FENCING: Irish win combined Conference title
by MIKE CONNOLLY
Sports Writer
The Notre Dame fencing teams captured the combined Midwest Conference Fencing Championship this weekend, easily defeating their closest competitor, Northwestern, 870-755.
The men's team captured all three squad titles to win the team title Saturday as well as sweeping the individual matches on Sunday. The women finished second overall to Northwestern and failed to win an individual title.
"On the men's side, I think we definitely fenced up to our potential," sabreman Andre Crompton said. "Taking first and second in every weapon was definitely a plus. That was what we deserved. On the women's side, I don't know if the women are fencing up to their potential."
The epee squad was the only women's squad to win a team title. The Irish avenged their third place finish last year by defeating Wayne State in the finals. Wayne State knocked Notre Dame out in the semifinals last year.
The women's sabre squad nearly won the Midwest Sabre title but Northwestern rallied from a 4-3 deficit to win 5-4.
Northwestern also won the foil title to edge the Irish 425-420 for the women's title.
"We know we are good fencers and we know we are capable of winning. We just have to go out and do it," epeeist Meagan Call said. "We were a little disappointed but I think we can fence better than we did fence and I think we will in the future."
The men swept all three individual titles on Sunday afternoon but the absence of 2000 NCAA sabre champion Gabor Szelle missed Sunday's competition with a thumb injury. His status for the NCAA Regionals in two weeks or the NCAA championships in a month.
"He said that he got hurt," Crompton said. "There is something wrong with his thumb. I don't know if he is going to be OK. He said after the meet that he didn't know if he was going to be OK [for the Regionals]."
Even without Szelle the Irish still took the top two spots in sabre. Crompton defeated top-ranked Jakub Krochmalski of Wayne State in the semifinals before upsetting his second-ranked teammate Andrezj Bednarski in the finals.
Crompton has never qualified for NCAAs before but with his performance this weekend and Szelle's injury, he could win the Region in two weeks and qualify for the Championships.
"I think it definitely gives me a lot more confidence than last year," Crompton said about his victory.
Brian Casas also pulled off an unlikely win in epee. The junior has struggled since the 2000 NCAA Championships but fenced strong this weekend and defeated top-ranked teammate Jan Viviani in the finals, 15-14.
"I think we are definitely fencing our best," Crompton said. "Brian Casas had a rough year but he stepped it up and won the Midwest Championship."
Ozren Debic repeated as Midwest Conference foil champion with a 15-8 win against teammate Forest Walton. Walton finished second to Debic last year as well.
All Sports Stories for Tuesday, February 27, 2001
