Nationally Ranked Fencing Looks to Repeat Success, Improve Consistency in 2018-19

Photo by: Zamani Feelings

Nationally Ranked Fencing Looks to Repeat Success, Improve Consistency in 2018-19

10.25.18 | Women's Fencing

PHILADELPHIA - Another year begins with expectations as high as ever for the nationally ranked Temple fencing team, led by Hall of Fame coach Dr. Nikki Franke who achieved her 800th career win last season. The Owls have maintained a consistent top 10 ranking over the years, and sent three fencers to the NCAA Championships last season with one of those, junior Kennedy Lovelace, earning All-America Second Team honors in foil.

As a team, Temple racked up a still-impressive 26 wins after a program-record 34 the year prior, which Franke chalks up to a lack of consistency.

"We weren't as consistent as we would have liked last season, but we had three athletes qualify to the NCAA Championships and that was good," said Franke. "We just need to work on that consistency and it goes back to the day to day effort. We have to keep working on things daily in order for them to become habit."

The makeup of this year's squad is promising for achieving program records yet again, as the 16-member team includes 10 upperclassmen.

"Last year the team was really split between veterans and newcomers, and now over half the team are juniors and seniors," said assistant coach Josh Herring. "This isn't their first rodeo and they know what's expected."

Goals
Although the program has won 22 straight National Intercollegiate Women's Fencing Association (NIWFA) titles, is always nationally ranked and sends fencers to the NCAA Championships every year, Franke notes that setting goals is still a process that the Owls go through each season.

"Each team each year is different, so they do talk about goals and come up with those that are most important to them, both as a team and as individuals," said Franke. "Both are important to help keep them focused. It's really important that they are all working together towards a common goal and that's one of the reasons why our team is so united and supportive of each other."

Leadership
The 2018-19 team captain is senior Blessing Olaode, who was also the sabre squad leader as a junior. Olaode has an impressive career record of 120-63 in dual meets, and was an alternate to last year's NCAA Championships.

"Blessing was one of our squad leaders last year so that experience really helps," said Franke. "She's already gained some of the leadership skills necessary for a Team Captain and now feels supported with the help of our other squad leaders, Fiona Fong (epee) and Lovelace (foil). The three of them work together really well and set a good tone not only for the first years but for the returners as well. The work ethic they have and their ability to work well with their squads has been very good."

"All three bring a different style of leadership," added Herring, "and complement each other very well."

Epee
The epee squad leader this season is Fong, one of five seniors on this year's team. Joining her are senior Ally Micek, redshirt junior Quinn Duwelius, junior Camille Simmons, sophomore Marielle Luke and sophomore transfer Zahrah Dinkins.

"Our epee squad is very experienced," said Franke. "However, they are coming off two injuries (Duwelius and Simmons). Getting those two back up to speed is very important and going very well so far. Camille is almost 100 per cent after surgery and we hope that Quinn will have the green light after rehab from her ACL surgery by the end of the semester. With epee having two seniors and two juniors, it's an older squad, and they are very determined."

The newcomer to the group, Dinkins, is the cousin of recent graduate and standout fencer Safa Ibrahim who served as last year's team captain.

"Zahrah is adjusting very well to Division I and is not being left behind in any way," said Herring. "She brings another dimension because even though the squad is experienced, she's a strong competitor for an underclassman and she's helping to push the others which helps us grow as a unit."

Sabre
With 30 wins last year, second all-time in program history, the sabre squad led the way and has high expectations upon them again this season. Olaode is the squad leader as well as the overall team captain, and is joined by senior Jessica Rockford, juniors Malia Hee and Kerry Plunkett and sophomore Eva Hinds.

"Sabre is the only squad with no one new this year. It's the same squad as last year but with one more year of experience," said Herring, who coaches the group. "They were very strong and consistent last year so they're looking to continue that and to grow and push each other even more this year to be even better. With Blessing returning and with two NCAA Championship participants back in Malia and Kerry, we're looking to use that experience to have another strong season."

"Sabre is our deepest squad and we will definitely be relying on them throughout the season," added Franke.

Hee had a particularly impressive season as a sophomore, placing 13th at the NCAA Championships after tying for first and finishing second on touches at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional. She earned the prestigious NCAA Elite 90 Award at the national meet by virtue of her athletic success and her perfect 4.0 GPA. Hee posted 55 dual meet wins while teammate Plunkett earned 53 and also made a second-straight appearance at the NCAA Championships.

Foil
Led by squad leader Kennedy Lovelace and senior Auset Muhammad, the foil squad returns three but has the most newcomers with two. Lovelace, a junior who placed sixth in her first NCAA Championships appearance last season earned All-America Second Team honors. Joining Muhammad and Lovelace are sophomore Megan Ross and freshmen Aryana Abtin and Cassie Navalta.

"Our foil squad is the youngest of the three this season with two newcomers," said Franke. "Both are doing an excellent job and will contribute right away. With just one senior and one junior, there is a lot of growth that's going to happen as the season progresses. This is a squad I really see getting stronger as they get more experience and accustomed to working together and understanding what we're asking them to do. Auset and Kennedy as upperclassmen are doing a really good job working with them, and Megan grew and improved so much last year. I'm really excited about this squad and their potential. We're starting with baby steps but those steps will get bigger."

Schedule
The Owls' schedule each season could often be mistaken for any other year, but that in no way makes it less challenging as Franke and Herring continually make sure Temple faces the best of the best.

"Our schedule is pretty much the same each year, and we have some really tough meets," said Franke. "We're meeting all the top ten teams twice, just about, and as usual we think it's really important to have a very strong schedule. There are no off weekends in terms of what they have to bring to each meet. That will help us in gaining that consistency we need when we're seeing strong fencing every weekend."

By facing the top teams as often as they do, the Owls are able to maintain a level of excellence that keeps them on par with those teams year after year.

"We work hard to make sure the schedule stays as strong as it is because we've seen the benefit of that and how it helps the team come together and helps us in the postseason," said Herring. "Really in all aspects of training and competing. The strength of our schedule helps with accomplishing the goals the team sets."

Temple Open
The season begins for the Owls when they host the 39th annual Temple Open on Oct. 27-28 in the Liacouras Center.

"We have about 500 fencers and approximately 30 schools represented at this year's Temple Open," said Franke. "It's a great way to start the season, to see where everyone is in a competitive setting. It's the beginning of the season for everyone and there's always a real air of excitement and anticipation surrounding the Temple Open."

Final Thoughts
For a second year, the Owls will benefit greatly from a new, dedicated training space in the TU Pavilion named the Marc Wagner Training Facility thanks to a gift by Wagner that made it possible.

"Having our new training facility has really been a blessing," said Franke.

"Having that space whenever we need it gives us so much flexibility to do what we need to do and helps the girls manage their time and their schedules," added Herring. "It's been so helpful both for us and for them."

"Overall, the team is really functioning well as a unit," said Franke. "They're all very committed and focused both academically as well as athletically. We were very pleased with our academic performance last year and we want to repeat that, if not improve even more. Having the girls be so committed to both their fencing and their academics speaks volumes to their work ethic and I couldn't be prouder."