Temple University Athletics
Fencing Announces Four For 2007 Season
9.19.07 | Women's Fencing
Sept. 19, 2007
PHILADELPHIA- Temple fencing head coach Nikki Franke, entering her 36 season in 2007, has announced four freshmen, including two ranked in the Top 20 among nationally ranked Junior fencers, for the Class of 2011. The most recent Owls are Audrey Barroso, Alyssa Lombardi, Samantha Pascarelli, and Grace Wu.
"We are extremely excited about the group of freshmen we have this year," said Franke. "They all come with a wealth of national level experience and are very talented."
Barroso, a Atlanta, GA. native and member of the Atlanta Fencing club, finished first at the 2006 Junior Pan American games in sabre. In 2006, Barroso was ranked in the Top 20 for fencers under 20.
"Audrey has excellent national and international fencing experience," Franke said. "She is a welcome addition to our sabre squad and we are looking forward to her contributing to the team's success this year."
Lombardi who hails from Setauket, NY, is currently ranked as one of the Top 20 under 20 fencers in the nation. In 2006, Lombardi earned a bronze medal at the Junior Olympics for epee. A member of the Ward Millville high school fencing team, her team was undefeated league and county champions for the past six years. Lombardi was also United States Achievement Academy All-American Scholar and member of the National Honor Society.
"Alyssa is a very exciting and relentless competitor," noted Franke. "She is very aggressive which will be good for our epee squad. As a senior, she was the top ranked high school epee fencer in Long Island. She was coached by one of our Alumnae, Jennie Salmon at Mission Fencing Academy."
Pascarelli, a Stony Brook, NY. native was a member of the Mission Fencing Academy and successfully placed in counties in Long Island the past three years. In 2006, Pascarelli had her highest finish, coming in second for sabre.
"Samantha is also from Long Island and fenced at Ward Melville High School, the same championship high school team as Alyssa," said Franke. "She was coached by Jennie's husband, an excellent sabre coach, Jeff Salmon."
Wu, a Beaverton, OR. native is presently ranked as one of the top 20 under 20 fencers in the nation. Wu placed 11th as a semi-finalist in epee and second in the team event in the 2007 Summer National Championships. Wu was a member for the Northwest Fencing Center in Beaverton and was on the National Honors Society.
"Grace comes to Temple with extensive national competitive experience," said Franke. "She is a very hard worker and is very coachable. She fenced for one of the top epee coaches in the U.S., Michael Marx."
Once again, the Temple coaching staff has scheduled tough competition this season, kicking off November 3-4 at the Temple Open. This season's schedule includes all but two teams that were ranked in the Top 10 last season. The Owls will also host the Philadelphia Invitational on January 13, 2008.
