Temple University Athletics
Sunday, December 7
Fairfield, Conn.
All Day
Temple University
vs
Sacred Heart Meet (Harvard, NYU, Sacred Heart, Vassar)
Head Coach Nikki Franke and Olivia Wynn
Photo by: Cameron Resnick
Fencing Begins Team Competition on Sunday at Sacred Heart; Franke Goes for Win No. 700
12.4.14 | Women's Fencing
PHILADELPHIA - After a couple of individual meets, the nationally ranked Temple fencing team will travel to its first dual meets of the season at Sacred Heart on Sunday, Dec. 7. Temple head coach Nikki Franke has 699 career wins heading into Sunday's duals, which will see the Owls face a total of four teams.
The meet participants in addition to Temple are host Sacred Heart, NYU, Harvard and Vassar. Harvard was ranked third in the final CollegeFencing360 Poll of the 2013-14 season, and finished fourth among women's teams at the 2014 NCAA Championships.
"It will be a challenging meet," said Franke, noting Harvard's past success and also pointing out Sacred Heart's 17th-place finish among women's teams last season. "NYU always has some strong fencers, Sacred Heart is always very competitive and obviously Harvard, but our goal is to go in there and sweep. I think we'll have a chance to do that if we're fencing well."
Franke said the team is excited to get into team competition after a couple months of practice and individual meets.
"Especially for our newcomers," said Franke, "this will be a great new experience for them. It was unique for us to have a week off for Fall Break, so now we have a short time to get geared up and get ready. But the girls have been very focused in practice and we're really looking forward to Sunday."
Temple was ranked seventh in the final poll of last season, and finished eighth among women's teams at the NCAA Championships. The Owls have a number of new faces this season, including freshman Safa Ibrahim who has been making a name for herself in epee already this year.Â
Ibrahim placed second out of 180 competitors in junior women's epee at the November NAC, and she also tied for third at the Penn State Garret Open while finishing fifth at the Temple Open.
Senior Lauren Rangel-Friedman is the Owls' team captain this year as well as the sabre squad leader. She tied for third in sabre at the Temple Open, as did junior Demi Antipas and freshman Becca Stanford in foil.
Junior Fatima Largaespada, this year's foil squad leader, recently took sixth place at the Penn State Garret Open.
Franke's career record heading into Sunday is 699-196-1. She earned her 600th win during the 2009-10 season, and will be looking for number 700 this weekend. Franke, a former US Olympian, is a four-time US Fencing Coaches Association Coach of the Year and a member of four Halls of Fame including Temple Athletics and the US Fencing Association.
Speaking to earning win 700, Franke credits all those who have been a part of that success.
"It's a tribute to all the teams we've had and all the strong fencers that have come through our program," she said. "They have all contributed to that result. It speaks volumes to the quality of the student-athletes we've had in our program."
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The meet participants in addition to Temple are host Sacred Heart, NYU, Harvard and Vassar. Harvard was ranked third in the final CollegeFencing360 Poll of the 2013-14 season, and finished fourth among women's teams at the 2014 NCAA Championships.
"It will be a challenging meet," said Franke, noting Harvard's past success and also pointing out Sacred Heart's 17th-place finish among women's teams last season. "NYU always has some strong fencers, Sacred Heart is always very competitive and obviously Harvard, but our goal is to go in there and sweep. I think we'll have a chance to do that if we're fencing well."
Franke said the team is excited to get into team competition after a couple months of practice and individual meets.
"Especially for our newcomers," said Franke, "this will be a great new experience for them. It was unique for us to have a week off for Fall Break, so now we have a short time to get geared up and get ready. But the girls have been very focused in practice and we're really looking forward to Sunday."
Temple was ranked seventh in the final poll of last season, and finished eighth among women's teams at the NCAA Championships. The Owls have a number of new faces this season, including freshman Safa Ibrahim who has been making a name for herself in epee already this year.Â
Ibrahim placed second out of 180 competitors in junior women's epee at the November NAC, and she also tied for third at the Penn State Garret Open while finishing fifth at the Temple Open.
Senior Lauren Rangel-Friedman is the Owls' team captain this year as well as the sabre squad leader. She tied for third in sabre at the Temple Open, as did junior Demi Antipas and freshman Becca Stanford in foil.
Junior Fatima Largaespada, this year's foil squad leader, recently took sixth place at the Penn State Garret Open.
Franke's career record heading into Sunday is 699-196-1. She earned her 600th win during the 2009-10 season, and will be looking for number 700 this weekend. Franke, a former US Olympian, is a four-time US Fencing Coaches Association Coach of the Year and a member of four Halls of Fame including Temple Athletics and the US Fencing Association.
Speaking to earning win 700, Franke credits all those who have been a part of that success.
"It's a tribute to all the teams we've had and all the strong fencers that have come through our program," she said. "They have all contributed to that result. It speaks volumes to the quality of the student-athletes we've had in our program."
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Players Mentioned
Foil
/ Women's Fencing
Epee
/ Women's Fencing
Foil
/ Women's Fencing
Sabre
/ Women's Fencing
Foil
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