PHILADELPHIA---The Temple women's fencing team capitalized on the early signing period by signing sabre standouts A'Sha Brumant (South Orange, NJ) and Christine Griffith (Roseville, CA) to National Letters of Intent. Both Brumant and Griffith will be freshmen at Temple in 2006-07 and compete in sabre.
Both women are currently ranked nationally. Brumant is ranked No. 27 and Griffith is ranked No. 28 in junior women's sabre in the United States.
"This is the first year that the fencing team at Temple has used the early signing period and we are definitely looking forward to the addition of both A'Sha and Christie to our program," said sabre coach Bradley Baker.
Last season Brumant was the #2 ranked women's sabre fencer in New Jersey high school competition and was named First-Team All-State. She was a member of the bronze medal team in Division I Women's Sabre at the 2005 US National Championships, where she competed alongside Temple alumna fencer Aziza Hassan ('04). She competes for her high school, Columbia, and the Fencers Club.
Griffith currently trains at the Sacramento Fencing Club. Last year, she was the Junior Sectional Champion for the Pacific Coast Section in women's sabre and has competed in North American Cup and Junior Olympic tournaments. In 2004-05 she earned a world junior ranking as high as 97th while competing in the Junior World Cups.
"It's exciting to add two undeniably talented and hard-working fencers to the team," said Baker. I'm expecting them to provide their nation-level experience and demonstrated excellence to the already solid nucleus on the squad."
Temple returns to action this Sunday (Dec. 4) at the NIWFA Christmas Invitational at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, NJ beginning at 9 a.m. The team will then kick-off the new year by hosting its Alumnae Meet January 8 at McGonigle Hall.
