Seventh-Ranked Fencing Captures 24th Straight NIWFA Title

Saturday, March 2

Madison, N.J.

All Day

Temple University

NIWFA Championships

Seventh-Ranked Fencing Captures 24th Straight NIWFA Title

3.2.19 | Women's Fencing

MADISON, N.J. - Another year, another team title for the seventh-ranked Temple fencing team as the Owls captured their 24th team trophy in a row at the 91st annual National Intercollegiate Women's Fencing Association (NIWFA) Championship on Saturday.

Meet Highlights
> In addition to its overall team title, the Owls earned squad titles in both foil and epee, with sabre placing second.
> Temple beat out 13 other teams to take the trophy, with Johns Hopkins placing second and Stevens taking third.
> Junior Kerry Plunkett took gold in sabre, the first title of her career, and will be named to the NIWFA First Team. Plunkett dominated in the gold-medal match, winning 15-1.
> Also earned NIWFA First Team honors was sophomore Marielle Luke who placed second in epee. losing 15-13 in the championship bout.
> Senior Ally Micek will earn NIWFA Second Team honors for her sixth-place finish in epee.
> Freshman Aryana Abtin rounded out Temple's four finalists and placed eighth overall in foil.
> The Owls also had three semifinalists in senior Jessica Rockford (sabre), sophomore Zahrah Dinkins (epee) and freshman Cassie Navalta (foil).

Quotable - Head Coach Dr. Nikki Franke
> "It was very nice to defend our championship and bring back trophy. All three squads did well. Foil only lost two bouts all day in the team event, and sabre placed second by just one bout. This was really good preparation for us in terms of fine-tuning for next week's NCAA Regional meet."

Up Next
> On Saturday, March 9, the Owls will head to the NCAA Mid-Atlantic/South Regional at Lafayette, and will be represented by the maximum 12 participants.