Temple University Athletics
Saturday, October 27
Student Pavillion
All Day
Temple University
vs
33rd Annual TEMPLE OPEN
Photo by: Mitchell Leff
Fencing Holds 33rd Annual Temple Open This Weekend
10.26.12 | Women's Fencing
PHILADELPHIA - Beginning this Saturday, October 27, the Temple women's fencing team led by head coach Nikki Franke is set to host the 33rd Annual Temple Fencing Open in the Student Pavilion. The two-day individual collegiate fencing meet is the largest of its kind in its nation.
“This meet really give us— the coaches and the fencers— an idea of where we are, what we need to work on and what we need to accomplish before we have our first dual meet, Franke said. “It's nice to be able to get some competitive fencing under our belt before that first collegiate meet”
Prior to the Temple Open, which was first held in 1979, there used to be a meet at Cornell every year. When the coach there at the time left, Cornell stopped hosting it. There was a real need for a preseason tournament, so Coach Franke organized and started it at Temple.
In the early years of the meet, participation was good, but nowhere near the size of what it is now.
"We have just expanded and grown to the point where now we have about 600 fencers coming this weekend for a two-day tournament," Franke said. "It has grown to be huge."
Fencing action on Saturday will feature women's foil, epee and sabre. Weapons check begins at 7:00 a.m. for women's foil, with competition beginning shortly after. On Sunday,the men's competition begins with weapons check for epee at 7:00 a.m.
Over 30 schools are on the card for the Temple Open, including the Temple women's and club team. The Owls return 10 letterwinners from last season, with the team headlined by two seniors in Jill Bratton and Mikayla Varadi. National contenders Penn and Penn State, along with North Carolina-Chapel Hill and New York University will be competing as well.
“This meet really give us— the coaches and the fencers— an idea of where we are, what we need to work on and what we need to accomplish before we have our first dual meet, Franke said. “It's nice to be able to get some competitive fencing under our belt before that first collegiate meet”
Prior to the Temple Open, which was first held in 1979, there used to be a meet at Cornell every year. When the coach there at the time left, Cornell stopped hosting it. There was a real need for a preseason tournament, so Coach Franke organized and started it at Temple.
In the early years of the meet, participation was good, but nowhere near the size of what it is now.
"We have just expanded and grown to the point where now we have about 600 fencers coming this weekend for a two-day tournament," Franke said. "It has grown to be huge."
Fencing action on Saturday will feature women's foil, epee and sabre. Weapons check begins at 7:00 a.m. for women's foil, with competition beginning shortly after. On Sunday,the men's competition begins with weapons check for epee at 7:00 a.m.
Over 30 schools are on the card for the Temple Open, including the Temple women's and club team. The Owls return 10 letterwinners from last season, with the team headlined by two seniors in Jill Bratton and Mikayla Varadi. National contenders Penn and Penn State, along with North Carolina-Chapel Hill and New York University will be competing as well.
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