Temple University Athletics
Head Coach Nikki Franke
Franke Recruits Five Newcomers For Class of 2016
8.29.12 | Women's Fencing
PHILADELPHIA— Temple Women's Fencing head coach Nikki Franke has announced her recruiting class for the 2012-13 season, which will begin Oct. 27 when the Owls host the 33rd Annual Temple Open. Among all the new students beginning their time at Temple University this week, five will be joining the women's fencing team, including: Demitria Antipas, Jessica Hall, Petea Khan, Fatima Laragaespada and Olivia Wynn.
The five newcomers join a squad that finished No. 10 at the NCAA Championships, after earning a ranking as high as No. 7 in the nation during the season. Overall, the Owls concluded the 2011-12 season with a 24-8 record and their 16th straight NIWFA Championship.
"I am very happy with the quality of fencers we have joining our program this season," head coach Nikki Franke said. "They are all hard workers and we're looking forward to steady growth throughout their time here at Temple. They add considerable depth to our roster. With everyone on the team working hard, we should have an excellent year this season."
Demitria Antipas
Antipas is one of the three freshmen foilists added to Franke's program. A native of Stony Brook, N.Y., Antipas attended Ward Melville High School and is a club fencer at Mission Fencing Center. She earned a gold medal in the Division II Women's Foil 2011 National Championships. Her high school success was hard to miss, as she went undefeated in dual meets during her entire career—posting a personal record of 115-0. For her accomplishments, she was named the Suffolk County Individual Champion three times, while being coached by former Temple fencer Jennie Dhondt Salmon, '94. Antipas will major in psychology at Temple.
Jessica Hall
Joining the Temple fencing team, Hall is the only one of the newcomers that will compete in epee. While attending Parsippany High School (N.J.), she earned a silver medal in the 2011 New Jersey State High School Individual Championships, while fencing for her club- the Paul Westbrook Foundation. Her success didn't stop there last season, as she was also a finalist at the Division II 2011 National Championships and at the 2011 Division IA National Championships. Hall will major in Biology.
Petra Khan
Making her way from Beaverton, Ore., Khan is the lone sabre fencer for the class of 2016. Before arriving to Temple, Khan is coming off her Division II North American Cup gold medal, which she earned last December. In 2011, Khan battled successfully enough to claim the silver medal in the Division III North American Cup and be a finalist at the Division II event. A fencer for her home club gym—Washington Fencing Academy—Khan will pursue a degree in anthropology while fencing at Temple.
Fatima Largaespada
Largaespada, a foilist from Puebla, Mexico, is the only international fencer on Temple's roster. Coming to join the Owls', she brings with her great prior success, including being a member of the Mexican Junior National Team and earning a bronze medal at the Cadet Pan-American Championships. In addition, she also competed at the Junior World Championships in 2011 and 2012. Largaespada fences for her home club—Club de Esgrima Simont-Zeron and Salle Pouj. While fencing at Temple, Largaespada will major in journalism.
Olivia Wynn
Wynn is the third foilist recruited by Franke for the class of 2016. A native of Somerville, N.J., Wynn showed leadership qualities, as she served as the team captain while fencing for Somerville High School, where she was named the Most Valuable Player for her senior year efforts. Whole fencing for her high school, she qualified for the New Jersey Individual State Championships. Wynn, a fencer for the Maestro fencing Club, will concentrate on pursuing a degree in Kinesiology at Temple.
The five newcomers join a squad that finished No. 10 at the NCAA Championships, after earning a ranking as high as No. 7 in the nation during the season. Overall, the Owls concluded the 2011-12 season with a 24-8 record and their 16th straight NIWFA Championship.
"I am very happy with the quality of fencers we have joining our program this season," head coach Nikki Franke said. "They are all hard workers and we're looking forward to steady growth throughout their time here at Temple. They add considerable depth to our roster. With everyone on the team working hard, we should have an excellent year this season."
Demitria Antipas
Antipas is one of the three freshmen foilists added to Franke's program. A native of Stony Brook, N.Y., Antipas attended Ward Melville High School and is a club fencer at Mission Fencing Center. She earned a gold medal in the Division II Women's Foil 2011 National Championships. Her high school success was hard to miss, as she went undefeated in dual meets during her entire career—posting a personal record of 115-0. For her accomplishments, she was named the Suffolk County Individual Champion three times, while being coached by former Temple fencer Jennie Dhondt Salmon, '94. Antipas will major in psychology at Temple.
Jessica Hall
Joining the Temple fencing team, Hall is the only one of the newcomers that will compete in epee. While attending Parsippany High School (N.J.), she earned a silver medal in the 2011 New Jersey State High School Individual Championships, while fencing for her club- the Paul Westbrook Foundation. Her success didn't stop there last season, as she was also a finalist at the Division II 2011 National Championships and at the 2011 Division IA National Championships. Hall will major in Biology.
Petra Khan
Making her way from Beaverton, Ore., Khan is the lone sabre fencer for the class of 2016. Before arriving to Temple, Khan is coming off her Division II North American Cup gold medal, which she earned last December. In 2011, Khan battled successfully enough to claim the silver medal in the Division III North American Cup and be a finalist at the Division II event. A fencer for her home club gym—Washington Fencing Academy—Khan will pursue a degree in anthropology while fencing at Temple.
Fatima Largaespada
Largaespada, a foilist from Puebla, Mexico, is the only international fencer on Temple's roster. Coming to join the Owls', she brings with her great prior success, including being a member of the Mexican Junior National Team and earning a bronze medal at the Cadet Pan-American Championships. In addition, she also competed at the Junior World Championships in 2011 and 2012. Largaespada fences for her home club—Club de Esgrima Simont-Zeron and Salle Pouj. While fencing at Temple, Largaespada will major in journalism.
Olivia Wynn
Wynn is the third foilist recruited by Franke for the class of 2016. A native of Somerville, N.J., Wynn showed leadership qualities, as she served as the team captain while fencing for Somerville High School, where she was named the Most Valuable Player for her senior year efforts. Whole fencing for her high school, she qualified for the New Jersey Individual State Championships. Wynn, a fencer for the Maestro fencing Club, will concentrate on pursuing a degree in Kinesiology at Temple.
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