THREE FENCERS ADVANCE TO SEMIFINALS AT PENN STATE OPEN

STATE COLLEGE---The Cherry and White headed to Happy Valley today to get their first taste of competitive fencing action at the Penn State Open. Temple advanced two foilists, Jenna Remmert and Nina Gernes, and epeeist Melissa Forsythe to the semifinals. Freshman Melissa Forsythe proved the strength of this year's recruiting class by defeating two time defending NCAA Epee Champion Anna Garina in the second round. Forsythe was knocked out by Garina later in the day.

The event is an individual tournament which boasts the strongest teams of the East Coast and Midwest. Competitors included defending NCAA Champion Notre Dame, NCAA 2^nd place Ohio State, NCAA 3^rd place Penn State as well as Wayne State, Harvard, Yale, and Princeton.

The foil competition had 45 entries. Two of the foil semifinalists were Owls, Remmert and Gernes. Remmert looking this season to return to the NCAA Championships finished 11^th, Temple's best of the day. Freshman Nina Gernes, last year's NJ High School Fencer of the Year, finished her first collegiate event 16^th. Senior Maryanne Forsythe placed 19^th, sophomore Samantha Myles 25^th, and freshman Sabrina Shapiro finished 27^th in her first appearance as a Temple Fencer.

Melissa Forsythe was the solo epee finalist placing 15^th out of 50 entries. Her winning play against a former NCAA champion signals a bright season for the Owls. Sophomores Marla Nacey, Brianna Ferrara, and Ninah Bell finished 23^rd, 25^th, and 37^th respectively. In her first collegiate experience freshman Kaitlyn Uckert placed 45^th

Forty-two entries comprised the sabre competition. Sophomore Kristine Jones finished just slightly out of semifinals reach at 18^th and senior Keri Ecker placed 26^th.

"Today was the first collegiate competition for the freshmen. As a team we will use this event to prepare for our first home meet, the Temple Open, that's coming up in two weeks," said Coach Brad Baker.

Temple University Athletics

THREE FENCERS ADVANCE TO SEMIFINALS AT PENN STATE OPEN

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