Temple University Athletics
Saturday, March 21
Columbus, Ohio
All Day
Temple University
vs
NCAA Championships
Fatima Largaespada and Safa Ibrahim
Ibrahim and Largaespada Head to NCAA Fencing Championships This Weekend
3.19.15 | Women's Fencing
PHILADELPHIA - The nation's best await two members of the Temple fencing team who have been selected to represent the Owls at the 2015 NCAA Fencing Championships March 21-22 in Columbus, Ohio. Junior Fatima Largaespada (foil) will make her third straight trip to the tournament, while freshman Safa Ibrahim (epee) has earned a spot in her debut season at Temple.
"Safa has done a great job all year for us, and to make NCAA's is really an honor," said Temple head coach Nikki Franke. "Only 24 people in the country get to go for each weapon, so it's quite impressive. For Fatima, to make it three years in a row...she's really done an excellent job for us this year and it's nice to see her go back. She's been there and knows what to expect, and she'll be able to help Safa a little bit."
Fencers will compete in a round-robin format of five-touch bouts. After the round-robin, the top-four finishers in each weapon will fence in semifinal 15-touch bouts, with the winners fencing to determine first and second places, and the non-advancing fencers being awarded a tie for third place.
Largaespada is coming off a fourth-place finish in foil at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional on March 7. Ibrahim placed eighth in epee. For all fencers selected to participate in the NCAA Championships, their finish at the regional meet was weighted 60 percent, while their performance the rest of the season was weighted 40 percent.
Both Largaespada and Ibrahim have been leaders for the Owls this year, helping the team finish the dual meet season with a record of 24-11. Ibrahim recently won the epee title at the NIWFA Championships, and was named to the All-NIWFA First Team.
Largaespada placed 19th overall at last year's NCAA Championships, and has her goals set higher this season.
"I want to continue to put Temple's name out there, and my goal is to reach the top 16 this time," she said. "It's a really tough tournament, but I think I'll be able to put the same focus I had at the regional meet into the national meet as well."
While Ibrahim has proven herself in a number of big meets already this year, particularly at the junior level, she knows this weekend will be a little different.
"I definitely just want to try my best," said Ibrahim. "I'll probably be nervous since it's my first time there. I'm just going to try to gain as much experience as I can. I'm excited to represent Temple and fence the best that I can."
Franke was disappointed not to have more Owls earn spots at the national tournament, especially with a few fencers just barely missing the cut, but she is excited to see what Largaespada and Ibrahim can do to represent Temple well.
"It's a tough tournament. It's two days of grueling work against the top people in the country. They really have to be mentally strong and just keep working hard."
For more information about the championships log on to NCAA.com. To catch live coverage of the event, log in to ESPN3 or the WatchESPN app. An hour long, documentary-style highlight show of the National Collegiate Men's and Women's Fencing Championships will air on ESPNU at 3:00 p.m. Eastern time, Wednesday, April 8.
Video Preview
Â
"Safa has done a great job all year for us, and to make NCAA's is really an honor," said Temple head coach Nikki Franke. "Only 24 people in the country get to go for each weapon, so it's quite impressive. For Fatima, to make it three years in a row...she's really done an excellent job for us this year and it's nice to see her go back. She's been there and knows what to expect, and she'll be able to help Safa a little bit."
Fencers will compete in a round-robin format of five-touch bouts. After the round-robin, the top-four finishers in each weapon will fence in semifinal 15-touch bouts, with the winners fencing to determine first and second places, and the non-advancing fencers being awarded a tie for third place.
Largaespada is coming off a fourth-place finish in foil at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional on March 7. Ibrahim placed eighth in epee. For all fencers selected to participate in the NCAA Championships, their finish at the regional meet was weighted 60 percent, while their performance the rest of the season was weighted 40 percent.
Both Largaespada and Ibrahim have been leaders for the Owls this year, helping the team finish the dual meet season with a record of 24-11. Ibrahim recently won the epee title at the NIWFA Championships, and was named to the All-NIWFA First Team.
Largaespada placed 19th overall at last year's NCAA Championships, and has her goals set higher this season.
"I want to continue to put Temple's name out there, and my goal is to reach the top 16 this time," she said. "It's a really tough tournament, but I think I'll be able to put the same focus I had at the regional meet into the national meet as well."
While Ibrahim has proven herself in a number of big meets already this year, particularly at the junior level, she knows this weekend will be a little different.
"I definitely just want to try my best," said Ibrahim. "I'll probably be nervous since it's my first time there. I'm just going to try to gain as much experience as I can. I'm excited to represent Temple and fence the best that I can."
Franke was disappointed not to have more Owls earn spots at the national tournament, especially with a few fencers just barely missing the cut, but she is excited to see what Largaespada and Ibrahim can do to represent Temple well.
"It's a tough tournament. It's two days of grueling work against the top people in the country. They really have to be mentally strong and just keep working hard."
For more information about the championships log on to NCAA.com. To catch live coverage of the event, log in to ESPN3 or the WatchESPN app. An hour long, documentary-style highlight show of the National Collegiate Men's and Women's Fencing Championships will air on ESPNU at 3:00 p.m. Eastern time, Wednesday, April 8.
Video Preview
Â
Players Mentioned
Epee
/ Women's Fencing
Foil
/ Women's FencingEp. 10: Temple Homecoming Preview; Volleyball Assistant Coach Taylor Davenport
Tuesday, October 07
Ep. 9: Head Women's Soccer Coach Chris Shaw
Friday, October 03
Ep. 8: Temple Athletics Weekly Recap; Women's Cross Country Runner Amelia Sabatino
Tuesday, September 30
Ep. 7: Temple Field Hockey Alumna Cherifa Howarth
Friday, September 26
