Temple University Athletics
HALL OF FAME FENCING COACH NIKKI FRANKE GOES FOR 500TH CAREER WIN THIS WEEKEND
1.18.06 | Women's Fencing
PHILADELPHIA--Temple women's head fencing coach Nikki Franke can earn her 500th overall career win with a victory at this weekend's Quad or Multi Meet at Penn on January 21st and 22nd. The Owls will compete against Penn, Cornell, Northwestern, North Carolina, Haverford, Drew and Rutgers. Franke's current overall record, which dates back to the beginning of the Temple women's fencing program in 1972-73, stands at 499-126-1 (.798).
In her 34th season as Director of Fencing and women's foil coach at Temple University, Franke has led the Temple fencers to 32 postseason appearances and a NCAA Women's Foil Championship in 1991-92. Last season, the Owls finished 17-8 (.690) and were ranked as high as ninth by the United States Fencing Coaches Association.
In addition to the 1992 NCAA Championship, under Franke's direction the Owls finished runner-up in 1987 and 1993; placed third in 1985 and 1991 and took fourth place in 1983, 1984, 1988, and 1990.
Franke was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame in 2002, the United States Fencing Association Hall of Fame in 1998, and the Temple University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1995. She received the United States Fencing Coaches Association Women's Fencing Coach of the Year honors in 1983, 1987, 1988 and 1991.
An athlete herself, Franke was a member of the 1976 and 1980 U.S. Olympic Teams and was the United States Fencing Association's (USFA) National Foil Champion in 1975 and 1980. She was the runner-up in the national finals in 1978 and finished third in 1976, 1977, and 1979. She was also a member of the fifth place U.S. Team in the 1973 World University Games in Moscow and a member of the squad that competed in 1977 in Bulgaria.
Her international fencing credits include competing in the 1975 and 1979 Pan American Games. In 1975 she captured a silver medal in the individual foil competition and a bronze in 1979. Both years she helped the United States team place third.
A New York City native, Franke graduated with honors from Brooklyn College in 1972 where she was a four-year letterwinner, placing third at the 1972 NIWFA National Championships. While at BC she was named an NIWFA All-American.
Franke received a master's degree in Health Education from Temple in 1975 and completed the doctoral program in 1988. She is currently an Associate Professor in Temple's Department of Public Health.
