Fencers Put up Strong Showing at NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional

Saturday, March 7

Durham, N.C.

All Day

Temple University

NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional

Junior Fatima Largaespada

Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University

Fencers Put up Strong Showing at NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional

3.7.15 | Women's Fencing

DURHAM, N.C. - Two Owls earned top eight finishes and seven others were also finalists for the 10th-ranked Temple fencing team at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional hosted by Duke University. Temple's top finishers were junior Fatima Largaespada, who placed fourth in foil, and freshman Safa Ibrahim, who finished eighth in epee.

The Owls now await next week's NCAA Championship selection announcement to see which members of the team will advance. The selection will take place Tuesday afternoon, March 10.

"To have nine of our fencers in the finals (top 12) was terrific," said Temple head coach Nikki Franke. "That was the most finalists we've ever had. The girls have battled through injuries and illnesses this season, some still are, and I was really pleased with our results today. It showed how deep this team is."

Largaespada, already a two-time NCAA Championships participant, now has a strong shot of returning in 2015. She won all five of her bouts in round two after earning a bye in round one, and she won four of five in round three. Against the 11 other finalists in round four, she went 7-4 to take fourth.

Junior Demi Antipas was also a finalist in foil, placing seventh after going 5-6 in the final round. Freshman Becca Stanford made the finals and came in 11th, while sophomore Miranda Litzinger placed 17th.

All four of the Owls' epee representatives made the finals, with Ibrahim taking eighth after a 6-5 performance. Temple also took the next three spots as sophomore Alexandra Keft finished ninth, junior Jessica Hall placed 10th, and sophomore Rachael Clark placed 11th.

In sabre, junior Gloria Aguilar was Temple's top finisher in 10th place in her first-ever regional meet. Sophomore Victoria Suber had a career performance and was also a finalist, placing 12th overall. Junior Petra Khan finished 14th and senior Lauren Rangel-Friedman placed 19th.

The qualification for the NCAA Championship is based on a formula comprising a 60 percent weight on regional performance and 40 percent on regular-season meets. Regional champions for each weapon automatically advance, with remaining bids going to fencers based on performance and the region they compete in. The NCAA selections will be announced on March 10.

In Temple's region on the women's side, six will advance to the NCAA Championships for foil while epee and sabre will be represented by seven fencers each. Two at-large selections will be made that could come from any of the four regional meets.