Fencing: Sabre squads to be tested at No. 4 Ohio State
By: MATT LOZAR
Sports Editor
Gabor Szelle, welcome back to collegiate fencing.
At Saturday's Ohio State duals, Szelle — who wasn't on the team last year — Matt Fabricant and the other Notre Dame sabre fencers will face one of the most talented sabre squads in the country.
"Their fencers are excellent competing all year on their national teams," Notre Dame coach Janusz Bednarski said. "We are a little behind them as a team, but I am sure Gabor will fence well and try to get better."
Jason Rogers, Colin Parker and Adam Crompton comprise Ohio State's sabre team and will give the Irish all they can handle this weekend.
Rogers finished third at last year's NCAA Championships and is currently ranked second in the junior division and ninth in the senior division of the United States Fencing Association rankings. Parker is a two-time All-American and ended up in eighth at last year's national championships.
Brother of former Notre Dame sabre fencer Andre Crompton, Adam Crompton gives the Buckeyes impressive depth at this weapon. Adam Crompton stands seventh on the junior level and eleventh on the senior level in the U.S. Fencing Association rankings.
Rogers and Crompton tied for third at the North American Cup event in December.
Ohio State opened its season at the Northwestern duals two weeks ago and dominated the weak field. The Buckeyes beat all nine of their opponents. Bednarski is a little concerned about his team in its opening competition.
"This is the first team tournament so it is really unpredictable. I hope they really fence well and will face some top opponents, like Ohio State," Bednarski said." We face them first in their home gym, in front of their home audience and support. They are a really good team and this will be a very important match for us."
Notre Dame's womens sabre team will be challenged this weekend as well. Sophomore Louise Bond-Williams finished second for the Buckeyes at the 2002 NCAA Championships. Bond-Williams defeated Notre Dame junior Destanie Milo 5-2. Notre Dame senior Natalia Mazur will be participating in her first collegiate competition since after missing the 2002 season with an illness.
Last year, Notre Dame opened the season at the New York University duals and split with top-ranked St. John's. The 14-13 victory by the mens team, with then-freshman epeeist Michal Sobieraj winning the decisive bout, gave them the top ranking in the country on the next poll.
Adding to the pressure on this weekend will be the mens team looking to continue its 59-match winning streak. Notre Dame's last loss came on Jan. 23, 2000. The 59-match streak is third longest in school history and isn't even halfway to the record of 122 matches set from 1975-1980.
In addition to No. 4 Ohio State, No. 2 Notre Dame will fence Northwestern and Wayne State.
All Sports Stories for Saturday, January 25, 2003
