to live up to."
Last year, the Cherry and White finished with a team record of 19-5. Five fencers qualified for the NCAA Championships where Sakinah Shaahid placed seventh overall and received second team All-American honors and Aziza Hassan finished 11th and received honorable mention honors.
2003-04 SCHEDULE
Each year the coaching staff schedules tough competition throughout the season to help the Owls improve and prepare for the postseason. "We set up as strong a schedule as we can. We need to be up against the best to see what we have to work on," Franke said.
This year will be no different for the Cherry and White. The fencing team will face the top five teams from last year's NCAA Championships in Notre Dame, Penn State, St. John's, Ohio State and Columbia. Also on this year's schedule are a handful of teams that Temple has not seen in a few years, including Duke, MIT and Brandeis.
The team will start the season in traditional fashion with the Temple Open, which features more than 300 fencers from across the country. After the Temple Open, the Owls will compete in several tournaments including the Northwestern Multi-Meet on November 15th and 16th, the Penn State Open on November 23rd and the National Intercollegiate Women's Fencing Association (NIWFA) Christmas Invitational on December 7th.
Temple will then begin head-to-head competition in the spring semester against other colleges and universities, including Fairleigh Dickinson, Rutgers, James Madison, Cornell, Haverford and Penn. Temple will host two quad meets this season, on January 25th and January 31st.
The coaches are confident that their team will meet the challenges that this year's schedule presents. "These young women have a relentless desire to be successful. It is this desire that will motivate them to work hard in order to meet their goals," Coach Zoila Palacio said.
FOIL
The foil squad will play a key role in many of the matches this season because of its depth and experience. The squad will consist of one senior, one junior, two sophomores and one freshman. Franke will look to senior Nerita Brumell to provide stability for the foil squad this season. "She is the silent leader on the foil squad who's work ethic is a great example for the others," Franke said.
Junior Jeanne Browne worked over the summer to improve and Coach Franke knows that will pay off for Browne and the foil squad. "I'm looking forward to Jeanne having a good year and contributing to the success of the team," Franke said. Sophomores Mary Anne Forsythe and Jenna Remmert also return to foil this season. Franke hopes that Forsythe and Remmert will continue the success they had in their first year with the team. Franke said, "Maryanne improved a great deal last year and will be a key member of the foil squad. Jenna had a tremendous year as a freshman and I look forward to her continued improvement and contribution to the team."
Leigh Adel-Arnold, the newcomer to the foil squad, should also help the team be successful this year. "She's a good addition to the team. I am pleased with how quickly she makes adjustments and she will add to the depth of our foil squad," Franke said.
EPEE
Sara Forsythe and Stephanie Sargent return to the epée squad for their senior season this year. They are joined by sophomore Keri Ecker and newcomer Rachel Eschenbach. Palacio expects the seniors to carry the weight in epée this season. "We will look to the seniors to lead the way for the epée squad," Palacio said. "We are looking forward to Sara and Stephanie having a strong senior season and accomplishing a great deal," Franke said, adding that, "They both have started the year very determined to compete well and enjoy their last season. They will be a key to our success."
The coaching staff will put Ecker's versatility to use, rotating her between epée and sabre this season. "She is a big plus for our team because she can compete in epée and sabre," Franke said. The coaches expect Eschenbach will make a smooth transition from high school fencing to the collegiate ranks as the season progresses. "Rachel is working hard and will adjust well to collegiate fencing," Franke said.
SABRE
Aziza Hassan returns to the sabre squad for her fourth year. "Aziza has improved tremendously in her three seasons with us and I expect her to only get better as the year progresses," Franke said. Hassan is joined by Nnennaya Okoro who is making the jump from foil to sabre this season and junior Amanda Gerwer who brings experience to the squad. Newcomers Lauren Riesebeck and Kaitlyn White will easily make the adjustment from high school fencing to competing on the collegiate level.
Palacio is depending on Hassan's experience to lead the sabre squad this season. "Aziza is a strong and quiet leader. I am looking for her to take the squad where it needs to go this year," Palacio said. Nnenna has been working with sabre since the spring and the coaches are confident that she will only get better. "Nnenna's experience in foil will help her make the transition into sabre. She attended a sabre camp this summer and has already shown tremendous improvement. Her contributions to the team will be invaluable," Palacio said. "She will improve quickly as the season progresses," Franke added.
Gerwer has been sidelined with a knee injury since the end of regular season competition last year. The coaches hope to have her back competing by spring. The newcomers will make the sabre squad competitive and will give it depth. "We look to Lauren to be a key contributor to the sabre squad" Franke said, adding that, "Kait is switching from foil to sabre and is very eager to compete and has adjusted well."
