Irish kick off 2001 Midwest season
By MIKE CONNOLLY
The Notre Dame fencing team travels to Northwestern this weekend for matches against five Midwest rivals and a chance to size up the competition before the Midwest Regionals in March.
"Especially for Midwest Regionals we have to be on our toes," sophomore sabrewoman Natalia Mazur said. "We have to know how they fence and what to expect because this is the region we have to qualify from for NCAAs. We really need to observe them and fence as well as we possibly can."
The men's team won't have a chance to learn much this weekend. The schools they are fencing will provide little challenge to one of the top men's teams in the country. Notre Dame defeated national-title favorite St. John's last weekend.
"Last week was probably our toughest meet of the year," junior sabreman Gabor Szelle said. "This week we definitely go into this tournament as favorites."
Most of the top starters for the men's side will take most of the weekend off as reserve fencers will get a chance to fence a few bouts.
"I think we are going to try to put in as many fencers as we can," Szelle said. "Even with the guys who didn't compete last week, we can do well. We don't necessarily need the front runners to beat these guys."
The women, however, will face a stiff challenge from one of their fiercest rivals: the Northwestern Wildcats.
Last year Northwestern beat the women at both the regular season dual meet and the Midwest Fencing Conference Championships.
"I am absolutely looking for revenge," sophomore epeeist Anna Carnick said. "It was a tight match last year. They have a fairly deep team but I think we all know what to expect. We have a lot of new starters who are up for a big weekend."
Before last year, Notre Dame was clearly the top dog in Midwest women's fencing. Northwestern, however, took great pride in knocking the Irish off as its entire team cheered every Wildcat touch in Evansville last year.
Although the meet is in Evansville again this year, Carnick expects lots of Irish support and doesn't anticipate the Wildcat spirit phasing her too much.
"There were tons of Northwestern people cheering but the Notre Dame team does a really good job," the All-American said. "All the fencers and staff and a couple boyfriends and girlfriends who drove down to see us as well. It just great to hear them and get a lot of support from our team."
The Irish will need Carnick to resume her All-American form from last year if they hope to regain the top spot in the Midwest. Last week in New York, Carnick stumped to a 4-7 record while recovering from an illness.
"I am still a little shaky but I am feeling more confident," Carnick said "It's a nearby neat and I think the first meet of the season is always a little more intimidating."
Most of the women's team is looking to rebound from last weekend in New York as only four women posted records better than .500 in New York.
"I think we might have to focus a little more," Mazur said. "I don't think it will be as difficult this weekend. Northwestern will be a tough team though."
"We need to maintain our focus. That was the problem last weekend," Carnick said. "There were some good bouts. I think a lot of the girls fenced well, some girls even had some of their best days of the last two years but we couldn't maintain our focus."
Two freshmen had stellar opening weekends for the Irish, however. Destanie Milo and Jessie Filkins went 7-1 and 7-3 respectively in the sabre debut.
Foil captain Liza Boutsikaris led foilist with a 8-4 record while Meagan Call kept up her All-American form with a 7-4 record.
All Sports Stories for Friday, January 26, 2001
