Temple University Athletics
Fencing Signs a Diverse Group of Five to the Class of 2023
6.21.19 | Women's Fencing
PHILADELPHIA - Head coach Dr. Nikki Franke has announced the signing of five student-athletes for the 2019-20 season, including four true freshmen and one transfer. The group includes one from Italy, two from Oregon, one from Colorado and one from North Carolina.
"Our Class of 2023 is a diverse group of outstanding student-athletes, both academically and athletically," said Franke. "They are excited about the opportunity to compete at the highest collegiate level and will definitely contribute to our team's continued success."
The group includes Margherita Calderaro (Rome, Italy/Epee), Sarah (Yoohyun) Park (Milwaukie, Ore./Epee), Emma Pincus (Weddington, N.C./Sabre), Naomi Ross (Aurora, Colo./Epee) and Zoe Turner (Portland, Ore./Sabre).
Calderaro, who fences for Club Scherma Roma, plans to major in psychology at Temple and is a recipient of an International Baccalaureate Diploma. She placed second at the Cadet Italian Championship Finals in 2018, also taking third in the Helsinki stage of the European Circuit the same year. Earlier this year she placed third in the Italian Regional and sixth at the Junior Italian Championship Finals.
"We are very excited to have Margherita join our team," said Franke. "She has an infectious passion for fencing and is a superb competitor. Her strong work ethic and international experience will be a definite asset to our Epee Squad."
Park is from the same fencing club as current rising sophomore Aryana Abtin, the Northwest Fencing Center. She took third in Junior Team Women's Epee at the 2018 Junior Olympics, and 13th in Junior Women's Epee. One year prior, Park placed third at the Summer Nationals in Division 3, and made the top 32 in Division I Women's Epee at the December NAC. Park plans to major in advertising at Temple.
"Sarah is a very driven individual who is constantly working on ways to improve her game," said Franke. "She is very enthusiastic and has solid results against top level competition. She will definitely add depth to our Epee Squad and be a solid contributor."
Pincus fences for Knights of Seinna in North Carolina, and plans to major in biology at Temple. She has multiple top 32 finishes in cadet events, and in 2018 she placed in the top 32 at the Junior Olympics. She was second in Division III at the 2016 April NAC, and third in Division II at the 2017 National Championships. She plans to major in biology at Temple.
"Emma is an experienced fencer who we are delighted will be fencing for us for the next four years," said Franke. "She has a strong foundation and good understanding of the sport. She is a hard worker and has a very positive attitude which will be a great fit with our Sabre Squad."
Ross is not just an epee fencer but competes in modern pentathlon as well, which combines fencing with swimming, equestrian show jumping, pistol shooting and cross country running. She is currently ranked sixth in the Senior USA Modern Pentathlon rankings.
Ross, out of the Denver Fencing Center, placed first at both the #3 and #4 Colorado Cups this year. She took sixth at the 2018 Division I-A Summer Nationals, and eighth in juniors at the 2016 Junior Olympics. Naomi plans to major in biophysics at Temple. Her sister, Sylvana, competed in track & field for the University of Cincinnati from 2015-18.
"Naomi comes to Temple after being a member of the USA Modern Pentathlon Junior Team," said Franke. "She is a fierce competitor who is passionate about fencing. She is a very determined individual and will be a solid contributor to our Epee Squad with her outstanding work ethic."
Turner, a sabre fencer from the Oregon Fencing Alliance (OFA), placed in the top 32 at the 2019 January NAC in junior women's sabre. She was also a top 32 finisher at the 2018 October NAC and the 2018 April Championship in Division I for both events. Turner placed 13th in cadets at the 2018 Junior Olympics. She plans to major in bioengineering at Temple and was named to Absolute Fencing's 2018 All-Academic Team.
"Zoe brings a strong competitive background and excellent sabre training to our program," said Franke. "She is a hard worker and an enthusiastic competitor. She is a very consistent fencer and is someone we know the Sabre Squad will be able to depend on."
"Our Class of 2023 is a diverse group of outstanding student-athletes, both academically and athletically," said Franke. "They are excited about the opportunity to compete at the highest collegiate level and will definitely contribute to our team's continued success."
The group includes Margherita Calderaro (Rome, Italy/Epee), Sarah (Yoohyun) Park (Milwaukie, Ore./Epee), Emma Pincus (Weddington, N.C./Sabre), Naomi Ross (Aurora, Colo./Epee) and Zoe Turner (Portland, Ore./Sabre).
Calderaro, who fences for Club Scherma Roma, plans to major in psychology at Temple and is a recipient of an International Baccalaureate Diploma. She placed second at the Cadet Italian Championship Finals in 2018, also taking third in the Helsinki stage of the European Circuit the same year. Earlier this year she placed third in the Italian Regional and sixth at the Junior Italian Championship Finals.
"We are very excited to have Margherita join our team," said Franke. "She has an infectious passion for fencing and is a superb competitor. Her strong work ethic and international experience will be a definite asset to our Epee Squad."
Park is from the same fencing club as current rising sophomore Aryana Abtin, the Northwest Fencing Center. She took third in Junior Team Women's Epee at the 2018 Junior Olympics, and 13th in Junior Women's Epee. One year prior, Park placed third at the Summer Nationals in Division 3, and made the top 32 in Division I Women's Epee at the December NAC. Park plans to major in advertising at Temple.
"Sarah is a very driven individual who is constantly working on ways to improve her game," said Franke. "She is very enthusiastic and has solid results against top level competition. She will definitely add depth to our Epee Squad and be a solid contributor."
Pincus fences for Knights of Seinna in North Carolina, and plans to major in biology at Temple. She has multiple top 32 finishes in cadet events, and in 2018 she placed in the top 32 at the Junior Olympics. She was second in Division III at the 2016 April NAC, and third in Division II at the 2017 National Championships. She plans to major in biology at Temple.
"Emma is an experienced fencer who we are delighted will be fencing for us for the next four years," said Franke. "She has a strong foundation and good understanding of the sport. She is a hard worker and has a very positive attitude which will be a great fit with our Sabre Squad."
Ross is not just an epee fencer but competes in modern pentathlon as well, which combines fencing with swimming, equestrian show jumping, pistol shooting and cross country running. She is currently ranked sixth in the Senior USA Modern Pentathlon rankings.
Ross, out of the Denver Fencing Center, placed first at both the #3 and #4 Colorado Cups this year. She took sixth at the 2018 Division I-A Summer Nationals, and eighth in juniors at the 2016 Junior Olympics. Naomi plans to major in biophysics at Temple. Her sister, Sylvana, competed in track & field for the University of Cincinnati from 2015-18.
"Naomi comes to Temple after being a member of the USA Modern Pentathlon Junior Team," said Franke. "She is a fierce competitor who is passionate about fencing. She is a very determined individual and will be a solid contributor to our Epee Squad with her outstanding work ethic."
Turner, a sabre fencer from the Oregon Fencing Alliance (OFA), placed in the top 32 at the 2019 January NAC in junior women's sabre. She was also a top 32 finisher at the 2018 October NAC and the 2018 April Championship in Division I for both events. Turner placed 13th in cadets at the 2018 Junior Olympics. She plans to major in bioengineering at Temple and was named to Absolute Fencing's 2018 All-Academic Team.
"Zoe brings a strong competitive background and excellent sabre training to our program," said Franke. "She is a hard worker and an enthusiastic competitor. She is a very consistent fencer and is someone we know the Sabre Squad will be able to depend on."
Players Mentioned
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