TEANECK, NJ---Temple fencers Samantha Myles and Ashlee Phillips were crowned foil and sabre champions at the NIWFA Christmas Invitational at Fairleigh Dickinson University on Sunday. Of the eight fencers competing for the Owls, seven advanced to the finals and one to the semifinals. The individual event included 142 participants from 14 schools.
Fifty-five fencers competed in the foil competition with all four Temple foil fencers advancing to the finals. Sophomore Samantha Myles captured the foil championship and was awarded the Evelyn "Terry" Terhune Trophy. Myles's victory marks the second consecutive year and the 17th time in the event's history that a Temple foilist won the title. Temple's Jeanne Browne was crowned foil champion last year. Senior Maryanne Forsythe and freshman Nina Gernes finished 3rd and 4th respectively. Rounding out the foil finalists for Temple was freshman Sabrina Shapiro with a 6th place finish.
Freshman Kaitlyn Uckert was the solo competitor for the Owls in the epee division. She reached the semifinals with a 12th place finish out of 38 competitors. Brenna Rabel of Drew University was awarded the Betty Santelli Trophy for the epee championship.
All three Temple sabre fencers advanced to the finals. Freshman Ashlee Phillips clinched the title of NIWFA Christmas Invitational Sabre Champion and was awarded the NIWFA Trophy. The sabre division was comprised of 49 fencers. Sophomore Kristine Jones and senior Keri Ecker placed 5th and 6th respectively.
"Our strong performance at this tournament was the perfect way to end the semester," said Coach Nikki Franke.
