Temple University Athletics
Fencing Celebrates Another Great Year at Annual Team Banquet
5.4.15 | Women's Fencing
PHILADELPHIA - The 2014-15 Temple fencing team celebrated its year in style on Saturday, May 2 with a banquet held in a private room at Dave & Buster's in Philadelphia. The Owls handed out a number of awards and also honored senior and team captain Lauren Rangel-Friedman.
Guests at the banquet, which included family members, support staff and alumni, were treated to a highlight video put together by graduate extern Holly Spicer to begin the festivities. After a meal with both breakfast and lunch options available, many awards were given to deserving individuals.
Earning the Most Improved Player award for a second time in three years was junior Olivia Wynn, who made a successful transition from foil to sabre in her third year with the program.
Most Valuable Player awards were given to one athlete in each weapon. The foil MVP went to junior Fatima Largaespada, the epee MVP went to freshman Safa Ibrahim, and the sabre MVP was given to junior Gloria Aguilar.
Academic achievements were also recognized, with all team members receiving certificates for either the Director's Honor Roll (GPA of 3.0 to 3.49) or the President's Honor Roll (GPA of 3.5 to 4.0). Sophomore Kristen Kemnitzer was given the Owl Club Academic Award for having the highest GPA on the team.
Each year, the program contacts alumni celebrating an anniversary of graduation for that particular season. This year, two alums from the 1995 team and another two from the 2005 team were able to make it to the banquet. From the Class of 1995, Carole Burns and Pixie Roane were present, while from the Class of 2005, Jeanne Browne and Nnenna Okoro Nkouka made the trip.
Head coach Nikki Franke presided over the banquet after completing her 43rd year with the program. Franke earned her 700th career win this past season, one of many highlights of a terrific year for the Owls.
Photo Gallery
2014-15 Temple Fencing Highlights
• Two Owls represented Temple fencing at the 2015 NCAA Championships, junior Fatima Largaespada and freshman Safa Ibrahim. In epee, Ibrahim placed 16th, while in foil, Largaespada placed 23rd.
• Temple had the maximum 12 fencers represent the team at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional. Largaespada was the team's top finisher, placing fourth in foil. Ibrahim took eighth place in epee at the regional meet and a total of nine fencers were finalists.
• The Owls' nine finalists at the regional meet were a team record. In epee, four of four fencers made the finals, while foil had three of four and sabre had two of four.
• As a team, Temple finished 24-11 in dual meets for the 2014-15 season.
• In the Owls' first dual meets of the year on Dec. 7 at Sacred Heart, 43rd-year head coach Nikki Franke earned the 700th win of her career. She is now 723-207-1 all-time.
• Temple went undefeated twice at dual meets, going 5-0 at the Philadelphia Invitational on Jan. 24 and going 5-0 again at the FDU Meet on Feb. 8. The Philadelphia Invitational record included wins over two top teams in #6 Penn and #9 Northwestern.
• The Owls finished with an impressive record of 8-4 at the tough Northwestern Duals on Jan. 31-Feb. 1. Ibrahim was the top individual for Temple, going 28-7 at the two-day meet.
• The epee squad set a program record for most wins in a season with 26.
• On Feb. 28, the Owls won their 19th consecutive NIWFA Championship. In addition to the team title, the Owls captured all three weapon titles and two of the three individual titles. Senior and team captain Lauren Rangel-Friedman won her first-ever sabre title, while Ibrahim took the top spot in epee. Freshman Mariah Slagle was runner-up for Temple in foil.
• Rangel-Friedman, Ibrahim, Slagle and junior Jessica Hall were all named to the NIWFA First Team. Sophomore Kristen Kemnitzer was named to the NIWFA All-Academic Team.
• Ibrahim and fellow freshman Becca Stanford both represented Temple at the Fencing Junior Olympics on Feb. 16. Ibrahim took sixth place in junior women's epee, while Stanford placed 19th in junior women's foil.
• In early November, Ibrahim took second place out of 180 competitors in junior women's epee at the November NAC. Sophomore Alexandra Keft took seventh place in the same category, while Stanford took eighth in junior women's foil out of 159 fencers.
• Ibrahim was named the Under Armour OwlSports.com Athlete of the Month in January.
• Aguilar was honored as the Under Armour OwlSports.com Athlete of the Week on Jan. 26.
• Junior Demi Antipas was named Scholar Athlete of the Month in March by the Nancy & Donald Resnick Academic Support Center for Student-Athletes.
• Temple hosted the 35th annual Temple Open the first weekend in November, and a total of six Owls earned top eight finishes. Rangel-Friedman tied for third in sabre, while Stanford and junior Demi Antipas tied for third in foil.
