Temple Fencers Wrap up Competition at the 2015 NCAA Championships

Saturday, March 21

Columbus, Ohio

All Day

Temple University

NCAA Championships

Temple Fencers Wrap up Competition at the 2015 NCAA Championships

3.22.15 | Women's Fencing

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The 2015 NCAA Fencing Championships have concluded for Temple fencing, with the Owls' two representatives making a strong showing for the program. Freshman Safa Ibrahim earned a 16th-place finish in epee, while junior Fatima Largaespada placed 23rd in foil.

Ibrahim went 10-13 against the other 23 epee competitors, with four of her Sunday losses and five overall coming in overtime (by one point).

While Ibrahim's finish was a strong one for her first season at Temple, it was a tougher weekend for Largaespada, making her third appearance at the NCAA Championships but this time battling illness and recording her lowest finish. Largaespada had three bouts go to overtime in the round-robin competition. She earned her spot at the championships in part by taking fourth place recently at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional, which was the highest regional finish for her in her Temple career.

Temple's points earned from the two fencers ultimately tied the team for 18th among women's programs.

"It's a very tough two days, and unfortunately for Fatima it was made tougher when she got food poisoning on Saturday," said Temple head coach Nikki Franke. "She fought through it as best she could.

"For Safa as a freshman, this was a new experience and I think she'll be more confident in the future. Both of them fenced hard and tried their best. While we hoped to finish higher, this doesn't negate the good season we had and how hard all of the girls worked all year."