Guests at the banquet, which included family members, support staff and alumni, were treated to a highlight video put together by graduate extern Holly Spicer to begin the festivities. After a meal with both breakfast and lunch options available, many awards were given to deserving individuals.
Earning the Most Improved Player award for a second time in three years was junior Olivia Wynn, who made a successful transition from foil to sabre in her third year with the program.
Most Valuable Player awards were given to one athlete in each weapon. The foil MVP went to junior Fatima Largaespada, the epee MVP went to freshman Safa Ibrahim, and the sabre MVP was given to junior Gloria Aguilar.
Academic achievements were also recognized, with all team members receiving certificates for either the Director's Honor Roll (GPA of 3.0 to 3.49) or the President's Honor Roll (GPA of 3.5 to 4.0). Sophomore Kristen Kemnitzer was given the Owl Club Academic Award for having the highest GPA on the team.
Each year, the program contacts alumni celebrating an anniversary of graduation for that particular season. This year, two alums from the 1995 team and another two from the 2005 team were able to make it to the banquet. From the Class of 1995, Carole Burns and Pixie Roane were present, while from the Class of 2005, Jeanne Browne and Nnenna Okoro Nkouka made the trip.
Head coach Nikki Franke presided over the banquet after completing her 43rd year with the program. Franke earned her 700th career win this past season, one of many highlights of a terrific year for the Owls.
Photo Gallery
2014-15 Temple Fencing Highlights
• Two Owls represented Temple fencing at the 2015 NCAA Championships, junior Fatima Largaespada and freshman Safa Ibrahim. In epee, Ibrahim placed 16th, while in foil, Largaespada placed 23rd.
• Temple had the maximum 12 fencers represent the team at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional. Largaespada was the team's top finisher, placing fourth in foil. Ibrahim took eighth place in epee at the regional meet and a total of nine fencers were finalists.
• The Owls' nine finalists at the regional meet were a team record. In epee, four of four fencers made the finals, while foil had three of four and sabre had two of four.
• As a team, Temple finished 24-11 in dual meets for the 2014-15 season.
• In the Owls' first dual meets of the year on Dec. 7 at Sacred Heart, 43rd-year head coach Nikki Franke earned the 700th win of her career. She is now 723-207-1 all-time.
• Temple went undefeated twice at dual meets, going 5-0 at the Philadelphia Invitational on Jan. 24 and going 5-0 again at the FDU Meet on Feb. 8. The Philadelphia Invitational record included wins over two top teams in #6 Penn and #9 Northwestern.
• The Owls finished with an impressive record of 8-4 at the tough Northwestern Duals on Jan. 31-Feb. 1. Ibrahim was the top individual for Temple, going 28-7 at the two-day meet.
• The epee squad set a program record for most wins in a season with 26.
• On Feb. 28, the Owls won their 19th consecutive NIWFA Championship. In addition to the team title, the Owls captured all three weapon titles and two of the three individual titles. Senior and team captain Lauren Rangel-Friedman won her first-ever sabre title, while Ibrahim took the top spot in epee. Freshman Mariah Slagle was runner-up for Temple in foil.
• Rangel-Friedman, Ibrahim, Slagle and junior Jessica Hall were all named to the NIWFA First Team. Sophomore Kristen Kemnitzer was named to the NIWFA All-Academic Team.
• Ibrahim and fellow freshman Becca Stanford both represented Temple at the Fencing Junior Olympics on Feb. 16. Ibrahim took sixth place in junior women's epee, while Stanford placed 19th in junior women's foil.
• In early November, Ibrahim took second place out of 180 competitors in junior women's epee at the November NAC. Sophomore Alexandra Keft took seventh place in the same category, while Stanford took eighth in junior women's foil out of 159 fencers.
• Ibrahim was named the Under Armour OwlSports.com Athlete of the Month in January.
• Aguilar was honored as the Under Armour OwlSports.com Athlete of the Week on Jan. 26.
• Junior Demi Antipas was named Scholar Athlete of the Month in March by the Nancy & Donald Resnick Academic Support Center for Student-Athletes.
• Temple hosted the 35th annual Temple Open the first weekend in November, and a total of six Owls earned top eight finishes. Rangel-Friedman tied for third in sabre, while Stanford and junior Demi Antipas tied for third in foil.
Players Mentioned
Sabre
/ Women's Fencing
Foil
/ Women's Fencing
Epee
/ Women's Fencing
Epee
/ Women's Fencing
Epee
/ Women's Fencing
Foil
/ Women's Fencing
Foil
/ Women's Fencing
Sabre
/ Women's Fencing
Foil
/ Women's Fencing
Foil
/ Women's Fencing
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